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Region / Country specific information - Kyrgyzstan
| Background: |
A Central Asian country of incredible
natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed
by Russia in 1864; it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in
1991. Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises,
expansion of democracy and political freedoms, inter-ethnic relations,
and terrorism. |
| Location: |
Central Asia, west of China |
| Geographic coordinates: |
41 00 N, 75 00 E |
| Map
references: |
Commonwealth of Independent States
|
| 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-Darya
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: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 44%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth
walnut forest |
| Irrigated land: |
9,000 sq km (1993 est.) |
| 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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
| Geography - note: |
landlocked |
| Population: |
4,753,003 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 35.03%
(male 841,029; female 823,723)
15-64 years: 58.83% (male 1,369,842; female 1,426,522)
65 years and over: 6.14% (male 110,340; female 181,547)
(2001 est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
1.44% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
26.18 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
9.13 deaths/1,000 population (2001
est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
76.5 deaths/1,000 live births
(2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
63.46 years
male: 59.2 years
female: 67.94 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
3.19 children born/woman (2001
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.01% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 100 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
less than 100 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek
12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8% |
| Religions: |
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%,
other 5% |
| Languages: |
Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language,
Russian - official language
note: in May 2000, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian
an official language, equal in status to Kirghiz |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15
and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic |
| Government type: |
republic |
| Administrative divisions: |
7 oblastlar (singular - oblast)
and 1 city* (singular - 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 AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on
10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at
the expense of the legislature |
| Legal
system: |
based on civil law system |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state: President
Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since
22 December 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year
term; elections last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held November
or December 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent
of vote - Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates
12%; note - election marred by serious irregularities |
| Legislative branch: |
bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku
Kenesh consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the
Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last
held 20 February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005);
Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000 (next
to be held NA February 2005)
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives
- percent of vote by party - NA%; percent of vote by party - NA; and
Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
- NA; note - total seats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows:
Union of Democratic Forces 12, Communists 6, My Country Party of Action
4, independents 73, other 10
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February
1995 elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly
of People's Representatives and the Legislative Assembly |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court (judges are appointed
for 10-year terms by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the
president); Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration |
| Political parties and leaders: |
Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan
[Uson S. SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [Arkin ALIYEV]; Ata-Meken
Socialist Party or Fatherland [Onurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Revival
Party or ASABA [Chaprashty BAZARBAY]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan
or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Democratic Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [T.
A. SHAILIYEVA]; Dignity Party [Feliks KULOV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive
and Democratic Party [Tursunbay Bakir UULU]; Justice Party [Chingiz
AYTMATOV]; Movement for the People's Salvation [Jumgalbek AMAMBAYEV];
Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [Jumagazy USUPOV]; My Country of Action
[Almazbek ISMANKULOV]; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury
RAZGULYAYEV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Absamat M. MASALIYEV];
Party of the Veterans of the War in Afghanistan [leader NA]; Peasant
Party [leader NA]; People's Party [Melis ESHIMKANOV]; Poor and Unprotected
People's Party [Daniyar USENOV]; Republican Popular Party of Kyrgyzstan
[J. SHARSHENALIYEV]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [J. IBRAMOV]; Union
of Democratic Forces (composed of Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan
or PSD [J. IBRAMOV], Economic Revival Party, and Birimdik Party |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Council of Free Trade Unions;
Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights [Ramazan DYRYIDAYEV]; National Unity
Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs |
| International organization participation: |
AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer),
OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador John M. O'KEEFE
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek
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 Kirghiz 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 Kirghiz
yurt |
| Economy
- overview: |
Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous
country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and
meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports
include gold, mercury, uranium, and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has been
one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet Union in
carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization program,
which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 15% for 1997, attention
is turning toward stimulating growth. Much of the government's stock
in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe since
the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995 production
began to recover and exports began to increase. Pensioners, unemployed
workers, and government workers with salary arrears continue to suffer.
Foreign assistance played a substantial role in the country's economic
turnaround in 1996-97. Growth was held down to 2.1% in 1998 largely
because of the spillover from Russia's economic difficulties, but moved
ahead to 3.6% in 1999 and an estimated 5.7% in 2000. The government
has adopted a series of measures to combat such persistent problems
as excessive external debt, inflation, and inadequate revenue collection.
|
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $12.6
billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5.7% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $2,700
(2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 39%
industry: 22%
services: 39% (1999 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: |
51% (1997 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1997) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
18.7% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 55%, industry 15%,
services 30% (1999 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: |
6% (1998 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $207.4
million
expenditures: $238.7 million, including capital expenditures
of $NA (1999 est.) |
| Industries: |
small machinery, textiles, food
processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric
motors, gold, rare earth metals |
| Industrial production growth rate: |
7% (2000 est.)
|
| Electricity - production: |
12.981 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 6.67%
hydro: 93.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity - consumption: |
10.236 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - exports: |
2.02 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - imports: |
184 million kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture - products: |
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables,
grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool |
| Exports: |
$482 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
|
| Exports
- commodities: |
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold,
mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes |
| Exports
- partners: |
Germany 33%, Russia 16%, Kazakhstan
10%, Uzbekistan 10%, China 6% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$579 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
|
| Imports
- commodities: |
oil and gas, machinery and equipment,
foodstuffs |
| Imports
- partners: |
Russia 18%, Kazakhstan 12%, US
9%, Germany 8%, Uzbekistan 8%, China (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$1.4 billion (2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$329.4 million (1995) |
| Currency: |
Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) |
| Exchange
rates: |
soms per US dollar - 48.701 (January
2001), 47.704 (2000), 39.008 (1999), 20.838 (1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810
(1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones - main lines in use: |
351,000 (1997) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: |
NA |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment:
poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household
telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular
provider, probably limited to Bishkek region
international: 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 - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connected
internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations),
FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) |
| Television broadcast stations: |
NA (repeater stations throughout
the country relay programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and
Turkey) (1997) |
| Televisions: |
210,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.kg |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
NA |
| Internet
users: |
10,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total: 370 km in
common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990) |
| Highways: |
total: 18,500 km
(including 140 km of expressways)
paved: 16,854 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,
and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are
surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable
in all weather)
unpaved: 1,646 km (these roads are made of unstabilized
earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1996) |
| Pipelines: |
natural gas 200 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
|
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 46
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 32 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Air and Air Defense, Security
Forces, Border Troops |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
1,203,001 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
975,744 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 50,590 (2001
est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$12 million (FY99) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1% (FY99) |
| Disputes
- international: |
territorial dispute with Tajikistan
on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area; periodic target of Islamic
insurgents from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan |
| Illicit
drugs: |
limited illicit cultivator of
cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government
eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit
drugs to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia |
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