Kyrgyzstan Area Code

+996 is the dialing code for Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan is located in eastern Central Asia and became an independent country in 1991, when the Soviet Union disbanded. The policy is characterized by contradictions between clans in the south-west and the north country. Tensions between the Kyrgyz and the Uzbek in the Fergana Valley culminated in 2010 in violence that demanded hundreds of deaths. Later that year, Kyrgyzstan gained a new democratic constitution and was able to hold its first free and fair elections. Livestock management and gold mining are important industries for the economy.

  • Abbreviationfinder: Brief profiles of Kyrgyzstan, including geography, history, politics, economics as well as common acronyms about this country.

Geography and climate

Kyrgyzstan Area Code

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country in eastern Central Asia. On the surface it is slightly smaller than Norrland. The country has a pronounced inland climate with large temperature differences between seasons.

Kyrgyzstan is sandwiched between China to the east and south, Tajikistan to the south, Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the west. The border with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan is very flexible. Both of these neighboring countries have enclaves within Kyrgyz territory.

About one third of the land area is higher than 3,000 meters above sea level. To the northeast, the Tien Shan mountain range runs, while the Pamir Mountains (on Kyrgyz Barm-i-Dunjah – the roofs of the world) form a border with Tajikistan in the southwest. Both Tien Shan and Pamir have peaks that reach over 7,000 meters. Earthquakes often occur in mountain areas.

In northeastern Kyrgyzstan lies the large brackish lake Issyk-Kul (also Issikköl) in an old crater surrounded by high mountain peaks. The lake, whose greatest depth is about 700 meters, never freezes because it is heated by water from hot springs.

Country Facts

Geography

Cultivated land 55.4 %
Land area 199951 km 2

Population and health

Population development 1.11 ‰
Urban population (Urbanization) 37.7 %
Death rate 6.65 per 1000 residents
Life expectancy: Women 74.8 years
Life expectancy: Men 66.19 years
Birth rate 22.98 births per 1000 residents
HDI index 0.655
Population 5664939
Infant mortality 27.73 deaths / 1000 births

Population Graph Source: Countryaah.com

Energy

Electricity, production 14970 million kWh
Energy consumption per resident kg. oil per resident
Natural gas, production 32 million cubic meters
Crude oil, production million tons

Infrastructure

Internet users 24.2 per 100 residents
Mobile subscriptions 135 per 100 residents
Passenger cars 59 per 1000 residents

Business and economics

Unemployment 8% of the workforce
GDP 3400 per resident
Primary occupations 48 %
Secondary profession 12.5 %
Tertiary professions 39.5 %

The Naryn River flows up into the mountains to the east and continues west into Uzbekistan, where it flows into the Syr-Darja River. The rivers of Kyrgyzstan often originate in glaciers and are important for the irrigation of agriculture. Cultivable areas can only be found in the Fergana Valley in the west and on the high plateau around the capital Bishkek in the north.

Summer in Kyrgyzstan is long and hot, while winter is short and cold. In winter time it can be below 30 minus degrees in Bishkek. The temperature changes between day and night can also be large.

In the plains in the north and in the Fergana valley comes spring early. Western and northwesterly winds bring precipitation that can be plentiful, up to 1,000 mm annually in the Fergana Valley. In the eastern Tien Shan mountains on the border with China, however, no more than 100 mm of precipitation falls annually.

FACTS – GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Surface

198,500 km2 (2018)

Time

Swedish +4 hours

Adjacent country (s)

Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Capital with number of residents

Bishkek 1,001,500

Other major cities

Osj 270 300, Jalalabad 119 100, Karakol 76 500, Tokmak 64 500 (official estimate 2019)

Highest mountain

Jengish Chokusu (in the Tien Shan Mountains) (7,439 m asl)

Important rivers

Naryn

Largest lake

Issyk Fun

Average Precipitation / month

Bishkek 800 mm (Nov), 10 mm (June)

Average / day

Bishkek 24 °C (July), –15 °C (Jan)

2013

December

Mayor is deposed

The disputed Kyrgyz nationalist mayor Melis Myrzakmatov in Osh is dismissed. The government has previously tried to oust Myrzakmatov, who has ties to ex-President Bakiev, but has been hampered by his supporters.

Claws after arrest

Thousands of supporters of opposition politician Keldibekov storm the regional government office in Osh and demand his release (see November 2013). Many of the protesters are on horseback. Police manage to prevent the crowd from taking over the building, but a number of police officers are injured.

November

Oppositionist top politicians are arrested

Leading opposition politician and former President Achmatbek Keldibekov is arrested on charges of abuse of power and economic irregularities. Keldibekov claims that the charges are politically motivated. Protesters block a major road outside the city of Osh demanding that he be released, and in Bishkek a protest with the same demands is held outside Parliament.

Well-known lawyer is abused

Attorney Ikramiddin Aitkulov – known for defending opposition politicians and activists – is badly beaten by unknown perpetrators outside his home. He is taken to hospital unconscious with severe concussion and broken bones. Aitkulov was a defense lawyer for the three opposition leaders who were sentenced to prison for coup attempt (see August 2013).

October

Prosecution for bad mining contract

The prosecutor prosecuted three previous ministers for the mining agreement concluded with Canadian Centerra Gold in 2003, which gave the state only 17 percent of the Kumtor mine and the company 83 percent. The charges relate to corruption. The agreement was renegotiated in 2009, when the state gained 33 percent.

Political conflict about mining

After further demonstrations demanding the nationalization of the country’s largest gold mine Kumtor (see May 2013), Parliament votes down the government’s proposal for state cooperation with the Canadian mining company Centerra Gold, where both parties would own 50 percent each. Parliament requires state ownership of the mine to 67 percent, while the company requires at least 50 percent for its part.

August

HD refuses free judgment

The Supreme Court cancels the acquittal against the three opposition leaders accused of coup attempts (see June 2013). They lose their seats in Parliament and must serve their prison sentences of between one year and 18 months. The verdict is considered politically motivated by the opposition.

July

Hard punishment for Islamists

Nine members of an Islamist extremist group are sentenced to long prison sentences for armed assaults in Bishkek at the end of 2010 and early 2011. Three men are sentenced to life imprisonment, four each to 23 years and two men to 22 years.

HD looks over liberating judgment against oppositionists

The Supreme Court decides to raise the cases with the three opposition leaders (see March 2013 and June 2013) for a new trial. The chief prosecutor in Bishkek has appealed against the acquittal verdict.

June

Sentenced opposition politicians are freed

The three opposition leaders are acquitted after the appeal by the prison judges for alleged coup attempt (see March 2013). The three judges who acquit them go underground. Decides that the US use of the Manas military base should cease in July 2014. The decision must be signed by President Atambayev in order to be valid;

Exiled leader is sentenced

Former Prime Minister Danijar Usenov, who fled the country, is sentenced in his absence to 15 years in prison for corruption during his time as mayor of Bishkek.

Revolt in the south

The protests in the Issyk-Kul region spread to Jalalabad in the south, where hundreds of people storm the governor’s office, appoint a “people’s governor” and demand the release of incarcerated opposition leaders. The “People’s Governor” is being seized by the authorities.

May

State of emergency after protests

Following violent protests at a gold mine, followed by police action with tear gas, rubber bullets and shock grenades, President Atambayev announces a state of emergency in a district in the Issyk-Kul region. At least 55 people are injured and 80 are arrested by police. The protesters demand that the Canadian majority-owned mine be nationalized.

Cooperation with the United States is terminated

The government decides to terminate the agreement with the US that NATO has the right to use Mana’s airfields as a transit center for military operations in Afghanistan. When the NATO troops left Afghanistan in 2014, there should be no military installations at Manas, according to the government whose decision must be approved by Parliament. Manas houses approximately 1,000 American soldiers and several military tankers.

March

Opposition politicians are imprisoned

The three arrested MPs from Fäderneslandet are sentenced to prison for leading a violent protest action (see October 2012) with demands for the nationalization of the Kumtor gold mine. They are charged with attempted coup and the penalty is between one year and 18 months.

Ex-minister jailed for corruption

Former Minister of Social Affairs Ravshan Sabirov is sentenced to five years in prison for corruption, and his Deputy Minister is sentenced to three years in prison. Both are convicted of receiving bribes in connection with the adoption of Kyrgyz children abroad.

February

The president is doomed

The downed President Bakijev is sentenced in his absence to 24 years in prison for abuse of power during his term of office 2005-2010. Bakijev’s brother and former security chief is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and other crimes. Two sons of Bakijev also receive long prison sentences.

January

Oppositionists demonstrate

Hundreds of opposition supporters demonstrate in Jalalabad. They demand a fair trial for the three arrested opposition leaders (see October 2012).

Strict punishment for bridesmaids

President Atambayev signs a law that raises the maximum penalty for bridesmaids from three to seven years in prison. If the kidnapped bride is younger than 17, the minimum age for marriage, the sentence can be up to ten years in prison.