Kyrgyzstan

Geography
Area: 77,181 sq. mi.
Cities: Bishkek (capital), Osh, Djalalabad, Talas.
Terrain: 90% mountainous, with some desert regions. Elevation extremes--lowest point: Kulundy village in the Batken province 401 m; highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m.

People
Nationality: Kyrgyzstani.
Population (Jan. 2004): 5,037,800.
Annual growth rate (2003): 0.99%.
Ethnic groups (Jan. 2003): Kyrgyz 67%; Russian 11%; Uzbek 14%; Dungan (ethnic Chinese Muslims) 1%; Uighurs 1%; Tatars 0.9% German 0.3%; other 4.8%.
Main religions: Islam; Russian Orthodox.
Language: State--Kyrgyz; official (2001)--Russian.
Education: Nine years compulsory. Literacy--98.7%.
Health (2003): Infant mortality rate--21.2 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--68.2 years.
Population distribution (2003): Urban 64.6%; rural 35.4%.

Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: August 31, 1991 (from the Soviet Union).
Constitution: May 5, 1993.
Branches: Executive--president, prime minister. Legislative--parliament. Judicial--Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, local courts, Procurator-General.
Administrative subdivisions: Seven oblasts and the municipality of Bishkek.

Economy
GDP: 2003, $1.9 billion; 2002, $1.6 billion; 2001, $1.5 billion.
GDP growth rate in 2003: 6.7%
Inflation rate in 2003: 5.6%
GDP per capita (2001 est.): $380.
Unemployment rate by official sources (as of the end of 2002): 3.1%.
Natural resources: Abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of iron, bauxite, copper, tin, molybdenum, mercury, and antimony.
Agriculture: Products--tobacco, cotton, wheat, vegetables (potatoes, sugar beets, beans), fruits (apples, apricots, peaches, grapes), berries; sheep, goats, cattle; wool.
Industry: Types--small machinery (electric motors, transformers), light industry (cotton and wool processing, textiles, food processing), construction materials (cement, glass, slate), shoes, furniture, mining, energy.
Trade: Exports (2002)--$485.5 million: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco, gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower, machinery, shoes. Partners--Switzerland 19.4%, Russia 16.2%, United Arab Emirates 13.5%, China 8.8%, U.S. 7.9%, Kazakhstan 7.8%. Imports--$586.7 million: oil and gas, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs. Partners--Kazakhstan 21.5%, Russia 19.5%, Uzbekistan 10.2%, China 10%, U.S. 8.2%, Germany 5%, Netherlands 2.8%.

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