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NAVIGATION
Kyrgyz Republic
Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnic relations, and combating terrorism. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Central Asia, west of China |
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Geographic coordinates:
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41 00 N, 75 00 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km land: 191,300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than South Dakota |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone |
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Terrain:
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peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m |
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Natural resources:
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abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc |
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Land use:
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arable land: 7.04%
permanent crops: 0.39% note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (1998 est.) other: 92.57% |
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Irrigated land:
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10,740 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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4,822,166 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 34.4% (male 838,224; female 821,230)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 1,403,328; female 1,459,914) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 113,861; female 185,609) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.45% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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26.11 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-2.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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75.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 63.56 years
female: 67.98 years (2002 est.) male: 59.35 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.16 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.01% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani |
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Ethnic groups:
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Kyrgyz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5% |
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Languages:
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Kyrgyz - official language, Russian - official language
note: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.) |