1.
[syn: Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Kirghizia, Kirgizia, Kirghiz, Kirgiz, Kirghizstan, Kirgizstan]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Kyrgyzstan
n 1: a landlocked republic in west central Asia bordering on
northwestern China; formerly an Asian soviet but became
independent in 1991 [syn: Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Kirghizia, Kirgizia, Kirghiz, Kirgiz,
Kirghizstan, Kirgizstan]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Kyrgyzstan
Introduction Kyrgyzstan
-----------------------
Background: A Central Asian country of
incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was
annexed by Russia in 1864; it
achieved independence from the
Soviet Union in 1991. Current
concerns include: privatization of
state-owned enterprises, expansion
of democracy and political freedoms,
interethnic relations, and combating
terrorism.
Geography Kyrgyzstan
--------------------
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries: total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km,
Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry continental to polar in high
Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest
(Fergana Valley); temperate in
northern foothill zone
Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan and associated
valleys and basins encompass entire
nation
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kara-Daryya
(Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik
Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources: abundant hydropower; significant
deposits of gold and rare earth
metals; locally exploitable coal,
oil, and natural gas; other deposits
of nepheline, mercury, bismuth,
lead, and zinc
Land use: arable land: 7.04%
permanent crops: 0.39%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's
largest natural growth walnut forest
(1998 est.)
other: 92.57%
Irrigated land: 10,740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
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
Environment - international party to: Air Pollution,
agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; entirely mountainous,
dominated by the Tien Shan range;
many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-
altitude lakes
People Kyrgyzstan
-----------------
Population: 4,822,166 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34.4% (male 838,224;
female 821,230)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 1,403,328;
female 1,459,914)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male
113,861; female 185,609) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.45% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 26.11 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -2.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.56 years
female: 67.98 years (2002 est.)
male: 59.35 years
Total fertility rate: 3.16 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ less than 100 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek
12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%,
other 11.8%
Religions: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%,
other 5%
Languages: Kyrgyz - official language, Russian
- official language
note: in December 2001, the
Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian
an official language, equal in
status to Kyrgyz
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government Kyrgyzstan
---------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Kyrgyz
Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist
Republic
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Government type: republic
Capital: Bishkek
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (oblastlar, singular -
oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar); Batken
Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy
Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad
Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty,
Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty
(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 Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment
proposed by President AKAYEV and
passed in a national referendum on
10 February 1996 significantly
expands the powers of the president
at the expense of the legislature
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Askar
AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister
Nikolay TANAYEV (since 22 May 2002);
note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek
BAKIYEV resigned on 22 May 2002 when
five demonstrators were killed in
clashes with the police
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Askar AKAYEV
reelected president; percent of vote
- Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek
TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%;
note - election marred by serious
irregularities
elections: president reelected by
popular vote for a five-year term;
elections last held 29 October 2000
(next to be held November or
December 2005); prime minister
appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council or
Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the
Assembly of People's Representatives
(70 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year
terms) and the Legislative Assembly
(35 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
election results: Assembly of
People's Representatives - percent
of vote by party - NA%; percent of
vote by party - NA; and Legislative
Assembly - percent of vote by party
- NA%; seats by party - NA; note -
total seats by party in the Supreme
Council were as follows: Union of
Democratic Forces 12, Communists 6,
My Country Party of Action 4,
independents 73, other 10
note: the legislature became
bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections; the 2000 election results
include both the Assembly of
People's Representatives and the
Legislative Assembly
elections: Assembly of People's
Representatives - last held 20
February and 12 March 2000 (next to
be held NA February 2005);
Legislative Assembly - last held 20
February and 12 March 2000 (next to
be held NA February 2005)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are appointed
for 10-year terms by the Supreme
Council on the recommendation of the
president); Constitutional Court;
Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan
[Uson S. SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of
Kyrgyzstan [Arkin ALIYEV]; Ata-Meken
or Fatherland [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV];
Banner National Revival Party or
ASABA [Chaprashty BAZARBAY];
Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or
DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Democratic
Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [T. A.
SHAILIYEVA]; Dignity Party [Feliks
KULOV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive
and Democratic Party [Tursunbay
Bakir UULU]; Justice Party [Chingiz
AYTMATOV]; Movement for the People's
Salvation [Jumgalbek AMAMBAYEV];
Mutual Help Movement or Ashar
[Jumagazy USUPOV]; My Country of
Action [Almazbek ISMANKULOV];
National Unity Democratic Movement
or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Party of
Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP
[Absamat M. MASALIYEV]; Party of the
Veterans of the War in Afghanistan
[leader NA]; Peasant Party [leader
NA]; People's Party [Melis
ESHIMKANOV]; Republican Popular
Party of Kyrgyzstan [J.
SHARSHENALIYEV]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [J. IBRAMOV]; Union of
Democratic Forces (composed of
Social Democratic Party of
Kyrgyzstan or PSD [J. IBRAMOV],
Economic Revival Party, and Birimdik
Party
Political pressure groups and Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz
leaders: Committee on Human Rights [Ramazan
DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity
Democratic Movement; Union of
Entrepreneurs
International organization AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
participation: ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM
(observer), OIC, OPCW (signatory),
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt
ABDRISAYEV
FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139
consulate(s): New York
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador John M.
US: O'KEEFE
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016
Bishkek
mailing address: use embassy street
address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241,
(517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
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 the
roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy Kyrgyzstan
------------------
Economy - overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor,
mountainous country with a
predominantly agricultural economy.
Cotton, wool, and meat are the main
agricultural products and exports.
Industrial exports include gold,
mercury, uranium, and electricity.
Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most
progressive countries of the former
Soviet Union in carrying out market
reforms. With fits and starts,
inflation has been lowered to an
estimated 7% in 2001. Much of the
government's stock in enterprises
has been sold. Drops in production
had been severe since the breakup of
the Soviet Union in December 1991,
but by mid-1995 production began to
recover and exports began to
increase. Growth was held down to
2.1% in 1998 largely because of the
spillover from Russia's economic
difficulties, but moved ahead to
3.6% in 1999, 5% in 2000, and 5%
again in 2001. Despite these gains,
poverty indicators are no better in
2001 than in 1996. On the positive
side, the government and the
international financial institutions
have embarked on a comprehensive
medium-term poverty reduction and
economic growth strategy. In
November 2001, with financing
assurance from the Paris Club, the
IMF Board approved a three-year, $93
million Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.5
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,800
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38%
industry: 27%
services: 35% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 55% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 2.7%
percentage share: highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini 40.5 (1997)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 55%, industry 15%,
services 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.2% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $207.4 million
expenditures: $238.7 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1999 est.)
Industries: small machinery, textiles, food
processing, cement, shoes, sawn
logs, refrigerators, furniture,
electric motors, gold, rare earth
metals
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 14.677 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 7.62%
hydro: 92.38%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 9.818 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 4.153 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 321 million kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, cotton, potatoes,
vegetables, grapes, fruits and
berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Exports: $475 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold,
mercury, uranium, hydropower;
machinery; shoes
Exports - partners: Germany 28.7%, Uzbekistan 17.7%,
Russia 12.9%, China 8.7%, Kazakhstan
6.6% (2000)
Imports: $420 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: oil and gas, machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners: Russia 23.9%, Uzbekistan 13.5%,
Kazakhstan 10.3%, US 9.7%, Turkey
4.8% (2000)
Debt - external: $1.6 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $50 million from the US (2001)
Currency: Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
Currency code: KGS
Exchange rates: soms per US dollar - 47.972 (January
2002), 48.378 (2001), 47.704 (2000),
39.008 (1999), 20.838 (1998), 17.362
(1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Kyrgyzstan
-------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 351,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: poorly
developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
applications for household
telephones
domestic: principally microwave
radio relay; one cellular provider,
probably limited to Bishkek region
international: connections with
other CIS 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 - 1 Intersputnik and 1
Intelsat; connected internationally
by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE)
fiber-optic line
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations),
FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 520,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA (repeater stations throughout the
country relay programs from Russia,
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey)
(1997)
Televisions: 210,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .kg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Internet users: 51,600 (2001)
Transportation Kyrgyzstan
-------------------------
Railways: total: 370 km in common carrier
service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge
(1990)
Highways: total: 30,300 km (including 140 km
of expressways)
paved: 22,600 km (includes some all-
weather gravel-surfaced roads)
unpaved: 7,700 km (these roads are
made of unstabilized earth and are
difficult to negotiate in wet
weather) (1990)
Waterways: 600 km (1990)
Pipelines: natural gas 200 km
Ports and harbors: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports: 50 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 46
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 32 (2001)
Military Kyrgyzstan
-------------------
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Security
Forces, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,234,457 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 1,001,274 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching military males: 50,590 (2002 est.)
age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $19.2 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.4% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
-------------------------------
Disputes - international: territorial dispute with Tajikistan
on southwestern boundary in Isfara
Valley area; dispute over access to
Sokh and other Uzbek enclaves in
Kyrgyzstan mars progress on boundary
delimitation; disputes over
provision of water and hydroelectric
power to Kazakhstan; periodic target
of Islamic insurgents from
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and
Afghanistan
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of
cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for
CIS consumption; limited government
eradication program; increasingly
used as transshipment point for
illicit drugs to Russia and Western
Europe from Southwest Asia