Kyrgyzstan

republicIndependence 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union

Kyrgyzstan as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 72 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBishkek (formerly Frunze)

Area198,500 km2

Populationas each edition published it

4.57 million July 1992 · 6.22m in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.56% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 22.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 67.71 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4 children per woman 1992 · 2.43 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

56 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 24 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $2,440 in 1994

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -25% in 1993

Geography

12 fields

Total area

198,500km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries

3,878km

China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Disputes

territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southern boundary in Isfara Valley area

Climate

dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in south (Fergana Valley)

Terrain

peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation

Natural resources

small amounts of coal, natural gas, oil; also nepheline, rare earth metals, mercury, bismuth, gold, uranium, lead, zinc, hydroelectric power

Land use

NA% arable land;
NA% permanent crops;
NA% meadows and pastures;
NA% forest and woodland;
NA% other;
includes NA% irrigated

People

14 fields

Population

4,567,875

(July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

31Death

Ethnic divisions

Kirghiz 52%Russian 21%Uzbek 13%other 14%

Labor force

1,894,000

(1989); agriculture 33%, other 49%, industry 18%, other NA% (1988)

Literacy

NA% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write

Government

Republic

19 fields

Administrative divisions

6 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast');
Chu, Dzhalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul', Naryn, Osh, Talas;
note - an oblast has the same name as its administrative center

Independence

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union; formerly Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic)

Constitution

adopted NA, effective 20 April 1978, amended 23 September 1989; note - new constitution is being drafted

Leaders

President Askar AKAYEV;
Vice President Felix KULOV;
Chairman, Supreme Soviet, Medetkav SHERIMKULOV;
Spiritual leader of Kyrgyz Muslims, Sadykzhav KAMALOV

Chief of State:: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990), Vice President Felix KULOV (since 2 March 1992)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Tursenbek CHYNGYSHEV (since 2 March 1992)

Political parties and leaders

Kyrgyzstan Democratic Movement, Zhypur ZHEKSHEYEV, Kazat AKMAKOV, and Toshubek TURGANALIEV, co-chairmen of popular front coalition of 40 informal groups for Democratic Renewal and Civic Accord, 117-man pro-Akayev parliamentary faction;
Civic Accord, Coalition representing nonnative minority groups;
National Revived Asaba (Banner) Party, Asan ORMUSHEV, chairman;
Communist Party now banned

Elections

President:: last held 12 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - AKAYEV won in uncontested election with 95% of vote with 90% of electorate voting;
note - Republic Supreme Soviet elections held 25 February 1990;
presidential elections held first by Supreme Soviet 28 October 1990, then by popular vote 12 October 1991
Supreme Soviet:: note - last held 25 February 1990 (next to be held no later than November 1994); results - Commnunists (310) 90%, seats - (350 total)

Other political or pressure groups

National Unity Democratic Movement;
Peasant Party;
Council of Free Trade Union;
Union of Entrepreneurs

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador NA;
Chancery at NW, Washington, DC 200__;
telephone (202) NA;
there are Consulates General in NA;

US:: Charge Ralph Bresler; Interim Chancery at #66 Derzhinskiy Prospekt;
Residence:: Hotel Pishpek (mailing address is APO AE 09862); telephone 8-011-7-3312-22-22-70

Flag

red-orange field with yellow sun in center with folk motif medallion inscribed

Economy

Kyrgyzstan's small economy (less than 1% of the total for the former Soviet | Union) is oriented toward agriculture, producing mainly livestock such as | goats and sheep, as well as cotton, grain, and tobacco.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

88%

(1991)

External debt

$650million

(1991)

Overview

Kyrgyzstan's small economy (less than 1% of the total for the former Soviet Union) is oriented toward agriculture, producing mainly livestock such as goats and sheep, as well as cotton, grain, and tobacco. Industry, concentrated around Bishkek, produces small quantities of electric motors, livestock feeding equipment, washing machines, furniture, cement, paper, and bricks.

Mineral extraction is small, the most important minerals being rare earth metals and gold. Kyrgyzstan is a net importer of most types of food and fuel but is a net exporter of electricity. By early 1991, the Kirghiz leadership had accelerated reform, primarily by privatizing business and granting life-long tenure to farmers. In 1991 overall industrial and livestock output declined substantially.

GDP

purchasing power equivalent - $NA billion, per capita $NA; real growth rate -5% (1991)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues $NA million; expenditures $NA million

Exports

$115 million (1990)

commodities:: wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes, machinery, tobacco
partners:: Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others

Imports

$1.5 million (c.i.f., 1990); commodities: lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear

Industrial production

growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Electricity

NA kW capacity; 13,900 million kWh produced, 3,232 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries, cement, shoes, sawn logs, steel, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, and rare earth metals

Agriculture

wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep and goats) and cattle, vegetables, meat, grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes

Illicit drugs

poppy cultivation legal

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $NA billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million;
Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million

Currency

as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Networkskm · (1990)

Highways

30,300Railroads

370

Highways: ; 22,600 km paved or graveled, 7,700 km earth · Railroads: ; does not include industrial lines

Railroads

370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)

Highways

30,300 km total; 22,600 km paved or graveled, 7,700 km earth(1990)

Inland waterways

NA km perennially navigable

Pipelines

Ports

none - landlocked

Civil air

Airports

Telecommunications

poorly developed;
connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch;
satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only)