A Central Asian country of
incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan
was formally annexed to Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt
against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz
population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and
achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide
demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President
Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential
elections in July 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister
Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. The political opposition organized demonstrations in
Bishkek in April, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a
new constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to
parliament and the government. In December 2006, the Kyrgyz parliament
voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the presidential powers
lost in the November 2006 constitutional change. By late-September 2007,
both previous versions of the constitution were declared illegal, and the
country reverted to the AKAYEV-era 2003 constitution, which was
subsequently modified in a flawed referendum initiated by BAKIYEV. The
president then dissolved parliament, called for early elections, and
gained control of the new parliament through his newly-created political
party, Ak Jol, in December 2007 elections. Current concerns include:
privatization of state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and
political freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnic
relations, and combating terrorism.
Geography
Kyrgyzstan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km water: 7,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South
Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan
870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
dry continental to polar in
high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in
northern foothill zone
Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan and
associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu
(Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:
abundant hydropower;
significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable
coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth,
lead, and zinc
Land use:
arable land: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28% other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut
forest (2005)
total: 10.08 cu km/yr
(3%/3%/94%) per capita: 1,916 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; many people
get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result,
water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty
irrigation practices
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely
mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers,
and high-altitude lakes
total: 24.2 years
male: 23.3 years female: 25 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.38% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
23.31 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.97 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.55 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64
years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64
male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008
est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 32.3 deaths/1,000
live births male: 37.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.12
years male: 65.12 years female: 73.33 years (2008
est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.67 children born/woman (2008
est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%,
Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999
census)
Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox
20%, other 5%
Languages:
Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek
13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official), Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3% female: 98.1% (1999 census)
Government
Kyrgyzstan
Country name:
conventional long form:
Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short
form: Kyrgyzstan former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E time
difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (oblastlar,
singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar); Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*,
Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty,
Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol) note: administrative
divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions
have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet
Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August
(1991)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1993; note -
amendment proposed by President Askar AKAYEV and passed in a national
referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly expanded the powers of the
president at the expense of the legislature; during large-scale
demonstrations in November 2006, President BAKIYEV and the opposition
negotiated a new constitution granting greater powers to the parliament
and the government; amendments added on 30 December 2006 redistributed
some power back to the president, but both November and December 2006
versions were annulled in September 2007, and a new version was approved
by referendum on 21 October 2007; the BAKIYEV-initiated referendum was
criticized by Western observers for voting irregularities, particularly
ballot stuffing
Legal system:
based on French and Russian
laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 14 August 2005) head of
government: Prime Minister Igor CHUDINOV (since 24 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and security,
appointed solely by the president elections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV
elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 10 July 2005 (next scheduled for 2010); prime minister
nominated by the parliamentary party holding more than 50% of the seats;
if no such party exists, the president selects the party that will
nominate a prime minister election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV
elected president; percent of vote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai
BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other candidates 7.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or
Jorgorku Kenesh (90 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) elections: last held 16 December 2007 (next to
be held in 2012) election results: Supreme Council - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ak Jol 71, Social Democratic Party
11, KCP 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional
Court (judges of both the Supreme and Constitutional Courts are appointed
for 10-year terms by the Jorgorku Kenesh on the recommendation of the
president; their mandatory retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of
Arbitration; Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a probationary
period of five years, then 10 years)
Political parties and leaders:
Ak Jol [Avtandil ARABAYEV,
Elmira IBRAIMOVA, Vladimir NIFADYEV, co-chairs]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party
[Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV];
Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Democratic Movement of
Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Viktor TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party
[Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Medet
SADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Ishak MASALIYEV];
Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants
[Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and Unity [Tabaldy
OROZALIYEV]; Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan KARABAYEV]; Social Democratic
Party [Almaz ATAMBAYEV]; Union of Democratic Forces [Kubatbek BAIBOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon
JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society [Dinara
OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAYEVA]
chief of mission:
Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH embassy: 171 Prospect Mira,
Bishkek 720016 mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217 FAX:
[996] (312) 551-264
Flag description:
red field with a yellow sun in
the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the
obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in
the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a
stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy
Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a poor,
mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton,
tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only
tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports
include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and electricity. Following
independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms
such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the
first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into
the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in
enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after the
breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995, production
began to recover and exports began to increase. The economy is heavily
weighted toward gold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold
mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and a 0.6% decline in 2005. GDP
grew more than 6% in 2007, partly due to higher gold prices
internationally. The government made steady strides in controlling its
substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and
expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007.
The government and international financial institutions have been engaged
in a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth
strategy. In 2005, Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and, in
2006, became eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
initiative. Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of
domestic industry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys
to future growth.
Switzerland 26.1%, Kazakhstan
20.4%, Russia 19.3%, Afghanistan 9.4%, China 4.8% (2006)
Imports:
$2.509 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.)
Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and
equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 38.1%, China 14.4%,
Kazakhstan 11.7%, US 5.7% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$268.5 million from the US
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.293 billion (31 December
2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.966 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$41.99 million (2005)
Currency (code):
som (KGS)
Currency code:
KGS
Exchange rates:
soms per US dollar - 37.746
(2007), 40.149 (2006), 41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
458,900 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,261,800 (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment:
telecommunications infrastructure is growing; fixed line penetration
remains low and concentrated in urban areas domestic: 4 mobile
cellular service providers with growing coverage international:
country code - 996; connections with other CIS countries by landline or
microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with
Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth
stations - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat); connected internationally by
the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line (2006)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3 (plus 10 repeater
stations), FM 23, shortwave NA (2007)
Radios:
520,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
8 (2 countrywide and 6 regional
stations; state-owned); note - there are about 20 private TV stations,
most of which rebroadcast other channels (2007)
Televisions:
210,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kg
Internet hosts:
80,990 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
298,100 (2006)
Transportation
Kyrgyzstan
Airports:
30 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18 over
3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m:
11 under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12 1,524
to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10
(2007)
Pipelines:
gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 470 km
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km unpaved: 1,646 km (1999)
Waterways:
600 km (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or
Rybach'ye)
Military
Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, National Guard
(2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory
military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49:
1,398,878 females age 16-49: 1,419,374 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49:
1,061,942 females age 16-49: 1,211,249 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 16-49: 60,706
females age 16-49: 58,721 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify
the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley
delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km
of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves
and other areas
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of
cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication
of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for
Russia and the rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates
