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| Introduction | 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, interethnic relations, and combating terrorism. |
| People | Kyrgyzstan |
| Population: | 5,081,429 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 32.3% (male 835,599; female 804,384) 15-64 years: 61.6% (male 1,535,447; female 1,594,972) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 120,555; female 190,472) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 23.1 years male: 22.2 years female: 24 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.25% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 22.13 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 36.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 31.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 42.23 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 67.84 years male: 63.84 years female: 72.05 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.71 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | over 500 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 100 (2001 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 - official language, Russian - official language note: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.) |
| Government | Kyrgyzstan |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | Bishkek |
| 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 AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 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 Nikolay TANAYEV (since 22 May 2002); note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV resigned on 22 May 2002 when five demonstrators were killed in a clash with police in March of 2002; First Deputy Prime Minister Kubanychbek JUMALIYEV (since 19 March 2004) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%; note - election marred by serious irregularities 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; note - President AKAYEV has publicly stated that he will not seek reelection when his current term expires in 2005 |
| 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); note - in accordance with a 2003 referendum, the Parliament is slated to become unicameral with 75 deputies after the 2005 elections election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats 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 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) |
| 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: | Adilet (Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [Erkin ALIYEV]; Alga, Kyrgyzstan (Forward, Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Ata-Meken or Fatherland [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Revival Party or ASABA [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Democratic Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [Tokon SHAILIYEVA]; El Muras (People's Heritage) [Toktokan BOROMBAYEVA]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [B. ASANOV]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Justice Party [Chingiz AYTMATOV]; Movement for the People's Salvation [Jumgalbek AMAMBAYEV]; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [Jumagazy USUPOV]; My Country Party of Action [Almazbek ISMANKULOV]; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Novoe Vremya [leader NA]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Absamat M. MASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of the Veterans of the War in Afghanistan [leader NA]; Peasant Party [leader NA]; People's Party [Melis ESHIMKANOV]; 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 DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs |
| International organization participation: | AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139 consulate(s): New York telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141 chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG 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 |
| Communications | Kyrgyzstan |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 394,800 (2002) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 53,100 (2002) |
| 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: 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 - 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) |
| Radios: | 520,000 (1997) |
| 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 hosts: | 12,299 (2004) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | NA |
| Internet users: | 152,000 (2002) |
| Transportation | Kyrgyzstan |
| Railways: | total: 470 km broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2003) |
| Highways: | total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.) |
| Waterways: | 600 km (2004) |
| Pipelines: | gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004) |
| Ports and harbors: | Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye) |
| Airports: | 61 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 37 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Kyrgyzstan |
| Military branches: | Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 1,347,312 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 1,091,548 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 59,759 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $19.2 million (FY01) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.4% (FY01) |
| Transnational Issues | Kyrgyzstan |
| Disputes - international: | boundary with China is fully demarcated; delimitation with Kazakhstan is largely complete with only minor disputed areas; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation is underway with Uzbekistan but serious disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar progress for some 130 km of border |
| 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 |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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