Kyrgyzstan

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
In 1876, the Russian Empire annexed Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved.

Geography

Area
total : 199,951 sq km
land: 191,801 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km

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

People and Society

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

Ethnic 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.)

Population growth rate
0.79% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Bishkek

Executive branch
chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)
head of government: President Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Aibek MOLDOGAZIEV (since 25 February 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Lesslie VIGUERIE (since 29 December 2022)

Economy

Economic overview
landlocked, lower-middle-income Central Asian economy; natural resource rich; growing hydroelectricity and tourism; high remittances; corruption limits investment; COVID-19 and political turmoil hurt GDP, limited public revenues, and increased spending

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$50.907 billion (2024 est.)
$46.686 billion (2023 est.)
$42.826 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$7,000 (2024 est.)
$6,600 (2023 est.)
$6,100 (2022 est.)

Exports
$3.628 billion (2022 est.)
$3.292 billion (2021 est.)
$2.435 billion (2020 est.)

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

Exports - commodities
gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

Imports
$10.655 billion (2022 est.)
$5.928 billion (2021 est.)
$4.051 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners
China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities
cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.720, ranking it 117th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 84th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.568. (more information)