Data at glance of Kyrgyzstan - average on period

History

Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Russian Empire annexed most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916, during which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to serve a full term and respect constitutional term limits, voluntarily stepping down at the end of his mandate. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election, which was the most competitive in the country’s history despite reported cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the 2021 legislative elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, tense regional relations, vulnerabilities due to climate change, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.

Environment

Area: 199,951 sq km km2

Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Natural resources: abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: Kyrgyz 73.8%, Uzbek 14.8%, Russian 5.1%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2021 est.)

Languages: Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)

Religions: Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i) (2017 est.)

Government

Capital: Bishkek

Government type: parliamentary republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)

Head of government: Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024)

Legislative branch

Description: Supreme Council (Jogorku Kenesh) - unicameral

Industries

small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals

GDP by sector: Agriculture: 8.6% (2024 est.), Industry: 24.7% (2024 est.), Services: 52.1% (2024 est.)

Trade

Export partners: Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)

Export commodities: gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

Import partners: China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)

Import commodities: cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)

Geography

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan

Defence

Military expenditure: 2024: 3% of GDP (2024 est.)