THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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 kmnote - 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

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: 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: 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
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.)

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.)

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: 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
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 PartyAllianceCohesionFatherland KyrgyzstanIshenimLight of FaithMekenchilSocial Democrats or SDKUnited 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.kgEmbassy 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.govhttps://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 yurtmeaning: 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)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EX
Airports: 28 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways: total: 424 km (2022)
broad gauge: 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge

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 RepublicMinistry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security ServiceState 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 counterterrorismKyrgyzstan 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)

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

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/

Kyrgyzstan