Kyrgyzstan

Full name of country: Kyrgyz Republic

Region: Central Asia

Official language: Kyrgyz, Russian

Population: 6,172,101 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Kyrgyzstani(s) (noun), Kyrgyzstani (adjective)

Land area: 191,801 sq km (74,055 sq miles)

Water area: 8,150 sq km (3,147 sq miles)

Capital: Bishkek

National anthem: "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic), by Djamil Sadykov And Eshmambet Kuluev/Nasyr Davlesov And Kalyi Moldobasanov

National holiday: Independence Day, August 31 (1991)

Population growth: 0.79% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +6

Flag: The flag of Kyrgyzstan features a red field, or background, with a golden, forty-rayed sun in the middle. Centered in the sun is a red ring with two sets of three red lines crossing within it, intersecting just above center. The design represents the crown, or roof, of a yurt, the traditional tent-like structure of the country’s nomadic population. The flag and its colors are symbolic of various ideals, namely valor, peace, and prosperity, while the sun’s forty rays represent the forty tribes that were united, according to legend, to form the historic Kyrgyz nation.

Independence: August 31, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Government type: parliamentary republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: civil law system which includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws

In early 2005, a popular movement ousted the authoritarian president of Kyrgyzstan, a small Central Asian republic bordered by China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Long dominated by Russia, the country became a Soviet republic in 1936 and gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Kyrgyzstan faces numerous challenges related to political reform and economic development. Civil unrest in April 2010 led to another change in leadership in the country. In 2011, Kyrgyzstan saw the first peaceful transfer of presidential power since the country gained independence, although concerns about endemic corruption and tense interethnic relations remain. In addition to internal tensions, Kyrgyzstan also has periodically clashed with neighboring Tajikistan, including 2021 and 2022 outbreaks of armed conflict on the border between the two countries.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: Kyrgyzstan has a young, growing population. Life expectancy at birth is 77.2 years for women and 68.9 years for men (2024 estimates). Urban dwellers make up about 37.8 percent of the population in 2023, with the two largest cities being the capital of Bishkek, in the northern Chuy Region, and the city of Osh in the west. Bishkek has a population of 1.11 million people (2023 estimate). The most sparsely populated area is in the southeast, in the Tien Shan mountains.

The country's ethnic composition changed in the post-independence period, as many Russians and Germans emigrated. Kyrgyz account for roughly 73.8 percent of the population (2021 estimate). Identification with a specific clan is still important in society. There are three broad clan groups, which are in turn divided into subclans.

Uzbeks and Russians are the largest minorities, accounting for 14.8 percent and 5.1 percent of the population, respectively (2021 estimates). Uzbeks are concentrated in the Fergana Valley, while Russians generally live in urban areas. Other minorities include Uyghurs, Tajiks, Turks, Kazakhs, Tatars, and Ukrainians.

Kyrgyz and Russian are the two official languages of Kyrgyzstan, the latter being the language of interethnic communication; around three-fourths of the population speaks Kyrgyz and 9 percent speak Russian. Uzbek is spoken by about 14.4 percent of the population (2009 estimates). Kyrgyz is a Turkic language. During the Soviet era, it lost many native speakers. Since independence, there has been a concerted effort among ethnic Kyrgyz to reestablish their language. It is written in the Cyrillic alphabet, a result of Soviet Russian domination.

Sunni Islam has been the dominant religion of the Kyrgyz majority since the nineteenth century, though religion was suppressed, sometimes brutally, during the Soviet era. There has been a revival of religious sentiment throughout the country, but only in the more traditional south has it become extreme; the government has intervened militarily in the region, in response to attacks by radicalized Muslim groups. In some northern areas, the people incorporate elements of totemism and shamanism into their religious practices. The country's Russians are most often Russian Orthodox. The vast majority of the population is Muslim although the country also has a small minority of Orthodox Christians.

Indigenous People: The Kyrgyz settled the region in the sixteenth century. Only with the dissolution of the Soviet Union have they been able to promote their interests and fully protect their culture. The encroachment of the Russians, beginning in the nineteenth century, disrupted their traditional nomadic lifestyle and distanced them from their religion, language, and history.

Some ethnic tensions exist between the majority Kyrgyz and other minorities, particularly the Uzbeks, who are concentrated in and around the western city of Osh in the Fergana Valley. Following independence, these tensions erupted in incidences of bloody conflict between local Uzbeks and Kyrgyz over housing and land.

Education: Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of six and fifteen. Qualified students may then finish secondary school and continue on to higher education free of charge. Teaching materials, the number of teachers, and facilities are generally limited. The average literacy rate stands at 99.6 percent of the adult population (2018 estimate).

Higher education is concentrated in Bishkek. Institutions include Kyrgyz State University, the American University of Central Asia, and the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, as well as numerous institutes and vocational programs.

Reforming the curriculum has proven a difficult issue in Kyrgyzstan. Since independence, it has undergone changes to reflect Kyrgyz language, history, and culture in addition to the standard subjects. The Russian minority has protested against its reduced influence in the area of education and the lack of opportunities in its native tongue.

Health Care: During most of the Soviet era, decent medical services and supplies were available in the form of socialized medicine. This system went into decline during the 1980s, and deteriorated further in the immediate post-independence period.

Government reforms and international donors have brought about improvements, particularly in prenatal and postnatal care, but further changes and funds are needed in order to provide the vaccines, medicines, equipment, treatment, and training necessary to maintain the health of the population. The government's attempt to implement a health insurance program has had mixed results, with many patients paying out-of-pocket for their care. Kyrgyzstan's HDI value for 2022 is 0.701— which put the country in the High human development category—positioning it at 117 out of 193 countries and territories.

Food: Kyrgyzstan's cuisine has been influenced by ancient nomadic traditions and by neighboring cultures. Meat, noodles, and milk products dominate the diet. The national dish is besh parmak, made of boiled mutton and eaten with noodles using the right hand; it is often served at feasts.

Plov, a rice dish with meat and vegetables, is also popular. Other dishes include shorpo, a meat and vegetable soup, and several types of meat dumplings. Singing often takes place between the courses of a meal.

Most people in Kyrgyzstan drink several beers made from different grains, fermented mare's milk called kymyz, a grain alcohol similar to vodka called arak, and ayran, a yogurt beverage.

Arts & Entertainment: The earliest forms of Kyrgyzstani literature are oral epics which were often accompanied by musicians. Called "Manas," the narratives depict the battles of the eponymous national hero against invaders of his homeland. These tales have enjoyed a resurgence in recent decades.

People in Kyrgyzstan play many games that revolve around horsemanship. Ulak Tartysh is the local form of buzkashi, a rough sport involving two teams of horse riders who compete to make a goal with a salt-filled goat carcass. Horse races, archery, and wrestling are also common sports.

Another tradition which is very much alive in Kyrgyzstan is staying at a jailoo during the summer months. Families journey into the mountains with their herds, which they put to pasture, and live in portable nomadic tents called boz ui. Games and festivities are central to this annual occasion.

Holidays: Secular holidays include Victory Day (May 9), commemorating Soviet victories in World War II, and Independence Day (August 31), commemorating the end of Soviet rule. In addition, there are special ceremonies for weddings and the birth of children.

The most important religious holidays include Ramadan, Kurman-Ait (Eid al-Fitr), the feast which marks the end of fasting, and Nowruz, a Persian new year's celebration that welcomes spring. Taking place in the third week of March, it involves the wearing of new clothes, gift-giving, elaborate feasts, and sporting and music events.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Kyrgyzstan has a mountainous terrain and generally high elevation, with over 90 percent of the country surpassing 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) above sea level.

The two main mountain systems which dominate Kyrgyzstan are the Tian Shan and Pamir ranges, extending east to west. From these two respective ranges extend the Alai and the Trans-Alai Mountains. Victory Peak, known in Kyrgyz as Jengish Chokusu, is the highest point in the country and in the entire Tian Shan range. It rises 7,439 meters (24,406 feet) in the northeast near the border with China. Characteristic of geographically young mountains, Kyrgyzstan's ranges have many sharp peaks.

Kyrgyzstan has more than 2,000 lakes, many of them small and most of them at high elevations. The saline Ysyk-Kol is the largest lake, located in the northeast at 1,607 meters (5,273 feet) above sea level; it is 170 kilometers (105 miles) long and 70 kilometers (43 miles) wide. Other large lakes include Song-Kol and Chatyr-Kol, in the Naryn Basin.

Numerous streams and rivers run from the mountains and down through deep valleys into the lowlands. None is navigable, since the rivers are generally short and fast. Most of them are tributaries of the Naryn River, which has its source in the Tian Shan Mountains and crosses Kyrgyzstan, eventually converging with another river in Uzbekistan and forming the Syr Darya. The other large river of Kyrgyzstan is the Chu, which flows through the capital.

There are two fertile lowlands in Kyrgyzstan: the Fergana Valley in the west and the Chu Valley in the north. Supported by the country's major rivers, they have been extensively cultivated.

Natural Resources: Gold is the most valuable of Kyrgyzstan's natural resources. Like the country's other mineral resources, which include oil, natural gas, coal, lead, zinc, copper, iron ore, nepheline, mercury, and bismuth, it has not yet been exploited to its fullest potential. During the Soviet era, Kyrgyzstan was an important supplier of uranium, but it is no longer mined.

Kyrgyzstan's fast-flowing rivers present great potential for generating hydroelectric power, but programs to further harness this potential have been slow to develop. Nonetheless, through its hydroelectric stations on the Naryn and other rivers, the country is an important provider of electricity for its own needs and for the region.

Though the environmental record in Kyrgyzstan is not as poor as that of other former Soviet republics, it still has serious problems that are made worse by lack of funding for clean-up. Poor agricultural practices have led to salinization and erosion of the soil, inefficient use of water, and livestock overgrazing. Moreover, the use of fertilizers and pesticides has polluted the soil and water. The incidence of waterborne diseases is high in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in heavily populated regions, because of inefficient sewage treatment. The land and water near mines and metallurgy plants has also been degraded by toxic waste.

Plants & Animals: Only a small percent of Kyrgyzstan's territory is covered by forest. Among the species of trees are pine, juniper, birch, and spruce. The country is also home to the largest natural growth walnut forest in the world. In the mountains, high-altitude meadows ideal for grazing are common.

The forests and mountains provide habitats for a wide array of animals, including wild boar, lynx, ibex, badger, muskrat, gopher, fox, antelope, Marco Polo sheep, brown bear, and Siberian deer. Migratory birds settle around the country's many lakes, which contain large populations of fish. Endangered animals include the elusive snow leopard and the tiger. Though the animals are protected by law, poaching and smuggling are still a problem.

Climate: Landlocked Kyrgyzstan has a continental climate. Outside of the steep valleys, the country is generally sunny. It has two main climatic regions: the mountains and the lowlands. The lower mountains are temperate, whereas at the highest elevation, a polar climate allows for glaciers and year-round snow-capped peaks.

The upper elevations receive the most precipitation, ranging from 180 to 1,000 millimeters (7 to 40 inches) annually. Here the average temperature is about –28 degrees Celsius (–18 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) in July. The lowlands of the Fergana and Chu Valleys have a subtropical climate and considerably less precipitation. The January average is approximately –4 degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit), and the average July temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit).

Kyrgyzstan is prone to strong earthquakes, particularly in the Naryn Basin. An earthquake could in turn cause flooding if one of the river's dams were damaged. Mudslides have increased as more topsoil becomes eroded.

Economy

In the 1980s, the economy of the Soviet Union went into a decline from which it never recovered. The impact of this decline and subsequent breakup of the union had serious effects on Kyrgyzstan, which had to cope with the disappearance of economic support and its severely restricted prospects of generating revenue. Solid economic reforms and international donations have stabilized the economy and reduced inflation, but prosperity is still far off.

In 2023 the estimated gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) was US$45.461 billion and $6,400 per capita. The labor force numbered 3.144 million in 2023 and the unemployment rate was 4.04 percent in 2023. Approximately 33.3 percent of the population lives below the poverty line (2021 estimate).

Industry: Most industry is based in or around Bishkek and the city is the base for a significant percentage of the labor force. The city's industry has declined since the Soviet era, when Kyrgyzstan supplied the Soviet Union with defense equipment and raw materials. The need for these products, along with an energy crisis and the emigration of Russians and Germans, who accounted for a large percentage of skilled workers, contributed to the economic slump of the early 1990s.

The situation has since improved. The country produces small machinery, building materials, textiles, and furniture, and is an important provider of hydroelectricity. Industry relies on agricultural production for raw materials, many of which are now processed within the country. These include meat, wool, and leather.

The mining sector has attracted foreign investment and contributes significantly to the GDP. Many minerals are mined and processed in Kyrgyzstan, gold being the most important.

Agriculture: Agriculture employs around half of the labor force but accounts for a relatively small share of GDP. Only a small percentage of the land is arable, mostly in the fertile valleys of the Fergana and Chu Rivers and the Ysyk Kol basin. Agriculture yields fruits, vegetables, tobacco, cotton, sugar beets, and various grains.

The country's ancient livestock tradition is still central to the economy. Sheep and cattle are the most commonly raised animals. Animal husbandry is concentrated in the central and eastern mountains, where there is ample though reduced land for grazing.

Tourism: Kyrgyzstan was a popular tourist destination in the Soviet Union, but the sector collapsed in the early post-Soviet era, and is still recovering. The industry is seen as a means to boost the economy, however, and large-scale efforts are being undertaken to broaden the sector. The political upheavals of the early 2000s and later the COVID-19 pandemic of the early 2020s limited tourism.

Kyrgyzstan is promoting itself as an adventure destination, stressing the country's natural beauty and the hospitality of its people. Activities include jailoo homestays, horseback riding, mountain trekking, and skiing. In Bishkek, the country's art and culture are on display at the State Museum of Fine Art and the State Historical Museum. Beginning in 2014, Kyrgyzstan hosted the World Nomad Games every two years, featuring traditional Central Asian forms of wrestling, hunting, and horse racing.

Government

In early 2005, frustrated with corruption, cronyism, increasing authoritarianism, and a lack of political accountability, a popular movement known as the Tulip Revolution ousted the president who had governed since the downfall of the Soviet Union. An interim government held power until elections in July, and the new president was sworn in the following month. Presidential elections were held in 2005, which were won by Kurmanbek Bakiev. Bakiev was ousted in 2010, amid allegations of corruption, and he fled to Belarus. Bakiev's successor, Roza Otunbaeva, served as transitional president until the inauguration of Almazbek Atambaev in 2011, marking the first peaceful transfer of presidential power since the country gained independence. By stepping down in 2017, Atambaev became the first Kyrgyzstani president to relinquish his office after one term as dictated by the Kyrgyzstani constitution.

Kyrgyzstan is a parliamentary republic. The president is elected by popular vote and serves as the head of state for one six-year term. He or she is responsible for appointing cabinet ministers, who are proposed by the prime minister. The prime minister is head of government and is appointed by whichever party holds more than 50 percent of the seats in the parliament. If no individual party holds that many parliamentary seats, the president will select a party to form a government. In 2021, a referendum was held that greatly expanded the powers of the president by amending the constitution.

The legislative branch is unicameral and known as the Supreme Council or Jogorku Kengesh. It has 90 members who are elected to five-year terms.

The judicial branch consists of a Supreme Court, as well as local courts and special courts for economic and military matters.

For administrative purposes, Kyrgyzstan is divided into seven provinces and two cities, including the capital Bishkek and the city of Osh. The president is responsible for appointing a governor for each province, which are further divided into districts.

Interesting Facts

• The word "Kyrgyz" means "forty clans" in the Kyrgyz language.
• There are an estimated 6,500 glaciers in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. However, these glaciers are threatened by global warming.
• Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products of Kyrgyzstan, although only cotton is exported in significant quantities.

Bibliography

Akçalı, Pınar, and Cennet Engin-Demir, editors. Politics Identity and Education in Central Asia: Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan. Routledge, 2013.

Cummings, Sally N., editor. Domestic and International Perspectives on Kyrgyzstan’s ‘Tulip Revolution’: Motives Mobilization and Meanings. Routledge, 2010.

Human Development Insights, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Kyrgyz Republic." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/kyrgyz-republic. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Kyrgyzstan." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 19 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kyrgyzstan/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Kyrgyzstan Country Profile." BBC News, 24 Mar. 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16186907. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kyrgyzstan: 2019 Annual Research; Key Highlights. World Travel & Tourism Council, 2019, www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2019/kyrgyzstan2019.pdf. Accessed 7 Jul. 2022.