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Home/Countries/Kyrgyzstan

Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan.

Muslim population90%of the population
Population7.4 millionpeople (current)
CapitalBishkekUTC+6
Currency87.15 = $1Soms (KGS) (2024)

Country basics

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked Central Asian republic covered largely by the Tian Shan mountains.

Kyrgyzstan is a republic with Bishkek as its capital and Kyrgyz and Russian as official languages, and mountains cover most of it. The som is the currency, and gold mining, remittances and re-export trade lead its foreign earnings.

Official name
Kyrgyz Republic
Region
Asia · Central Asia
Government
Unitary presidential republic
Time zonesCheck the offset for your own city
UTC+06:00
Driving side
Right
Phone code
+996
Currency
Kyrgyzstani som (KGS, с)
Member of
UN
Website
https://www.gov.kg

Faith and language

Religions
Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i)
Languages
Kyrgyz; Russian

People and cities

Population
7.4 million (current)
Median ageHalf the population is younger than this
28.6 years (2025)
Living in cities
37.8% (2023)
Largest cities
Bishkek (capital) 1.105 million

Money and cost of living

Exchange rateYearly average; check today’s rate before you budget
87.15 soms (KGS) per US dollar (2024)
Income per personGDP per person, adjusted for local prices (2021 dollars)
$7,000 (2024)
InflationHow much prices rose over the year
10.8% (2023)
Unemployment
3.3% (2024)

Health and daily life

Life expectancy
72.9 years (2024)
Doctors
1.85 per 1,000 people (2023)
Hospital beds
4.2 per 1,000 people (2021)
Safe drinking water
90.8% of people (2022)
Electricity
99.7% of people (2022)
Internet users
89% of people (2023)

Land and climate

Climate
Dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
SizeSlightly smaller than South Dakota
199,951 sq km
Natural hazards
Major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes
National holiday
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)