Factbook dossier
Background
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 co…
Location
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan
Area
total : 199,951 sq km land: 191,801 sq km water: 8,150 sq km
Natural resources
abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Natural hazards
major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes
Population
total: 6,219,751 (2025 est.) male: 3,043,940 female: 3,175,811
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.)
Environmental issues
water pollution; increasing soil salinity from irrigation practices; air pollution due to vehicle traffic
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
Executive branch
chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021) head of government: Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers 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: other systems scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/30/2025 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 2030
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$50.907 billion (2024 est.) $46.686 billion (2023 est.) $42.826 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$7,000 (2024 est.) $6,600 (2023 est.) $6,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10.8% (2023 est.) 13.9% (2022 est.) 11.9% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
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) note: the National Guard s missions include counterterrorism, responding to emergencies, and the protection of government facilities
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.)