Introduction :: Kyrgyzstan
Background
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of the territory of the present-day Kyrgyz Republic was formally annexed to the Russian Empire in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. The Kyrgyz Republic became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the countrys first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Interim President Roza OTUNBAEVA led a transitional government and following a nation-wide election, President Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to step down after serving one full six-year term as required in the countrys constitution. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning an October 2017 presidential election that was the most competitive in the countrys history, although international and local election observers noted cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. The president holds substantial powers as head of state even though the prime minister oversees the Kyrgyzstani Government and selects most cabinet members. The president represents the country internationally and can sign or veto laws, call for new elections, and nominate Supreme Court judges, cabinet members for posts related to security or defense, and numerous other high-level positions. Continuing concerns for the Kyrgyz Republic include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, a history of tense, and at times violent, interethnic relations, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.
Geography :: Kyrgyzstan
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 (4): China 1063 km, Kazakhstan 1212 km, Tajikistan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1314 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
mean elevation: 2,988 m
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar’ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 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: 55.4% (2011 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2011 est.) /** permanent crops:** 0.4% (2011 est.) /** permanent pasture:** 48.3% (2011 est.)
forest: 5.1% (2011 est.)
other: 39.5% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
10,233 sq km (2012)
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, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains
Natural hazards
major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes
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; air pollution due to rapid increase of traffic
Environment – international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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 :: Kyrgyzstan
Population
5,964,897 (July 2020 est.)
Nationality
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups
Kyrgyz 73.5%, Uzbek 14.7%, Russian 5.5%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2019 est.)
Languages
Kyrgyz (official) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)
Religions
Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha’i) (2017 est.)
Age structure
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 59.7
youth dependency ratio: 52.1
elderly dependency ratio: 7.5
potential support ratio: 13.2 (2020 est.)
Median age
total: 27.3 years
male: 26.1 years
female: 28.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate
0.96% (2020 est.)
Birth rate
20.6 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Death rate
6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Net migration rate
-5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 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, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains
Urbanization
urban population: 36.9% of total population (2020)
rate of urbanization: 2.03% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.038 million BISHKEK (capital) (2020)
Sex ratio
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.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
23.2 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
60 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 23.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.8 years
male: 67.7 years
female: 76.2 years (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.54 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
42% (2014)
Drinking water source
improved:** urban:** 97.1% of population
rural: 84.4% of population
total: 89.3% of population
unimproved:** urban:** 2.9% of population
rural: 15.6% of population
total: 10.7% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
6.2% (2017)
Physicians density
2.21 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density
4.4 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Sanitation facility access
improved:** urban:** 99.6% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.3% of population
unimproved:** urban:** 0.4% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.1% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate
0.2% (2018 est.)
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS
8,500 (2018 est.)
HIV/AIDS – deaths
<200 (2018 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
16.6% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.8% (2014)
Education expenditures
7.2% of GDP (2017)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2017)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 14.2%
male: 10.1%
female: 22.3% (2018 est.)
Government :: Kyrgyzstan
Country name
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 legendary Kyrgyz hero, MANAS
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: 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”
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)
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 the Soviet Union)
National holiday
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution
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 passed in a referendum in December 2016, effective December 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
Legal system
civil law system, which includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
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 Sooronbay JEENBEKOV (since 24 November 2017)
head of government: Prime Minister Kubatbek BORONOV (since 17 June 2020); note – Prime Minister Kubatbek BORONOV resigned on 6 October 2020
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president upon approval by the Supreme Council; defense and security committee chairs appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 6-year term; election last held on 15 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2023); prime minister nominated by the majority party or majority coalition in the Supreme Council, appointed by the president upon approval by the Supreme Council
election results: Sooronbay JEENBEKOV elected president in first round; percent of vote – Sooronbay JEENBEKOV (SDPK) 54.2%, Omurbek BABANOV (Respublika) 33.5%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (Butun Kyrgyzstan) 6.6%, Temir SARIYEV (Akshumar) 2.5%, other 3.2%; Kubatbek BORONOV approved as interim prime minister 105-2
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kengesh (120 seats; parties directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members selected from party lists to serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 October 2020 (next to be held NA); note – the results of the 2020 election were annulled on 6 October 2020 following mass protests
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – NA
Judicial branch
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
Political parties and leaders
Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Almambet SHYKMAMATOV]
Bir Bol (Stay United) [Altynbek SULAYMANOV]
Kyrgyzstan Party [Almazbek BAATYRBEKOV]
Onuguu-Progress (Development-Progress) [Bakyt TOROBAEV]
Respublika-Ata-Jurt (Republic-Homeland) [Jyrgalbek TURUSKULOV] (parliamentary faction)
Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan or SDPK [Almazbek ATAMBAEV, Isa OMURKULOV]
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
Ambassador Bolot I. OTUNBAEV (since 8 April 2018)
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: 1 449-9822
FAX: 1 449-8275
honorary consulate(s): Maple Valley (WA)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald LU (since 18 September 2018)
telephone: 996 597-000
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
FAX: 996 597-744
Flag description
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
National symbol(s)
white falcon; national colors: red, yellow
National anthem
None
Economy :: Kyrgyzstan
Economy – overview
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked, mountainous, lower middle income country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only cotton is exported in any quantity. Other exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and – in some years – electricity. The country has sought to attract foreign investment to expand its export base, including construction of hydroelectric dams, but a difficult investment climate and an ongoing legal battle with a Canadian firm over the joint ownership structure of the nations largest gold mine deter potential investors. Remittances from Kyrgyz migrant workers, predominantly in Russia and Kazakhstan, are equivalent to more than one-quarter of Kyrgyzstans GDP.
Following independence, Kyrgyzstan rapidly implemented market reforms, such as improving the regulatory system and instituting land reform. In 1998, Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. The government has privatized much of its ownership shares in public enterprises. Despite these reforms, the country suffered a severe drop in production in the early 1990s and has again faced slow growth in recent years as the global financial crisis and declining oil prices have dampened economies across Central Asia. The Kyrgyz government remains dependent on foreign donor support to finance its annual budget deficit of approximately 3 to 5% of GDP.
Kyrgyz leaders hope the countrys August 2015 accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will bolster trade and investment, but slowing economies in Russia and China and low commodity prices continue to hamper economic growth. Large-scale trade and investment pledged by Kyrgyz leaders has been slow to develop. Many Kyrgyz entrepreneurs and politicians complain that non-tariff measures imposed by other EAEU member states are hurting certain sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, such as meat and dairy production, in which they have comparative advantage. Since acceding to the EAEU, the Kyrgyz Republic has continued harmonizing its laws and regulations to meet EAEU standards, though many local entrepreneurs believe this process as disjointed and incomplete. Kyrgyzstans economic development continues to be hampered by corruption, lack of administrative transparency, lack of diversity in domestic industries, and difficulty attracting foreign aid and investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$23.15 billion (2017 est.)
$22.14 billion (2016 est.)
$21.22 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.565 billion (2017 est.)
GDP – real growth rate
4.6% (2017 est.)
4.3% (2016 est.)
3.9% (2015 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP)
$3,700 (2017 est.)
$3,600 (2016 est.)
$3,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Gross national saving
27.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
20.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
18.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 85.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 18.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 33.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.8% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 39.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -79% (2017 est.)
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 14.6% (2017 est.)
industry: 31.2% (2017 est.)
services: 54.2% (2017 est.)
Agriculture – products
cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate
10.9% (2017 est.)
Labor force
2.841 million (2017 est.)
Labor force – by occupation
agriculture: 48%
industry: 12.5%
services: 39.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate
7.1% (2017 est.)
7.2% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line
32.1% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 22.9% (2014 est.)
Budget
revenues: 2.169 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 2.409 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
28.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt
56% of GDP (2017 est.)
55.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.2% (2017 est.)
0.4% (2016 est.)
Current account balance
-$306 million (2017 est.)
-$792 million (2016 est.)
Exports
$1.84 billion (2017 est.)
$1.544 billion (2016 est.)
Exports – partners
Switzerland 59.1%, Uzbekistan 9.4%, Kazakhstan 5.1%, Russia 4.9%, UK 4% (2017)
Exports – commodities
gold, cotton, wool, garments, meat; mercury, uranium, electricity; machinery; shoes
Imports
$4.187 billion (2017 est.)
$3.709 billion (2016 est.)
Imports – commodities
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports – partners
China 32.6%, Russia 24.8%, Kazakhstan 16.4%, Turkey 4.8%, US 4.2% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.177 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.97 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt – external
$8.164 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$8.182 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
soms (KGS) per US dollar –
68.35 (2017 est.)
69.914 (2016 est.)
69.914 (2015 est.)
64.462 (2014 est.)
53.654 (2013 est.)
Energy :: Kyrgyzstan
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity – production
13.04 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity – consumption
10.52 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity – exports
184 million kWh (2015 est.)
Electricity – imports
331 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity – installed generating capacity
4.046 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity – from fossil fuels
24% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity – from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity – from hydroelectric plants
76% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity – from other renewable sources
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil – production
1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil – exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil – imports
4,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil – proved reserves
40 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products – production
6,996 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products – consumption
37,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products – exports
2,290 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products – imports
34,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas – production
28.32 million cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas – consumption
186.9 million cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas – exports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas – imports
169.9 million cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas – proved reserves
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
10.02 million Mt (2017 est.)
Communications :: Kyrgyzstan
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 331,140
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2018 est.)
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 8,735,246
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 149 (2018 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: fixed-line phones declining quickly by roll-out of 4G LTE mobile networks; digital radio-relay stations, and fiber-optic links; low fixed-line and fixed-broadband penetration and moderate mobile broadband penetration; international connectivity continues to grow; 4 mobile networks in operation; 4G networks cover over 50% of the nation, eventually 5G networks will be available (2020 )
domestic: fixed-line penetration 6 per 100 persons remains low and concentrated in urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership up to over 149 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code – 996; connections with other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, 9 members post-Soviet Republics in EU) 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 – 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic’s effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry – mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite – has moderated
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.kg
Internet users
total: 2,222,732
percent of population: 38% (July 2018 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 355,640
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2018 est.)
Military and Security :: Kyrgyzstan
Military and security forces
Kyrgyz Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Defense Forces, National Guard; State Border Service; Internal Troops (2019)
Military expenditures
1.5% of GDP (2019)
1.6% of GDP (2018)
1.6% of GDP (2017)
1.7% of GDP (2016)
1.8% of GDP (2015)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Kyrgyz Armed Forces have approximately 11,000 active duty troops (8,500 Land Forces; 2,500 Air Force/Air Defense) (2019 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Kyrgyz Armed Forces’ inventory is comprised of older Russian and Soviet-era equipment; outside of a small delivery by China in 2019, Russia continues to be the only supplier of weapons systems to Kyrgyzstan (2020)
Military deployments
contributes a battalion-sized unit to CSTO’s Rapid Reaction Force (2019 est.)
Military service age and obligation
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 (2016)
Transportation :: Kyrgyzstan
National air transport system
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)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
EX (2016)
Airports
28 (2013)
Airports – with paved runways
total: 18 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (2017)
under 914 m: 3 (2017)
Airports – with unpaved runways
total: 10 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
under 914 m: 8 (2013)
Pipelines
3566 km gas (2018), 16 km oil (2013)
Railways
total: 424 km (2018)
broad gauge: 424 km 1.520-m gauge (2018)
Roadways
total: 34,000 km (2018)
Waterways
600 km (2010)
Ports and terminals
lake port(s): Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach’ye)(Lake Ysyk-Kol)
Transnational Issues :: Kyrgyzstan
Disputes – international
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
Illicit drugs
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates
Source: https://www.cia.gov
