Kyrgyz Republic

The Kyrgyz Republic covers 199,951 square kilometres and borders Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south and China to the east. According to the National Statistical Committee, its population on 1 February 2026 was 7,413,600. The capital and largest city is Bishkek. The state language is Kyrgyz, Russian is also an official language, and the currency is the som.

History

The Kyrgyz are named in the Old Turkic inscriptions, and the Yenisei Kyrgyz overthrew the Uyghur Khaganate in 840. Later the Karakhanid state arose on the lands of today's Kyrgyzstan, with Balasagun as one of its capitals. After Mongol, Dzungar and Kokand rule the region became part of the Russian Empire in 1876.

The crushing of the 1916 uprising and the mass flight to China (Ürkün) caused the Kyrgyz people terrible losses. In the Soviet era the Kirghiz SSR was created in 1936, and Kyrgyzstan declared independence on 31 August 1991.

Geography

About 90% of the country lies more than 1,500 metres above sea level, with an average elevation of 2,750 metres. The highest point is Jengish Chokusu (Pobeda Peak, 7,439 m) on the Chinese border. Issyk-Kul, set among the mountains, is one of the world's largest mountain lakes, and the Naryn river is the country's main source of water and power.

Government and economy

Under the 2021 constitution Kyrgyzstan is a presidential republic; its parliament is the Jogorku Kenesh. It is a founding member of the Organization of Turkic States, and in 1998 it became the first CIS country to join the World Trade Organization. The main sectors of the economy are gold mining, hydropower, agriculture and tourism.