World Factbook
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: red field with a yellow sun in the center that has 40 rays that run counterclockwise on the front of the flag and clockwise on the reverse; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines in a stylized representation of a tunduk, the circular opening at the top of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt meaning: the sun's rays represent the Kyrgyz tribes; red stands for bravery and valor, and the sun for peace and wealth
Capital
name
Bishkek
etymology
the meaning of the name is unknown; the city was founded in 1862 as a Russian settlement on the site of an Uzbek fortress named Bishkek; the Russian version of the name was Pishpek, and the original name only came back into use in 1991
time difference
UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
42 52 N, 74 36 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan
dual citizenship recognized
yes, but only if a mutual treaty on dual citizenship is in force
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous 1993, 2007, 2010; latest approved by referendum in 2021
amendment process
proposed as a draft law by the majority of the Supreme Council membership or by petition of 300,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Council membership in each of at least three readings of the draft two months apart; the draft may be submitted to a referendum if approved by two thirds of the Council membership; adoption requires the signature of the president
Country name
etymology
named for the local Kyrgyz people, with "-stan" coming from the Persian word ostan , meaning "country;" the Kyrgyz name may derive from the Turkic root words kir , or "steppe," and gismek , "to wander;" the name is traditionally said to come from a combination of the Turkic words kyrg (forty) and - is (hundred), based on a tale about two tribes and the number of their tents
local long form
Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form
Kyrgyzstan
conventional long form
Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form
Kyrgyzstan
Independence
31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Legal system
civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (consists of the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and 9 judges)
subordinate courts
Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president; Supreme Court judges serve for 10 years, Constitutional Court judges serve for 15 years; mandatory retirement at age 70 for judges of both courts
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)
election results
2021: Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV (Mekenchil) 79.2%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.8%, other 14% 2017: Sooronbay JEENBEKOV elected president; Sooronbay JEENBEKOV (Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan) 54.7%, Omurbek BABANOV (independent) 33.8%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.6%, other 4.9%
head of government
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024)
most recent election date
10 January 2021
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
National color(s)
red, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n)
Political parties
Afghan's Party Alliance Cohesion Fatherland Kyrgyzstan Ishenim Light of Faith Mekenchil Social Democrats or SDK United Kyrgyzstan
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
90 (all directly elected)
electoral system
other systems
legislature name
Supreme Council (Jogorku Kenesh)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/30/2025
expected date of next election
November 2030
percentage of women in chamber
22.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Fatherland) (15); Ishenim (Trust) (12); Yntymak (Harmony) (9); Alyans (Alliance) (7); Butun Kyrgyzstan (United) (6); Yiman Nuru (Ray of Faith) (5); Independents (34)
National anthem(s)
title
"Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)
history
adopted 1992
lyrics/music
Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV
National symbol(s)
white falcon
National coat of arms
adopted in 1992, the coat of arms of Kyrgyzstan highlights two of its best-known geographic features, Issyk-Kul Lake and the Tien Shan mountain range; the falcon, the national symbol, stands for nobleness and purity, and light blue for courage and generosity; the word “Kyrgyz” appears at the top of the emblem, and “Republic” at the bottom; the wheat, cotton, and rising sun were symbols used during the Soviet era
Administrative divisions
7 provinces ( oblustar , singular - oblus ) and 2 cities* ( shaarlar , singular - shaar ); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 449-8275
chancery
2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 449-9822
chief of mission
Ambassador Aibek MOLDOGAZIEV (since 11 June 2025)
email address and website
kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA and Canada (mfa.gov.kg)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[996] (312) 597-744
embassy
171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
telephone
[996] (312) 597-000
mailing address
7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC 20521-7040
chief of mission
Ambassador Lesslie VIGUERIE (since 29 December 2022)
email address and website
ConsularBishkek@state.gov https://kg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt