industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $85.28 billion
expenditures: $37.77 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Public debt:
9.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.54% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$15.12 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$55.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$78.25 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
practically no crops; fish
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water
desalination, food processing, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
44.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
39.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
2.613 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
334,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
2.356 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
8,022 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
104 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.586 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$47.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$63.72 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:
Japan 19.9%, South Korea 17%, Taiwan 11.2%, Singapore 9.9%, US 8.4%,
Netherlands 4.8%, China 4.4% (2007)
Imports:
$20.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:
US 12.7%, Japan 8.5%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.8%, South Korea 6.6%,
Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Italy 5.8%, UK 4.6% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.6 million (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$16.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$33.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$898 million (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$24.22 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$128.9 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Currency code:
KWD
Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006),
0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003)
Communications
Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:
517,000 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.774 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular
telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well
supplied with pay telephones
international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6
(3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat -
Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.175 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions:
875,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kw
Internet hosts:
3,289 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
900,000 (2007)
Transportation
Kuwait
Airports:
7 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Heliports:
4 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2007)
Roadways:
total: 5,749 km
paved: 4,887 km
unpaved: 862 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 38
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied
gas 4, petroleum tanker 22
registered in other countries: 34 (Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1,
Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 7, UAE 10)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd
Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi
Military
Kuwait
Military branches:
Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
reserve obligation to age 40 with 1 month annual training; women
have served in police forces since 1999 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,032,408
females age 16-49: 568,657 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 892,816
females age 16-49: 500,540 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 17,737
female: 18,519 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2006)
Transnational Issues
Kuwait
Disputes - international:
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime
boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the
Persian Gulf
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and women
who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for domestic or
low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of physical
and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the home, and
withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement;
Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East Asian
workers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of these
workers are deceived as to the true location and nature of this
work, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude in Iraq
tier rating: Tier 3 - insufficient efforts in 2007 to prosecute and
punish abusive employers and those who traffic women for sexual
exploitation; the government failed for the fourth year in a row to
live up to promises to provide shelter and protective services for
victims of involuntary domestic servitude and other forms of
trafficking (2008)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Kyrgyzstan
Introduction
Kyrgyzstan
Background:
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to
Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist
Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population
was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved
independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide
demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of
President Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990.
Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won
overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV. The
political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in April,
May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a new
constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to
parliament and the government. In December 2006, the Kyrgyz
parliament voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the
presidential powers lost in the November 2006 constitutional change.
By late-September 2007, both previous versions of the constitution
were declared illegal, and the country reverted to the AKAYEV-era
2003 constitution, which was subsequently modified in a flawed
referendum initiated by BAKIEV. The president then dissolved
parliament, called for early elections, and gained control of the
new parliament through his newly-created political party, Ak Jol, in
December 2007 elections. Current concerns include: privatization of
state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and political
freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnic relations,
and combating terrorism.
Geography
Kyrgyzstan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,051 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,224 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest
(Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass
entire nation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:
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
Land use:
arable land: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut
forest (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
46.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 10.08 cu km/yr (3%/3%/94%)
per capita: 1,916 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range;
many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
People
Kyrgyzstan
Population:
5,356,869 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.9% (male 817,369/female 784,782)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,681,440/female 1,748,222)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 127,263/female 197,793) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 25 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.38% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
23.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 37.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.12 years
male: 65.12 years
female: 73.33 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%,
Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)
Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:
Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official),
Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2005)
Government
Kyrgyzstan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar);
Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad
Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty
(Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President Askar
AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003
significantly expanded the powers of the president at the expense of
the legislature; during large-scale demonstrations in November 2006,
President BAKIEV and the opposition negotiated a new constitution
granting greater powers to the parliament and the government;
amendments added on 30 December 2006 redistributed some power back
to the president, but both November and December 2006 versions were
annulled in September 2007, and a new version was approved by
referendum on 21 October 2007; the BAKIEV-initiated referendum was
criticized by Western observers for voting irregularities,
particularly ballot stuffing
Legal system:
based on French and Russian laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIEV (since 14 August 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Igor CHUDINOV (since 24 December
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and
security, appointed solely by the president
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected by popular vote for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 July 2005
(next scheduled for 2010); prime minister nominated by the
parliamentary party holding more than 50% of the seats; if no such
party exists, the president selects the party that will nominate a
prime minister
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected president; percent of
vote - Kurmanbek BAKIEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other
candidates 7.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kengesh (90 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 December 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Ak Jol 71, Social Democratic Party 11, KCP 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and
Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the
Jorgorku Kengesh on the recommendation of the president; their
mandatory retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration;
Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a
probationary period of five years, then 10 years)
Political parties and leaders:
Ak Jol [Avtandil ARABAYEV, Elmira IBRAIMOVA, Vladimir NIFADYEV,
co-chairs]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner
National Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland)
[Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK
[Viktor TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek
TURGUNALIYEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Medet
SADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Ishak
MASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV];
Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and
Unity [Tabaldy OROZALIYEV]; Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan
KARABAYEV]; Social Democratic Party [Almaz ATAMBAYEV]; Union of
Democratic Forces [Kubatbek BAIBOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and
Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAYEVA]
International organization participation:
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURCAT, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatiana C. GFOELLER
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
Flag description:
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays
representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy
Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a predominantly
agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main
agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported
in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium,
natural gas, and electricity. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was
progressive in carrying out market reforms such as an improved
regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into
the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in
enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after
the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995,
production began to recover and exports began to increase. The
economy is heavily weighted toward gold export and a drop in output
at the main Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002
and a 0.6% decline in 2005. GDP grew more than 6% in 2007, partly
due to higher gold prices internationally. The government made
steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly
closing the gap between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before
boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007. The government and
international financial institutions have been engaged in a
comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth
strategy. In 2005, Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform
and, in 2006, became eligible for the heavily indebted poor
countries (HIPC) initiative. Progress fighting corruption, further
restructuring of domestic industry, and success in attracting
foreign investment are keys to future growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.55 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.748 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.6%
industry: 18.9%
services: 47.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 15%
services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 24.3% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.3 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $964.6 million
expenditures: $961.1 million (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.2% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.32% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$911.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$303.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$558.3 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries;
sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn
logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth
metals
Industrial production growth rate:
9.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
15.62 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
8.997 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
2.387 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 7.6%
hydro: 92.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
964.7 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
12,330 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
2,534 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
14,240 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
40 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
18 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
768 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
750 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$267.9 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.337 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,
hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:
Russia 20.7%, Switzerland 19.9%, Kazakhstan 18%, Afghanistan 10.4%,
Uzbekistan 7.6%, China 5.5% (2007)
Imports:
$2.636 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 40.5%, China 14.7%, Kazakhstan 12.9%, Uzbekistan 5% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$268.5 million from the US (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.177 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.966 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$41.99 million (2005)
Currency (code):
som (KGS)
Currency code:
KGS
Exchange rates:
soms (KGS) per US dollar - 37.746 (2007), 40.149 (2006), 41.012
(2005), 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003)
Communications
Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
482,100 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.152 million (2007)
Telephone system: