Kyrgyzstan

The main languages spoken in Kyrgyzstan are:
Kyrgyz - the state/official language, spoken by ~71.4% of the population as a mother tongue.
Russian - also an official language, spoken by ~9%, and widely used in business and government.
Uzbek is spoken by ~14.4% of the population, particularly in the south.
Both Kyrgyz and Russian are official languages of Kyrgyzstan.

Geography

Location: Central Asia, west of China; landlocked

Map references: Central Asia

Area:
total: 191,800-200,105 sq km

Land boundaries:
border countries: China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Terrain: 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

Population: 6.6-7.4 million (2024-2026 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.1-30.3%
15-64 years: 64%
65 years and over: 5.27-6.9%

Median age: 25.4-28.6 years

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.4-72.9 years
male: 68.9 years
female: 77.2 years

Nationality:
adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz 73.2-73.8%, Uzbek 14.4-14.8%, Russian 5.1-5.8%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2-5.3% (Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2017-2021 est.)

Religions: Muslim 75-90% (majority Sunni), Russian Orthodox 3-20%, other 3-5%

Languages: Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)

Population distribution: vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest settlement is to the north, in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; least densely populated area is the east, in the Tien Shan mountains

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan

Data code: KG

Government type: presidential republic

National capital: Bishkek

Independence: 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Background: a mountainous, formerly nomadic Turkic society where ties of clan and region still matter; Central Asia's most politically volatile state, having ousted three presidents by revolution since 2005; a large share of its workforce labors abroad, primarily in Russia

Economy

Economy - overview: lower-middle-income, developing economy heavily dependent on agriculture; gold from the Kumtor mine, remittances (roughly a quarter of GDP), and re-export bazaars trading Chinese goods anchor a small, open economy; hydropower and minerals hold most of the country's untapped potential

GDP (purchasing power parity): $57.86-68.69 billion (2024-2026 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 11.1% (2025)

GDP - per capita: $8,870-9,320 PPP (2025-2026 est.)

Inflation rate: 5.0-8% (2024-2025)

Unemployment rate: 3.5% (2025)

Population below poverty line: 29.8% (2023)

Currency: Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)

Military

Military branches: Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic: Land Forces, Air Defense Forces, National Guard; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Service; State Committee for National Security: Border Guard Service (2025)

Transnational Issues

Trafficking in persons - tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List (2025)