Country Name: Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic)

Capital: Bishkek

Government Type: parliamentary republic

Background: A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed by the Russian Empire 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 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. Interim President Roza OTUNBAEVA led a transitional government and following a nation-wide election, President Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to step down after serving one full six-year term as required at the time in the country’s constitution. 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, although international and local election observers noted cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In October 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation from the presidency, and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In January 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In April 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of draft constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyzstan’s legislature) in November 2021 elections.

Continent: Asia

Population: 6,122,781 (2023 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.)

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

Currency: Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $2.799 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $35.364 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 6.33% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $5,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $3.628 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 145

Export Commodities: gold, float glass, precious metals, kidney beans, refined petroleum, scrap copper, dried fruits (2021)

Export Partners: United Kingdom 56%, Kazakhstan 13%, Russia 13%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019)

Imports: 

• $10.655 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 118

Import Commodities: refined petroleum, footwear, clothing and apparel, broadcasting equipment, walnuts (2019)

Import Partners: China 53%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 7%, Uzbekistan 7%, Turkey 5% (2019)

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

Agricultural Products: milk, potatoes, sugar beets, maize, wheat, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, carrots/turnips

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

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 10.89% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 18

Labor Force: 3.004 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 4.02% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes

Geography:

• Total: 199,951 sq km

• Land: 191,801 sq km

• Water: 8,150 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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