Culture
Major languages include Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.).
CIA 2026
Data as of May 5, 2026
Kyrgyzstan
AsiaLand of Contrasts
Kyrgyzstan ranks high and low in ways you wouldn't predict. Can you guess what else is surprising?
Kyrgyzstan ranks high and low in ways you wouldn't predict. #13 in education spending but near the bottom in urban population. Can you guess what else is surprising?
41.0, 75.0 - Asia
Area
200K km²
Pop.
6.22M
Stats
126
Reality brief
Kyrgyzstan is a country in Asia with a population of 6.22M and an area of 199,951 km². Life expectancy is 72.2 years.
Short factual summary generated from the same country data used in game rounds.
Core numbers
Stats worth knowing
Fast scan first, deep dive later.
Internet Users (%)
89%#65globally
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Land Area
191.8K km²#87globally
Total land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
University Enrollment Rate
53.17%#75globally
Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Life Expectancy
72.2 years#130globally
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Human Development Index
0.72#118globally
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Country briefing
Grounded facts about Kyrgyzstan
A quick real-world briefing before you dive deeper into rankings, surprises, and matchups.
Identity
Formal name: Kyrgyz Republic.
CIA 2026
Geography
Size snapshot: slightly smaller than South Dakota.
CIA 2026
Cities
Cities in Kyrgyzstan
Browse this country's cities before City Detective asks you to guess.
Top stats
Where They Stand Out
The strongest source-backed stats before the deeper data table.
Highest Elevation
7.4K m#7globallyTop stat
Highest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Education Spending (% GDP)
6.8% of GDP#13globallyTop stat
Government education spending as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Spirits Consumption
2.6 L/person/yr#28globallyTop stat
Liters of spirits consumed per person per year, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Military Spending
3.0% of GDP#29globally
Military expenditure as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Reality checks
Did You Know?
The stats that tend to surprise players in real rounds.
Only ranks #96 in r&d spending (% gdp)
#960.06% of GDPR&D Spending (% GDP)
Research and development spending as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Ranks #21 globally in lowest elevation
#21132 mLowest Elevation
Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Keeps inequality (gini) unusually low
#9627.2Inequality (Gini)
A measure of income inequality where 0 means everyone earns the same and 100 means one person has everything.
Only ranks #211 in coastline length
#2110 kmCoastline Length
Total coastline length from CIA World Factbook.
Only ranks #118 in railway length
#118424 kmRailway Length
Total railway length from CIA World Factbook.
Compared with the region
How Kyrgyzstan Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Kyrgyzstan
Asia avg
World avg
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
- Country
- $8,012.45
- Region avg
- $34,339.76
- World avg
- $31,844.55
Kyrgyzstan$8,012.45
Asia$34,339.76
World$31,844.55
-75% below worldWB 2023
Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
- Country
- 72.2 years
- Region avg
- 75.3 years
- World avg
- 73.7 years
Kyrgyzstan72.2 years
Asia75.3 years
World73.7 years
-2% below worldWB 2023
Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
- Country
- 0.72
- Region avg
- 0.75
- World avg
- 0.74
Kyrgyzstan0.72
Asia0.75
World0.74
-3% below worldOWID 2023
Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
- Country
- 89%
- Region avg
- 75.77%
- World avg
- 70.29%
Kyrgyzstan89%
Asia75.77%
World70.29%
+27% above worldWB 2023
Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Play this countryFactbook notes
About Kyrgyzstan
Country briefing
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions.
Read the full Factbook note
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Russian Empire annexed most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916, during which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to serve a full term and respect constitutional term limits, voluntarily stepping down at the end of his mandate. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election, which was the most competitive in the country’s history despite reported cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources.
In 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the 2021 legislative elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, tense regional relations, vulnerabilities due to climate change, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.
Geography & Climate6 facts
- Location
- Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan
- Climate
- dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
- Terrain
- peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country
- Natural Resources
- abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
- Natural Hazards
- major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than South Dakota
People & Culture4 facts
- Languages
- Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)
- Religions
- Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i) (2017 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Kyrgyz 73.8%, Uzbek 14.8%, Russian 5.1%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2021 est.)
- Major Cities
- 1.105 million BISHKEK (capital) (2023)
Government & History10 facts
- Government Type
- parliamentary republic
- Capital
- Bishkek
- Capital Coordinates
- 42 52 N, 74 36 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Name Origin
- named for the local Kyrgyz people, with "-stan" coming from the Persian word ostan, meaning "country;" the Kyrgyz name may derive from the Turkic root words kir, or "steppe," and gismek, "to wander;" the name is traditionally said to come from a combination of the Turkic words kyrg (forty) and -is (hundred), based on a tale about two tribes and the number of their tents
- Independence
- 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
- National Symbols
- white falcon
- National Anthem
- "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Economy & Trade7 facts
- Overview
- landlocked, lower-middle-income Central Asian economy; natural resource rich; growing hydroelectricity and tourism; high remittances; corruption limits investment; COVID-19 and political turmoil hurt GDP, limited public revenues, and increased spending
- Industries
- small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
- Agricultural Products
- milk, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2023)
- Export Partners
- Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
- Import Partners
- China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)
Infrastructure & Defense4 facts
- Military Forces
- Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic: Land Forces (Kygyz Army), Air Defense Forces (Kyrgyz Air Force), National Guard of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Service State Committee for National Security: Border Guard Service (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary service for men in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 12-month service obligation (9 months for university graduates), with optional fee-based 3-year service in the call-up mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 85.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- state-funded public TV broadcaster NTRK operates Ala-Too 24 news channel and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR is a state-owned TV station; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 TV stations are struggling to increase Kyrgyz-language content to 60% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; several Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations (2023)
Source:World Factbook archive 2026
Data vault
Deep Dive
Every tracked stat, grouped for fast scanning.
Wealth & Economy10 statsBest: #5
GDP Growth Rate
Inflation Rate
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
High-Tech Exports (%)
Government Debt (% GDP)
GDP (Nominal)
GDP Per Capita
Youth Unemployment Rate
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
Unemployment Rate
Land & Sea4 statsBest: #7
Highest Elevation
7.4K m#7
Lowest Elevation
132 m#21
Land Border Length
4.6K km#41
Coastline Length
0 km#211
Education & Future6 statsBest: #13
Lifestyle4 statsBest: #28
Military & Defense2 statsBest: #29
Health & Survival9 statsBest: #39
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
Smoking Rate
Child Mortality
Infant Mortality
Doctors (per 1,000)
Obesity Rate
Suicide Rate
Life Expectancy
Health Spending (% GDP)
Environment9 statsBest: #40
Irrigated Land
10.0K km²#40
Electricity Access (%)
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
Renewable Energy (%)
Total CO2 Emissions
Forest Area
CO2 Per Capita
Forest Coverage (%)
Protected Land (%)
Demographics12 statsBest: #60
Youth Population (%)
Fertility Rate
Dependency Ratio
Birth Rate
Land Area
Population
Teen Birth Rate
Elderly Population (%)
Death Rate
Median Age
Population Density
Urban Population (%)
Technology3 statsBest: #65
Society & Equality2 statsBest: #96
Energy1 statsBest: #100
Electric Generating Capacity
3.94M kW#100
Infrastructure2 statsBest: #118
Airports
Railway Length
424 km#118
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Kyrgyzstan
#65 in Internet Users (%)
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Top third globally
89%
Frequently Asked Questions about Kyrgyzstan
What is the population of Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan has a population of 6.22M, ranking #112 globally by population.
What continent is Kyrgyzstan in?
Kyrgyzstan is located in Asia. It has an area of 199,951 km².
What is the life expectancy in Kyrgyzstan?
Life expectancy in Kyrgyzstan is 72.2 years, ranking #130 globally.
What is the GDP per capita of Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan's GDP per capita (PPP) is $8,012.45, ranking #145 globally.
What is Kyrgyzstan known for in global statistics?
Kyrgyzstan ranks particularly high in Internet Users (%) (#65), Land Area (#87), Population (#112).
What is Kyrgyzstan's Human Development Index?
Kyrgyzstan has an HDI of 0.720, ranking #118 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
How densely populated is Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan has a population density of 37.0 people per km², ranking #164 globally.