Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia, one of the 5 entries this site files under that subregion. Its full official name is Kyrgyz Republic. Its seat of government is Bishkek.
The land area is 199,951 km², which ranks it 88th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Belarus and just ahead of Senegal. That makes it a fraction smaller than Belarus.
The population is about 7.2 million, placing it 107th of 250 by population — between Libya above it and Paraguay below. Within Central Asia alone it is the 4th largest of 5 and the 5th most populous.
Geography and neighbours of Kyrgyzstan
Plotted on a globe it falls at 41.0° north, 75.0° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 4,564 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach Türkiye, Spain and Italy — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
Its land neighbours number 4: China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The largest of them by area is China, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 1.48 billion people.
Kyrgyzstan is landlocked. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, and it means every shipment in or out has to cross someone else's border first. 3 of its neighbours, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, are landlocked too. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in Kyrgyzstan
Population divided by land area gives roughly 36 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
The demonym is Kirghiz, so residents are Kirghizs.
Officially it is multilingual, listing Kyrgyz and Russian. Kyrgyz is listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes it effectively unique to Kyrgyzstan.
Against Asia as a whole it is the 35th most populous of 50 entries, and it accounts for 8.8% of everyone living in Central Asia.
Useful reference details
It uses the Kyrgyzstani som (с, KGS). No other entry in this dataset uses it, so the currency is specific to Kyrgyzstan.
Bishkek is the city to remember for this country.
The top-level domain is .kg. The international dialling code is +996. In ISO terms it is kg in two letters and KGZ in three.
Kyrgyzstan is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Kyrgyzstan shares borders with 4 countries:
Fun facts about Kyrgyzstan
- It is 107th of 250 by population, with about 7.2 million residents.
- Ranked by land area, Kyrgyzstan is 88th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- Websites based there use the .kg domain.
- Its full official name is Kyrgyz Republic.
- It shares land borders with 4 countries: China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
- Kyrgyz is listed as an official language for no other entry in this dataset.
Kyrgyzstan — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Kyrgyzstan?
- The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek.
- How big is Kyrgyzstan?
- Kyrgyzstan covers 199,951 km², ranking 88th of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than Belarus.
- What is the population of Kyrgyzstan?
- Kyrgyzstan has a population of about 7.2 million, which makes it the 107th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Libya sits just above it and Paraguay just below.
- Is Kyrgyzstan landlocked?
- Yes. Kyrgyzstan has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- Is Kyrgyzstan a country?
- Yes. Kyrgyzstan is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What currency does Kyrgyzstan use?
- Kyrgyzstan uses the Kyrgyzstani som, written с (currency code KGS). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Where is Kyrgyzstan located?
- Kyrgyzstan is in Central Asia, part of Asia. Its reference coordinates are 41.0° north and 75.0° east, roughly 4,564 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- What language is spoken in Kyrgyzstan?
- Kyrgyzstan lists 2 official languages: Kyrgyz and Russian. Kyrgyz does not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- Which countries border Kyrgyzstan?
- Kyrgyzstan borders 4 countries: China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. China is the largest of them by area.
