A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAEV, who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Over the next few years, the new president manipulated the parliament to accrue new powers for himself. In July 2009, after months of harassment against his opponents and media critics, BAKIEV won re-election in a presidential campaign that the international community deemed flawed. In April 2010, nationwide protests led to the resignation and expulsion of BAKIEV. His successor, Roza OTUNBAEVA, served as transitional president until Almazbek ATAMBAEV was inaugurated in December 2011. Continuing concerns include: the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, poor interethnic relations, and terrorism.

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan

slightly smaller than South Dakota

dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation

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

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

landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uighur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)

Kyrgyz (official) 64.7%, Uzbek 13.6%, Russian (official) 12.5%, Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)

Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

5,496,737 (July 2012 est.)

23.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-8.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

BISHKEK (capital) 854,000 (2009)

71 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

2.73 children born/woman (2012 est.)

2.301 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

5.06 beds/1,000 population (2007)

urban: 94% of population

rural: 93% of population

total: 93% of population

urban: 6% of population

rural: 7% of population

total: 7% of population

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

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)

31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

civil law system which includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kengesh (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the Jogorku Kengesh on the recommendation of the president; their mandatory retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration; Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a probationary period of five years, then 10 years)

Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Feliks KULOV]; Ata-Jurt (Homeland) [Kamchybek TASHIEV, Akhmat KELDIBEKOV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAEV]; Butun Kyrgyzstan (All Kyrgyzstan) [Adakhan MADUMAROV]; Respublika [Omurbek BABANOV]; Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) [Almazbek ATAMBAEV]

Adilet (Justice) Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Citizens Against Corruption [Tolekan ISMAILOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Kylym Shamy (Torch of the Century) [Aziza ABDIRASULOVA]; Precedent Partnership Group [Nurbek TOKTAKUNOV]; Societal Analysis Public Association [Rita KARASARTOVA]; Union of True Muslims [Nurlan MOTUEV]

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt; red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace and wealth

Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a dominant agricultural sector. 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, natural gas, and electricity. The economy depends heavily on gold exports - mainly from output at the Kumtor gold mine - and on remittances from Kyrgyzstani migrant workers priimarily in Russia. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. 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. In 2005, the BAKIEV government and international financial institutions initiated a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. The government made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007-08. GDP grew about 8% annually in 2007-08, partly due to higher gold prices internationally, but slowed to 2.9% in 2009. The overthrow of President BAKIEV in April 2010 and subsequent ethnic clashes left hundreds dead and damaged infrastructure. Shrinking trade and agricultural production, as well as political instability, caused GDP to contract 0.5% in 2010. The fiscal deficit widened to 11% of GDP, reflecting significant increases in crisis-related spending, including both rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and bank recapitalization. The economy grew 5.7% in 2011, but slowed to around 1% in 2012, primarily because of decreased production from Kumtor; the budget deficit has been reduced to under 8% of GDP. Progress in reconstruction, fighting corruption, restructuring domestic industry, and attracting foreign aid and investment are key to future growth.

$13.47 billion (2012 est.)

$13.34 billion (2011 est.)

$12.62 billion (2010 est.)

$6.197 billion (2012 est.)

2.344 million (2007)

25.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

28.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

-7.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

13.73% (22 December 2011 est.)

2.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

28.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

34.07% (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.363 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.952 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.654 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$897.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$759.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$165 million (31 December 2011)

$79 million (31 December 2010)

$71.84 million (31 December 2009)

tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool

-$546.3 million (2012 est.)

-$252.4 million (2011 est.)

$2.294 billion (2012 est.)

$2.331 billion (2011 est.)

gold, cotton, wool, garments, meat, tobacco; mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Uzbekistan 25.3%, Russia 22.1%, Kazakhstan 20.1%, China 7.8%, UAE 5.5%, Afghanistan 5%, Turkey 4.2% (2011)

$4.272 billion (2012 est.)

$3.959 billion (2011 est.)

oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

China 59.7%, Russia 13.9%, Kazakhstan 5.2% (2011)

$2.164 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.835 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$3.666 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$3.602 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.669 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.409 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

soms (KGS) per US dollar -

14.9 billion kWh (2011 est.)

7.29 billion kWh (2009 est.)

2.62 billion kWh (2011 est.)

535 million kWh (2008 est.)

3.64 million kW (2009 est.)

20.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

79.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

2,387 bbl/day (2009 est.)

40 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

2,607 bbl/day (2008 est.)

16,640 bbl/day (2011 est.)

5,902 bbl/day (2008 est.)

28,940 bbl/day (2008 est.)

12.5 million cu m (2010 est.)

462.5 million cu m (2010 est.)

450 million cu m (2010 est.)

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

4.131 million Mt (2010 est.)

6.277 million (2011)

state-run TV broadcaster operates 2 nationwide networks and 6 regional stations; roughly 20 private TV stations operating with most rebroadcasting other channels; state-run radio broadcaster operates 2 networks; about 20 private radio stations (2007)

2.195 million (2009)

gas 480 km; oil 16 km (2010)

Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Ground Forces, Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces) (2010)

18-27 years of age for compulsory male military service in the armed forces or Interior Ministry; service obligation - 1 year, with optional fee-based 3-year service in the callup mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2010)

Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areas

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; major consumer of opiates