Kyrgyzstan

§1. Kyrgyzstan Introduction

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, inter-ethnic relations, and terrorism.

§2. Kyrgyzstan Geography

Location:
  Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates:
  41 00 N, 75 00 E

Map references:
  Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
  total: 198,500 kmē
  land: 191,300 kmē
  water: 7,200 kmē

Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,878 km border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km,
    Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)

Climate:
  dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest
  (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Terrain:
  peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire
  nation

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Kara-Darya 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy)
    7,439 m

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

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 44%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 45% (1993 est.)
  note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest

Irrigated land:
  9,000 kmē (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:
  NA

Environment - current issues:
  water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated
  streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent;
  increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices

Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
    Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
  landlocked

§3. Kyrgyzstan People

Population:
  4,753,003 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35.03% (male 841,029; female 823,723)
  15-64 years: 58.83% (male 1,369,842; female 1,426,522)
  65 years and over: 6.14% (male 110,340; female 181,547) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate:
  1.44% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:
  26.18 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:
  9.13 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  76.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 63.46 years male: 59.2 years
  female: 67.94 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.19 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality:
  noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
  adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Ethnic groups:
  Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other
  11.8%

Religions:
  Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

Languages:
  Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian - official language
  note: in May 2000, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an official
    language, equal in status to Kirghiz

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 99%
  female: 96% (1989 est.)

§4. Kyrgyzstan Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
  conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
  local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
  local short form: none
  former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
  republic

Capital:
  Bishkek

Administrative divisions:
  7 oblastlar (singular - oblast) and 1 city* (singular - 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 10 February 1996 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 Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 22 December
    2000)
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
    recommendation of the prime minister
  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
  election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Askar
    AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%; note - election
    marred by serious irregularities

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)
  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)
  election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of vote by
    party - NA%; percent of vote 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

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:
  Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson S. SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of
  Kyrgyzstan [Arkin ALIYEV]; Ata-Meken Socialist Party or Fatherland [Onurbek
  TEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Revival Party or ASABA [Chaprashty BAZARBAY];
  Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Democratic
  Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [T. A. SHAILIYEVA]; Dignity Party [Feliks
  KULOV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [Tursunbay Bakir
  UULU]; Justice Party [Chingiz AYTMATOV]; Movement for the People's
  Salvation [Jumgalbek AMAMBAYEV]; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [Jumagazy
  USUPOV]; My Country of Action [Almazbek ISMANKULOV]; National Unity
  Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Party of Communists of
  Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Absamat M. MASALIYEV]; Party of the Veterans of the War
  in Afghanistan [leader NA]; Peasant Party [leader NA]; People's Party
  [Melis ESHIMKANOV]; Poor and Unprotected People's Party [Daniyar USENOV];
  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
  DYRYIDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs

International organization participation:
  AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV chancery: 1732 Wisconsin
    Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
  FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John M. O'KEEFE embassy: 171 Prospect Mira,
    720016 Bishkek
  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 Kirghiz 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 Kirghiz yurt

§5. Kyrgyzstan Economy

Economy - overview:
  Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a predominantly
  agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural
  products and exports. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium,
  and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most progressive countries
  of the former Soviet Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a
  successful stabilization program, which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994
  to 15% for 1997, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much of
  the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production
  had been severe since the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but
  by mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase.
  Pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salary arrears
  continue to suffer. Foreign assistance played a substantial role in the
  country's economic turnaround in 1996-97. Growth was held down to 2.1% in
  1998 largely because of the spillover from Russia's economic difficulties,
  but moved ahead to 3.6% in 1999 and an estimated 5.7% in 2000. The
  government has adopted a series of measures to combat such persistent
  problems as excessive external debt, inflation, and inadequate revenue
  collection.

GDP:
  purchasing power parity - $12.6 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  5.7% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 39% industry: 22%
  services: 39% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  51% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  18.7% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
  1.7 million

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  6% (1998 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $207.4 million
  expenditures: $238.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999
    est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate:
  7% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
  12.981 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 6.67% hydro: 93.33%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  10.236 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  2.02 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  184 million kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products:
  tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep,
  goats, cattle, wool

Exports:
  $482 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery;
  shoes

Exports - partners:
  Germany 33%, Russia 16%, Kazakhstan 10%, Uzbekistan 10%, China 6% (1999)

Imports:
  $579 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  oil and gas, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
  Russia 18%, Kazakhstan 12%, US 9%, Germany 8%, Uzbekistan 8%, China (1999)

Debt - external:
  $1.4 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $329.4 million (1995)

Currency:
  Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)

Currency code:
  KGS

Exchange rates:
  soms per US dollar - 48.701 (January 2001), 47.704 (2000), 39.008 (1999),
  20.838 (1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810 (1996)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Kyrgyzstan Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  351,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  NA

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: 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 Service Providers (ISPs):
  NA

Internet users:
  10,000 (2000)

§7. Kyrgyzstan Transportation

Railways:
  total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
  broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Highways:
  total: 18,500 km (including 140 km of expressways)
  paved: 16,854 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in
    addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with
    gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather)
  unpaved: 1,646 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are
    difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1996)

Waterways:
  600 km (1990)

Pipelines:
  natural gas 200 km

Ports and harbors:
  Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Airports:
  50 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 46 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 6
  under 914 m: 32 (2000 est.)

§8. Kyrgyzstan Military

Military branches:
  Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops

Military manpower - military age:
  18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
  males age 15-49: 1,203,001 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
  males age 15-49: 975,744 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
  males: 50,590 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $12 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  1% (FY99)

§9. Kyrgyzstan Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara
  Valley area; periodic target of Islamic insurgents from Uzbekistan,
  Tajikistan, and Afghanistan

Illicit drugs:
  limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS
  consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as
  transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia and Western Europe from
  Southwest Asia
