Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Russian Empire annexed most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916, during 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. Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to serve a full term and respect constitutional term limits, voluntarily stepping down at the end of his mandate. 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 despite reported cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources.
In 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the 2021 legislative elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, tense regional relations, vulnerabilities due to climate change, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total : 199,951 sq km
land: 191,801 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
comparison ranking: total 87
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries
total: 4,573 km
border countries (4): China 1,063 km; Kazakhstan 1,212 km; Tajikistan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,314 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain
peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country
Elevation
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar’ya) 132 m
mean elevation: 2,988 m
Natural resources
abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use
agricultural land: 54% (2022 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 46.9% (2022 est.)
forest: 7% (2022 est.)
other: 38.9% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
10,041 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km
note – second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes
Major rivers (by length in km)
Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) – 3,078 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)
Population distribution
the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, in the Tien Shan mountains
Natural hazards
major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes
Geography – note
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
People and Society
Population
total: 6,172,101 (2024 est.)
male: 3,021,318
female: 3,150,783
comparison rankings: total 112; female 112; male 113
Nationality
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
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.)
major-language sample(s):
Дүйнөлүк фактылар китеби, негизги маалыматтын маанилүү булагы. (Kyrgyz)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha’i) (2017 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 29.1% (male 922,086/female 873,245)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,935,200/female 2,013,733)
65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 164,032/female 263,805)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 56.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 45.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 10.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 9.2 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 28.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 26.9 years
female: 29.8 years
comparison ranking: total 151
Population growth rate
0.79% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 111
Birth rate
18.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 76
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 152
Net migration rate
-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 200
Population distribution
the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, in the Tien Shan mountains
Urbanization
urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.105 million BISHKEK (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
22.6 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
50 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 97
Infant mortality rate
total: 24.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 61
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 72.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 68.9 years
female: 77.2 years
comparison ranking: total population 157
Total fertility rate
2.45 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 71
Gross reproduction rate
1.19 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
39.4% (2018)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 89.9% of population
total: 93.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 10.1% of population
total: 6.4% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
5.4% of GDP (2021)
7.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.85 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
16.6% (2016)
comparison ranking: 122
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 3.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 96
Tobacco use
total: 26% (2025 est.)
male: 50.7% (2025 est.)
female: 3.1% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 38
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.8% (2018)
comparison ranking: 102
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.2% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0.3% (2018)
women married by age 18: 12.9% (2018)
Education expenditure
6.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
19.8% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 17
Literacy
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2021)
Environment
Environment – current issues
water pollution; increasing soil salinity from irrigation practices; air pollution due to vehicle traffic
Environment – international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Land use
agricultural land: 54% (2022 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 46.9% (2022 est.)
forest: 7% (2022 est.)
other: 38.9% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 37.58 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 9.79 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 4.47 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,113,300 tons (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km
note – second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes
Major rivers (by length in km)
Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) – 3,078 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 220 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 340 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
23.62 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: Kyrgyzstan
etymology: named for the local Kyrgyz people, with “-stan” coming from the Persian word ostan, meaning “country;” the Kyrgyz name may derive from the Turkic root words kir, or “steppe,” and gismek, “to wander;” the name is traditionally said to come from a combination of the Turkic words kyrg (forty) and –is (hundred), based on a tale about two tribes and the number of their tents
Government type
parliamentary 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)
etymology: the meaning of the name is unknown; the city was founded in 1862 as a Russian settlement on the site of an Uzbek fortress named Bishkek; the Russian version of the name was Pishpek, and the original name only came back into use in 1991
Administrative divisions
7 provinces (oblustar, singular – oblus) and 2 cities* (shaarlar, singular – shaar); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses
Legal system
civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
Constitution
history: previous 1993, 2007, 2010; latest approved by referendum in 2021
amendment process: proposed as a draft law by the majority of the Supreme Council membership or by petition of 300,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Council membership in each of at least three readings of the draft two months apart; the draft may be submitted to a referendum if approved by two thirds of the Council membership; adoption requires the signature of the president
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan
dual citizenship recognized: yes, but only if a mutual treaty on dual citizenship is in force
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)
head of government: President Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)
most recent election date: 10 January 2021
election results:
2021: Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote – Sadyr JAPAROV (Mekenchil) 79.2%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.8%, other 14%
2017: Sooronbay JEENBEKOV elected president; Sooronbay JEENBEKOV (Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan) 54.7%, Omurbek BABANOV (independent) 33.8%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.6%, other 4.9%
expected date of next election: 2027
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: Supreme Council (Jogorku Kenesh)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 90 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/28/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Fatherland) (15); Ishenim (Trust) (12); Yntymak (Harmony) (9); Alyans (Alliance) (7); Butun Kyrgyzstan (United) (6); Yiman Nuru (Ray of Faith) (5); Independents (34)
percentage of women in chamber: 22.2%
expected date of next election: November 2026
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (consists of the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president; Supreme Court judges serve for 10 years, Constitutional Court judges serve for 15 years; mandatory retirement at age 70 for judges of both courts
subordinate courts: Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts
Political parties
Afghan’s Party
Alliance
Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Fatherland) or AJK
Cohesion
Ishenim (Trust)
Light of Faith
Mekenchil or the “Patriotic” Political Party
Social Democrats or SDK
United Kyrgyzstan
Yntymak (Unity)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Aibek MOLDOGAZIEV (since 25 February 2025)
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822
FAX: [1] (202) 449-8275
email address and website:
[email protected]
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA and Canada (mfa.gov.kg)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Lesslie VIGUERIE (since 29 December 2022)
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: 7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC 20521-7040
telephone: [996] (312) 597-000
FAX: [996] (312) 597-744
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://kg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Flag description
red field with a yellow sun in the center that has 40 rays to represent the Kyrgyz tribes; the rays run counterclockwise on the front of the flag and clockwise on the reverse; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines in a stylized representation of a tunduk, the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt; red stands for bravery and valor, and the sun for peace and wealth
National symbol(s)
white falcon
National color(s)
red, yellow
National anthem
name: “Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni” (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)
lyrics/music: Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV
note: adopted 1992
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n)
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)
$45.461 billion (2023 est.)
$42.826 billion (2022 est.)
$39.302 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 131
Real GDP growth rate
6.15% (2023 est.)
8.97% (2022 est.)
5.51% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 30
Real GDP per capita
$6,400 (2023 est.)
$6,100 (2022 est.)
$5,700 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 165
GDP (official exchange rate)
$13.988 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10.8% (2023 est.)
13.9% (2022 est.)
11.9% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 190
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 9.7% (2023 est.)
industry: 22.6% (2023 est.)
services: 50.8% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 146; industry 120; agriculture 79
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 89.5% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 16.4% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.2% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 9.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 39.2% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -101% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate
4.93% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 52
Labor force
3.192 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 107
Unemployment rate
3.3% (2024 est.)
4% (2023 est.)
4% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 57
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.8% (2024 est.)
male: 6.3% (2024 est.)
female: 7.7% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 155
Population below poverty line
33.3% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
26.4 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 145
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4.4% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 22% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
20.38% of GDP (2023 est.)
26.58% of GDP (2022 est.)
32.56% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $3.859 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $2.892 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
44% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 123
Taxes and other revenues
21.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 77
Current account balance
-$5.18 billion (2022 est.)
-$737.696 million (2021 est.)
$374.257 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 179
Exports
$3.628 billion (2022 est.)
$3.292 billion (2021 est.)
$2.435 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 150
Exports – partners
Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$10.655 billion (2022 est.)
$5.928 billion (2021 est.)
$4.051 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 118
Imports – partners
China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.237 billion (2023 est.)
$2.799 billion (2022 est.)
$2.983 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 121
Debt – external
$3.617 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 81
Exchange rates
soms (KGS) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
87.856 (2023 est.)
84.116 (2022 est.)
84.641 (2021 est.)
77.346 (2020 est.)
69.789 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 99.7% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 100%
electrification – rural areas: 99.6%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 3.944 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 14.872 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 428.01 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 3.929 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.363 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 130; imports 52; exports 79; consumption 88; installed generating capacity 100
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 85.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 3.685 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 4.212 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 1.672 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 1.443 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 28.499 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 40 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 28.638 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 435.336 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 406.698 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
11.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 6.301 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 4.234 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 854,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 102
Energy consumption per capita
27.58 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 119
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 185,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 120
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 7.68 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 105
Broadcast media
state-funded public TV broadcaster NTRK operates Ala-Too 24 news channel and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR is a state-owned TV station; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 TV stations are struggling to increase Kyrgyz-language content to 60% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; several Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations (2023)
Internet country code
.kg
Internet users
percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 456,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 101
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
EX
Airports
28 (2025)
comparison ranking: 123
Heliports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 159
Railways
total: 424 km (2022)
broad gauge: 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic: Land Forces (Kygyz Army), Air Defense Forces (Kyrgyz Air Force), National Guard of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Service
State Committee for National Security: Border Guard Service (2025)
Military expenditures
3% of GDP (2024 est.)
3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
3% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
limited available information; estimated 10-15,000 active Armed Forces, including the National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Kyrgyz military inventory is comprised almost entirely of Russian and Soviet-era weapons and equipment; in recent years, the military has acquired small amounts of material from other suppliers such as Turkey, which provided unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary service for men in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 12-month service obligation (9 months for university graduates), with optional fee-based 3-year service in the call-up mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2023)
Military – note
Kyrgyzstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO’s rapid reaction force; it also started a relationship with NATO in 1992 and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994
the Kyrgyz military’s primary responsibility is defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, although it also has some internal security duties; elements of the military were called out in 2020 to respond to post-election demonstrations for example, and the National Guard’s missions include counterterrorism, responding to emergencies, and the protection of government facilities; the military also participates in UN and CSTO peacekeeping missions; border disputes with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the threat posed by militant Islamic groups, have been particular areas of concern for both the military and internal security forces; the military’s closest security partner is Russia, which provides training and material assistance, and maintains a presence in the country, including an airbase; the military also conducts training with other regional countries such as India, traditionally with a focus on counterterrorism
the Kyrgyz military was formed in 1992 from Soviet Army units then based in Kyrgyzstan following the dissolution of the USSR (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): US-designated foreign terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province have operated in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 482 (2022)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Kyrgyzstan was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/kyrgyzstan/
Illicit drugs
a prime transit route and transshipment route for illegal drugs transiting north from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe; illicit drugs are primarily smuggled into the country from Tajikistan
