Kyrgyzstan

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

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

• 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, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains

• 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

noun:

Kyrgyzstani(s)

adjective:

Kyrgyzstani

• 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, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.78 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.62 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

• 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;
• air pollution due to rapid increase of traffic

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

particulate matter emissions:

18.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

9.79 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

4.47 megatons (2020 est.)

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

urban population:

37.1% of total population (2021)

rate of urbanization:

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

municipal:

224 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial:

336 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural:

7.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

conventional long form:

Kyrgyz Republic

conventional short form:

Kyrgyzstan

local long form:

Kyrgyz Respublikasy

local short form:

Kyrgyzstan

former:

Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

etymology:

• a combination of the Turkic words "kyrg" (forty) and "-yz" (tribes) with the Persian suffix "-stan" (country) creating the meaning "Land of the Forty Tribes";
• the name refers to the 40 clans united by the mythic Kyrgyz hero, Manas

name:

Bishkek

geographic coordinates:

42 52 N, 74 36 E

time difference:

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

founded in 1868 as a Russian settlement on the site of a previously destroyed fortress named "Pishpek"; the name was retained and overtime became "Bishkek"

• 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 have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

history:

• previous 1993;
• latest adopted by referendum 27 June 2010, effective 2 July 2010;
• note - constitutional amendments that bolstered some presidential powers and transferred others from the president to the prime minister were passed in late 2017

amendments:

• 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;
• amended 2017, 2021;
• note - voters approved a constitutional referendum in April 2021 that transitioned Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and implemented changes that allow the president to serve for two five-year terms rather that one six-year term, reduces the number of seats in Kyrgyzstan's legislature from 120 to 90, and establishes a Kurultay - a public advisory council

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

chief of state:

President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)

head of government:

Prime Minister Sadyr JAPAROV

cabinet:

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 10 January 2021 (next to be held in 2027)

election results:

Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV 79.5%, Adakhan MADUMAROV 6.5%, other 14%

highest courts:

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

• Alliance [Mirlan JEENCHOROEV]
• Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Homeland) [Aybek MATKERIMOV]
• Butun Kyrgyzstan (All Kyrgyzstan) [Adakhan MADUMAROV]
• Ishenim (Trust in Kyrgyz) [Rysbat AMATOV]
• Yntymak (Unity) [Marlen MAMATALIEV]
• Yyman Nuru (Light of Faith) [Nurjigit KADYRBEKOV]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Baktybek AMANBAYEV (since 7 July 2021)

chancery:

2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 449-9822

FAX:

[1] (202) 449-8275

email address and website:

[email protected]; [email protected]; https://mfa.gov.kg/en/dm/-Embassy-of-the-Kyrgyz-Republic-in-the-USA-and-Canada

honorary consulate(s):

Maple Valley (WA)

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alan MELTZER (July 2021)

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/

• red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz 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 a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt;
• red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace and wealth

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

agriculture:

48%

industry:

12.5%

services:

39.5% (2005 est.)

total:

9.6%

male:

7.8%

female:

13.4% (2018 est.)

lowest 10%:

4.4%

highest 10%:

22.9% (2014 est.)

• state-funded public TV broadcaster KTRK has nationwide coverage;
• also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels;
• ELTR and Channel 5 are state-owned stations with national reach;
• the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth;
• approximately 20 stations are struggling to increase their own content up to 50% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music;
• 3 Russian TV stations also broadcast;
• state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2019)

number of registered air carriers:

5 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

709,198 (2018)

total:

424 km (2018)

broad gauge:

424 km 1.520-m gauge (2018)

Kyrgyz Armed Forces:

• Land Forces, Air Defense Forces, National Guard;
• State Border Service;
• Internal Troops;
• State Committee for National Security (2021)

• the Kyrgyz Armed Forces' inventory is comprised of mostly older Russian and Soviet-era equipment;
• Kyrgyzstan relies on donations of military equipment, which come mostly from Russia under a 2013 agreement between Bishkek and Moscow (2021)

• 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary male military service in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry;
• 1-year 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 (2021)

• disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan;
• delimitation of approximately 15% or 200 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areas

current situation:

• human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstanis abroad;
• Kyrgyz men, women, and children are exploited in forced labor in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and other European countries specifically in agriculture, construction, textiles, domestic service, and childcare;
• sex traffickers exploit Kyrgyz women and girls domestically and in India, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates;
• problems with police misconduct and corruption include allegations that police threaten and extort sex trafficking victims and accept bribes from alleged traffickers to drop cases;
• street children who beg or do domestic work are vulnerable to traffickers

tier rating:

• Tier 2 Watch List — Kyrgyzstan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so;
• the government adopted a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) that established formal policies on victim identification and the provision of social services;
• the government established an interagency focus group to accelerate implementation of the NRM and improve law enforcement investigations;
• authorities increased investigations but did not prosecute or convict any traffickers;
• the government conducted limited training on the NRM;
• some officials reportedly dropped charges or tipped off suspects and allowed victims to be pressured or paid to drop charges against alleged traffickers;
• the government’s written plan, if implemented, would meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, Kyrgyzstan was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 (2020)