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National Map
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Kyrgyzstan |
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National Flag
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Kyrgyzstan |
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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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Kyrgyzstan |
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National Anthem
Of |
Kyrgyzstan |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Kyrgyzstan |
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Background:
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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. Nation-wide demonstrations in the spring of 2005
resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAYEV, who
had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential
elections in July of 2005 were won overwhelmingly by
former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. Current
concerns include: privatization of state-owned
enterprises, expansion of democracy and political
freedoms, interethnic relations, and combating
terrorism. |
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Location:
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Central
Asia, west of China |
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Geographic coordinates:
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41 00 N,
75 00 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total:
198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than South Dakota |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051
km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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dry
continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in
southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern
foothill zone |
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Terrain:
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peaks of
Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass
entire nation |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439
m |
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Natural resources:
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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 |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 7.3%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 92.35%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural
growth walnut forest (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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10,740 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien
Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude
lakes |
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Population:
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5,146,281
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 31.6% (male 827,751/female 796,029)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 1,571,476/female
1,632,506)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 123,992/female
194,527) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
23.39 years
male: 22.52 years
female: 24.27 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.29%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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22.48
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.13
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-2.47
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
35.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 40.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 68.16 years
male: 64.16 years
female: 72.38 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.7
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than
0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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3,900
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
200 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani |
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Ethnic groups:
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Kyrgyz
64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%,
Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census) |
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Religions:
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Muslim
75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5% |
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Languages:
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Kyrgyz
(official), Russian (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Bishkek
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Administrative divisions:
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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)
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Independence:
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31 August
1991 (from Soviet Union) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 31 August (1991) |
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Constitution:
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adopted 5
May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV
and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003
significantly expands the powers of the president at the
expense of the legislature |
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Legal system:
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based on
civil law system |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 14
August 2005); note - former President Askar AKAYEV
resigned effective 11 April 2005 following widespread
protests that forced him to flee the country on 24 March
2005
head of government: Prime Minister Feliks KULOV
(since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected by popular
vote for a five-year term; election last held 10 July
2005 (next scheduled for NA 2010); prime minister
nominated by the president for approval by Parliament
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected
president; percent of vote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%,
Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other candidates 7.5%; Feliks
KULOV approved as prime minister 55-8 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
Supreme Council or Jorgorku 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); note
- in accordance with a 2003 referendum, the Parliament
is slated to become unicameral with 75 deputies after
the 27 February 2005 elections
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives -
last held 20 February and 12 March 2000; Legislative
Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000;
elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Kenesh
were held 27 February 2005, but the vast majority of
positions remained undecided and were to be contested in
a runoff election scheduled for 13 March 2005; election
irregularities caused widespread protests that resulted
in the president being forced to flee the country; new
legislative elections have not yet been rescheduled
election results: Assembly of People's
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
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 |
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Judicial branch:
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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 |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Adilet
(Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian Labor
Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of
Kyrgyzstan [Erkin ALIYEV]; Alga, Kyrgyzstan (Forward,
Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party
[Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National Revival Party)
[Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek
TEKEBAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara
ADZHIBEKOVA]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK
[Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive and
Democratic Party [Bektur ASANOV]; Erkindik (Freedom)
Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Future of Kyrgyzstan
[Balbak TULEBAYEV]; Jany Kyrgyzstan (New Kyrgyzstan)
[Dosbol NUR UULU]; Kairan El [Dooronbek SADYKOV]; Kyrgyz
National Party [Bakyt BESHIMOV]; Kyrgyzstan Kelechegi
[Ruslan CHYNYBAYEV]; Manas El (Party of Spiritual
Restoration) [Chingiz AITMATOV]; Moya Strana (My Country
Party of Action) [Joomart OTORBAYEV]; Party of
Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Bakytbek BEKBOYEV];
Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV];
Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Council
of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights
[Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic
Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs |
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International organization participation:
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AsDB,
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139
consulate(s): New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a
predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco,
wool, and meat are the main agricultural products,
although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any
quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury,
uranium, and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has
been fairly progressive in carrying out market reforms,
such as an improved regulatory system and land reform.
Kyrgyzstan was the first CIS country to be accepted into
the World Trade Organization. With fits and starts,
inflation has been lowered to an estimated 7% in 2001,
2.1% in 2002, 4% in 2003, and 3.2% in 2004. Much of the
government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops
in production had been severe after the breakup of the
Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995
production began to recover and exports began to
increase. Kyrgyzstan has distinguished itself by
adopting relatively liberal economic policies. The drop
in output at the Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline
in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bounced back to 6% in
2003 and 2004. The government has made steady strides in
controlling its substantial fiscal deficit and aims to
reduce the deficit to 3% of GDP in 2004. The government
and the international financial institutions have been
engaged in a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction
and economic growth strategy. Further restructuring of
domestic industry and success in attracting foreign
investment are keys to future growth. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$8.495
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 38.5%
industry: 22.8%
services: 38.7% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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2.7
million (2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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18% (2004
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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40% (2004
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23.3% (2001) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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29 (2001)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.2%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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17% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $431.3 million
expenditures: $445.4 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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tobacco,
cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and
berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool |
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Industries:
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small
machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes,
sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors,
gold, rare earth metals |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6% (2000
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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11.72
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 7.6%
hydro: 92.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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10.21
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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1.062
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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375
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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2,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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20,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Natural gas - production:
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16
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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2.016
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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2 billion
cu m (2001 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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$-87.92
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$646.7
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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cotton,
wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural
gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes |
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Exports - partners:
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UAE
28.2%, Russia 19.1%, China 12%, Kazakhstan 11.1%,
Switzerland 6.3% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$775.1
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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oil and
gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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China
26.3%, Russia 22.3%, Kazakhstan 17.1%, Turkey 5.4%
(2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$498.7
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.97
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$50
million from the US (2001) |
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Currency (code):
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Currency code:
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KGS |
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Exchange rates:
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soms per
US dollar - 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003), 46.937 (2002),
48.378 (2001), 47.704 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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394,800
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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53,100
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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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: country code - 996; 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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 12
(plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
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Radios:
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520,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA
(repeater stations throughout the country relay programs
from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)
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Televisions:
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210,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.kg |
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Internet hosts:
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12,299
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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NA |
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Internet users:
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152,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
470 km
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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600 km
(2004) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 367
km; oil 13 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Balykchy
(Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye) |
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Airports:
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52 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army, Air
Force, National Guard (2004) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for compulsory military service (2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 1,193,529 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 871,493 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
61,091 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$19.2
million (FY01) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.4%
(FY01) |
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Disputes - international:
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delimitation with Kazakhstan is complete; disputes in
Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with
Tajikistan; delimitation is underway with Uzbekistan but
serious disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue
to mar progress for some 130 km of border |
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Illicit drugs:
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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 |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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