Kyrgyzstan — CIA World Factbook

Central AsiaCapital: BishkekPop: 6,219,751 (2025 est.)

Introduction

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 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.

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries

total

4,573 km

border countries

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% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 46.9% (2023 est.)

forest

6.5% (2023 est.)

other

39.4% (2023 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

6,219,751 (2025 est.)

male

3,043,940

female

3,175,811

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)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

56 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

44.6 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

11.4 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

8.8 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

28.6 years (2025 est.)

male

26.9 years

female

29.8 years

Population growth rate

0.75% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

18.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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

42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

24 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

28.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female

20.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

72.9 years (2024 est.)

male

68.9 years

female

77.2 years

Total fertility rate

2.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.18 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 85.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 90.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 14.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 9.2% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.6% (2016)

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.)

Tobacco use

total

26% (2025 est.)

male

50.7% (2025 est.)

female

3.1% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.9% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.4% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0.3% (2018)

women married by age 18

12.9% (2018)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

19.6% national budget (2024 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

13 years (2024 est.)

male

12 years (2024 est.)

female

13 years (2024 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

water pollution; increasing soil salinity from irrigation practices; air pollution due to vehicle traffic

International environmental 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% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 46.9% (2023 est.)

forest

6.5% (2023 est.)

other

39.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

37.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total 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.)

Particulate matter emissions

40.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.113 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

14.6% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

224 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

336 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

7.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

23.618 billion cubic meters (2022 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)

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

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

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

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

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
Cohesion
Fatherland Kyrgyzstan
Ishenim
Light of Faith
Mekenchil
Social Democrats or SDK
United Kyrgyzstan

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Aibek MOLDOGAZIEV (since 11 June 2025)

chancery

2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 449-9822

FAX

[1] (202) 449-8275

email address and website

kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg

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

ConsularBishkek@state.gov

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 that 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 circular opening at the top of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt

meaning: the sun's rays represent the Kyrgyz tribes; red stands for bravery and valor, and the sun for peace and wealth

National symbol(s)

white falcon

National color(s)

red, yellow

National coat of arms

adopted in 1992, the coat of arms of Kyrgyzstan highlights two of its best-known geographic features, Issyk-Kul Lake and the Tien Shan mountain range; the falcon, the national symbol, stands for nobleness and purity, and light blue for courage and generosity; the word “Kyrgyz” appears at the top of the emblem, and “Republic” at the bottom; the wheat, cotton, and rising sun were symbols used during the Soviet era

National anthem(s)

title

"Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)

lyrics/music

Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV

history

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)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$50.907 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$46.686 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$42.826 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$7,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$6,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,100 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.478 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

13.9% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

11.9% (2021 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

8.6% (2024 est.)

industry

24.7% (2024 est.)

services

52.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

88.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption

16% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

12.5% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services

36.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-95.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

9.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

3.197 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

3.3% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

4.1% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

6.8% (2024 est.)

male

6.3% (2024 est.)

female

7.7% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

33.3% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

26.4 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

4.4% (2022 est.)

highest 10%

22% (2022 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023

18.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

26.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2021

32.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues

$4.84 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures

$4.452 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

40.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$5.18 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$737.696 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$374.257 million (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$3.628 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

$3.292 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2020

$2.435 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners

Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)

Exports - commodities

gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

Imports

Imports 2022

$10.655 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2021

$5.928 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2020

$4.051 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$5.089 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.237 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.799 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$3.617 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

soms (KGS) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

87.15 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

87.856 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

84.116 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

84.641 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

77.346 (2020 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.)

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.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

27.58 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

185,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

7.72 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

107 (2024 est.)

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.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

28 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

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

Military Expenditures 2024

3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

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 armaments from other suppliers such as Türkiye, which provided unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2025)

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 (2025)

Military - note

the Kyrgyz military’s primary responsibility is defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, although it also has some internal security duties; the military also participates in UN and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping missions, as well as bilateral and multinational exercises; particular issues of concern include border security and terrorism; 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

Kyrgyzstan has been a member of 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 (2025)

Terrorism

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

refugees

25,413 (2024 est.)

IDPs

12 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

925 (2024 est.)

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 remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/kyrgyz-republic/