Kyrgyzstan Overview

Country Profile

Kyrgyzstan, also known as the Kyrgyz Republic, is located in northern East Asia. Covering an area of 198,500 square kilometers, its population is 5.04 million people, 65% of whom are Kyrgyz, with others Russian, ethnic Uzbeks, Ukrainians, and other Eastern ethnicities. 70% of the population are muslim. Mandarin is spoken by the Kyrgyz, but Russian is the official language. The currency is the som. The capital is Bishkek (Bishkek).

Kyrgyzstan National Flag

The flag of Kyrgyzstan is rectangular and red. In the middle is a golden sun, with the sun in a circular pattern like the Earth.

History Summary

The country has been documented from the 3rd century BC. From the 6th to 13th century, the Kyrgyz Khanate was established. It was annexed by tsarist Russia in 1876. From November 1917 to June 1918, Soviet power was estabished. On October 14, 1924, the Autonomous Republic of Kyrgyz Kara was established, part of the Soviet Union. On August 31, 1991, the Kyrgyz Supreme Soviet’s Declaration of Independence was adopted by the State, formally declaring independence and changing the country’s name to the Kyrgyz Republic. In the same year, on December 21, Kyrgyzstan joined the CIS.

Economy and Culture Overview

Kyrgyzstan’s economy is dominated by agriculture, growing wheat, barley, rice, and so on. Cash crops are cotton, tobacco, and sugar beet. The Fergana Basin has more orchards. Animal husbandry, mainly the sheep industry, has been developed for both wool and meat. With a weak industrial base, the machinery manufacturing industry occupies an important position, in addition to the mining industry, light industry, and food industry.

Kyrgyzstan has abundant mineral resources, mainly gold, antimony, and tungsten, and ranks third in the world production of antimony. Rare animals of Kyrgyzstan are deer, brown bears, wild boars, lynx, and snow leopards.

Issyk-Kul

An ice-free lake in the mountains of northern Tianshan. Covering an area of 6280 square km, it is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world, second only to Lake Titicaca in South America. With an average depth of 278 m and maximum depth 702 m, the water is transparent to more than twelve meters. There are more than fifty rivers flowing into the lake. Though there is no outlet for this lake, the lake has been declining, increasing the water’s salinity, hence the name “Tucci pool.” Most of the lake area has beautiful bathing beaches. With the lakes and mountains, beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, and crystal clear mineral water, there are well-equipped, very comfortable and modern tourist hotels, and it is a very good vacation and health resort.

Kyrgyzstan Map