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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

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)