Kyrgyzstan

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.kg

Internet users

total: 1.4 million | percent of population: 24.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 23, shortwave 2 (2009)

Telephone system

general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is being upgraded; loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are being used to install a digital network, digital radio-relay stations, and fiber-optic links | domestic: fixed-line penetration remains low and concentrated in urban areas; multiple mobile-cellular service providers with growing coverage; mobile-cellular subscribership was about 115 per 100 persons in 2011 | 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 - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat); connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 440,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 7.6 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Television broadcast stations

8 (2 countrywide and 6 regional stations; state-owned); note - there are about 20 private TV stations, most of which rebroadcast other channels (2007)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.036 billion | expenditures: $2.214 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Central bank discount rate

13.73% (22 December 2011) | 2.5% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 12

Commercial bank prime lending rate

24% (31 December 2014 est.) | 20.93% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Current account balance

-$1.013 billion (2014 est.) | -$1.771 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Debt - external

$6.819 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $6.376 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.4 (2007) | 29 (2001) | country comparison to the world: 100

Economy - overview

Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with an economy dominated by agriculture and minerals extraction. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. Other exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and—in some years—electricity. Bishkek remains embroiled in a legal battle with Canadian investors in the Kumtor gold mine, the nation’s largest. Kyrgyzstan has sought foreign investment to develop hydroelectric potential as a source of export revenue. The economy also depends heavily on remittances from Kyrgyzstani migrant workers, primarily in Russia. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan rapidly carried out market reforms, such as improving the regulatory system and instituting land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. The government has sold much of its ownership shares in enterprises. 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. The overthrow of President BAKIEV in April 2010 and subsequent ethnic clashes left hundreds dead and damaged infrastructure. Under President ATAMBAEV, Kyrgyzstan has developed a plan for economic development in coordination with international donors. In December 2014 Kyrgyzstan agreed to join the Eurasian Economic Union in early 2015. The keys to future growth include progress in fighting corruption, improving administrative transparency, restructuring domestic industry, and attracting foreign aid and investment.

Exchange rates

soms (KGS) per US dollar - | 52.66 (2014 est.) | 48.438 (2013 est.) | 47.01 (2012 est.) | 46.144 (2011 est.) | 45.964 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.009 billion (2014 est.) | $2.048 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Uzbekistan 29.3%, Kazakhstan 28.5%, UAE 6.6%, Russia 5.9%, Afghanistan 5.8%, Turkey 5.3% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.402 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.16 billion (2014 est.) | $18.49 billion (2013 est.) | $16.73 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 143

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 103.2% | government consumption: 16.6% | investment in fixed capital: 29.1% | investment in inventories: 1.8% | exports of goods and services: 48.1% | imports of goods and services: -98.8% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 19.3% | industry: 31.1% | services: 49.6% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,400 (2014 est.) | $3,200 (2013 est.) | $2,900 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 181

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (2014 est.) | 10.5% (2013 est.) | -0.9% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Gross national saving

13.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | 11.1% of GDP (2013 est.) | 10.5% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% | highest 10%: 27.8% (2009 est.)

Imports

$5.537 billion (2014 est.) | $5.614 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Imports - commodities

oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 54.4%, Russia 18.1%, Kazakhstan 7.8%, Turkey 4.4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Industries

small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.5% (2014 est.) | 6.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Labor force

2.615 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 48% | industry: 12.5% | services: 39.5% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$165 million (31 December 2012 est.) | $165 million (31 December 2011) | $79 million (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Population below poverty line

33.7% (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.184 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.238 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Stock of broad money

$2.02 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.847 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$748.4 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $748.4 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.337 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.017 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Stock of domestic credit

$1.152 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.052 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Stock of narrow money

$1.563 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.474 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Taxes and other revenues

26.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Unemployment rate

7.6% (2014 est.) | 18% (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

9.278 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Crude oil - proved reserves

40 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - consumption

8.851 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity - exports

2.795 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Electricity - from fossil fuels

21.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

78.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.766 million kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - production

14.96 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - consumption

428.7 million cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - imports

420 million cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - production

8.666 million cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Refined petroleum products - consumption

35,090 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,433 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Refined petroleum products - imports

35,040 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Area

total: 199,951 sq km | land: 191,801 sq km | water: 8,150 sq km | country comparison to the world: 87

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m | highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 8.01 cu km/yr (3%/4%/93%) | per capita: 1,558 cu m/yr (2006)

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 75 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

10,210 sq km (2005)

Land boundaries

total: 4,573 km | border countries (4): China 1,063 km, Kazakhstan 1,212 km, Tajikistan 984 km, Uzbekistan 1,314 km

Land use

agricultural land: 55.4% | arable land 6.7%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 48.3% | forest: 5.1% | other: 39.5% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Terrain

peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country

Total renewable water resources

23.62 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

7 provinces (oblustar, singular - oblus) and 2 cities* (shaarlar, singular - shaar); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol) | note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital

name: Bishkek | geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E | time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1993; latest adopted 27 June 2010, effective 2 July 2010 (2010)

Country name

conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic | conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan | local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy | local short form: Kyrgyzstan | former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard MILES | 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kadyr TOKTOGULOV (since 23 February 2015) | chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822-23 | FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550 | consulate(s): New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Almazbek ATAMBAEV (since 1 December 2011) | head of government: Prime Minister Temir SARIYEV (since 1 May 2015); First Deputy Prime Minister Tayyrbek SARPASHEV (since 2 April 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Valeriy DIL (since 2 April 2014), Abdyrakhman MAMATALIEV (since 2 April 2014), Damira NIYAZALIEVA (since 26 December 2014) | cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president; defense and security ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 6-year term; election last held on 30 October 2011 (next to be held in 2017); prime minister nominated by the majority party or majority coalition in the Supreme Council, appointed by the president | election results: Almazbek ATAMBAEV elected president; percent of vote - Almazbek ATAMBAEV (SDPK) 63.2%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (All Kyrgyzstan) 14.7%, Kamchybek TASHIEV (Homeland) 14.3%, other 7.8%; Temir SARIYEV elected prime minister; Supreme Council vote - 97 to 2

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

Government type

republic

Independence

31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president; Supreme Court judges serve for 10 years, Constitutional Court judges serve for 15 years; mandatory retirement at age 70 for judges of both courts | subordinate courts: Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kengesh (120 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 10 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015) | election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ata-Jurt 28, SDPK 26, Ar-Namys 25, Respublika 23, Ata-Meken 18

National anthem

name: "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic) | lyrics/music: Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV | note: adopted 1992

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

National symbol(s)

gyrfalcon; national colors: red, yellow

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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. Former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV overwhelmingly won the presidential election in the summer of 2005. Over the next few years, he manipulated the parliament to accrue new powers for the presidency. In July 2009, after months of harassment against his opponents and media critics, BAKIEV won reelection in a presidential campaign that the international community deemed flawed. In April 2010, violent protests in Bishkek led to the collapse of the BAKIEV regime and his eventual flight to Minsk, Belarus. His successor, Roza OTUNBAEVA, served as transitional president until Almazbek ATAMBAEV was inaugurated in December 2011, marking the first peaceful transfer of presidential power in independent Kyrgyzstan's history. Continuing concerns include: the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, poor interethnic relations, and terrorism.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,456,881 | females age 16-49: 1,470,317 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,119,224 | females age 16-49: 1,257,263 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 56,606 | female: 54,056 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Ground Forces, Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces) (2013)

Military expenditures

NA% (2012) | 3.74% of GDP (2011) | NA% (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary male military service in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 1-year service obligation, 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 (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.92% (male 867,668/female 827,235) | 15-24 years: 18.18% (male 523,347/female 506,453) | 25-54 years: 39.55% (male 1,096,430/female 1,144,265) | 55-64 years: 7.34% (male 180,874/female 234,733) | 65 years and over: 5.01% (male 108,776/female 175,158) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

22.98 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 563,920 | percentage: 40.3% | note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.8% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 101

Contraceptive prevalence rate

36.3% (2012)

Death rate

6.65 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.3% | youth dependency ratio: 48.8% | elderly dependency ratio: 6.6% | potential support ratio: 15.2% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 96.7% of population | rural: 86.2% of population | total: 90% of population | urban: 3.3% of population | rural: 13.8% of population | total: 10% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 25

Ethnic groups

Kyrgyz 70.9%, Uzbek 14.3%, Russian 7.7%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.9% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.26% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

HIV/AIDS - deaths

400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,300 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Health expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 77

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 27.73 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 31.94 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 23.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Languages

Kyrgyz (official) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.36 years | male: 66.19 years | female: 74.8 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.5% | male: 99.6% | female: 99.4% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

BISHKEK (capital) 865,000 (2015)

Median age

total: 26 years | male: 25 years | female: 27 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) | adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Net migration rate

-5.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

13.3% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 118

Physicians density

1.97 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

5,664,939 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Population growth rate

1.11% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 89.1% of population | rural: 95.6% of population | total: 93.3% of population | urban: 10.9% of population | rural: 4.4% of population | total: 6.7% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years | male: 12 years | female: 13 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female | total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.66 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 14.6% | male: 13.6% | female: 16.2% (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Urbanization

urban population: 35.7% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.58% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 12,133 (2014); note - most stateless people were born in Kyrgystan, have lived there many years, or are married to a Kyrgyz citizen; in 2009, Kyrgyzstan adopted a national action plan to speed up the exchange of old Soviet passports for Kyrgyz ones; stateless people are unable to register marriages and births, to travel within the country or abroad, to own property, or to receive social benefits

Airports

28 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 122

Airports - with paved runways

total: 18 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 | under 914 m: 3 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 10 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | 8 (2013)

Pipelines

gas 480 km; oil 16 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

lake port(s): Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)(Lake Ysyk-Kol)

Railways

total: 470 km | broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 113

Roadways

total: 34,000 km (2007) | country comparison to the world: 94

Waterways

600 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 78