Economy overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small poor mountainous country dominated by the agricultural sector. Cotton, wool and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports are gold, mercury, uranium and electricity. Kyrgyzstan is one of the former Soviet republics that has made the most progress in market reforms. A stabilization program was successfully implemented, which made it possible to reduce inflation rates from 88% in 1994 to 15% in 1997, considerable attention was paid to stimulating economic growth, and many government shares in enterprises were sold. Production fell sharply after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but began to recover from mid-1995, exports began to increase. However, pensions, unemployment benefits and public sector wages are still delayed. Foreign aid played a major role in the republic’s economic recovery in 1996-97. Growth did not exceed 2.1% in 1998 (mainly due to Russia’s economic difficulties), but reached 3.6% in 1999 and an estimated 5.7% in 2000. A number of measures were also taken by the government aimed at paying off foreign debt, fighting inflation, streamlining the collection of taxes. See cheeroutdoor.com to know more about Kyrgyzstan Business. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $12.6 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 5.7% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $2,700 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 39%; industry: 22%; services: 39% (1999 est.). Proportion of population below the poverty line: 51% (1997 est.). Percentage distribution of family income or consumption: per 10% of the poorest families: 2.7%; by the top 10% of families: 31.7% (1997). Inflation rate at consumer prices: 18.7% (2000 est.). Labor force: 1.7 million people Employment structure: agriculture and forestry 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (1999 est.). Unemployment rate: 6% (1998 est.). Budget: revenues: $207.4 million; expenditures: $238.7 million, including capital expenditures – NA (1999 est.). Spheres of the economy: small machine building, fabric production, food industry, production of cement, footwear, lumber, refrigeration equipment, furniture, electric motors, gold mining, rare earth metals. Growth in industrial production: 7% (2000 est.). Electricity generation: 12.981 billion kWh (1999) Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 6.67%; hydropower: 93.33%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 10.236 billion kWh (1999) Electricity export: 2.02 billion kWh (1999) Electricity import: 184 million kWh (1999). Agricultural products: tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; lamb, cattle, wool. Exports: $482 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Exports: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, electricity; cars; shoes. Export partners: Germany 33%, Russia 16%, Kazakhstan 10%, Uzbekistan 10%, China 6% (1999). Imports: $579 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Imports: oil and gas, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs. Import partners: Russia 18%, Kazakhstan 12%, Uzbekistan 8%, Germany 8%, China (1999). External debt: $1.4 billion (2000 est.) Economic aid recipient: $329.4 million (1995) Donor of economic assistance: Currency: Kyrgyz som. Currency code: KGS. Exchange rate: KGS/USD – 48.701 (January 2001), 47.704 (2000), 39.008 (1999), 20.838 (1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810 (1996). Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 351,000 (1997). Mobile cellular phones: no data available. Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for the installation of residential telephones; domestic: mainly microwave radio relay; one mobile operator, the coverage area is probably limited to the Bishkek area; international: communication with other CIS countries via land lines and microwave radio relay communication, and with other countries – through the Moscow international switchboard and via satellite; ground satellite stations: 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; fiber optic cable of the Trans-Asian-European connection (TAE). Broadcast stations: AM -12 (and 10 relay stations), FM – 14, shortwave – 2 (1998). Radio receivers: 520,000 (1997). TV broadcasting stations: no data (rebroadcasting of programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey). Televisions: 210,000 (1997). Internet country code: kg Internet service providers: not available. Number of users: 10,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total: 370 km (not including industrial lines); broad gauge: 370 km (1.520 m gauge) (1990). Motorways: total: 18,500 km; paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways); unpaved: 1,646 km (1996 est.). Waterways: 600 km (1990). Pipelines: for natural gas – 200 km. Ports and harbours: Issyk-Kul, or Rybachye. Airports: 50 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 4; over 3,047 m: 1; from 2438 to 3047 m:1; from 1524 to 2437 m:1; less than 914 m: 1 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 46; from 2438 to 3047 m:3; from 1524 to 2437 m:5; from 914 to 1523 m:6; less than 914 m: 32 (2000 est.).
Armed forces
Branches of the armed forces: army, air force and air defense, security forces, border troops. Enlistment age: 18 years old. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 1,203,001 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 975,744 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 50,590 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $12 million (1999) Military spending as part of GDP: 1% (1999).
International Issues
International issues International disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on the southwestern border in the Isfara Valley; periodic sorties of Islamic terrorists from the territory of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of hemp and opium poppy, mainly for consumption in the CIS countries; a limited government eradication program; the use of the country as a transit point for the transportation of drugs to Russia and Western Europe from South-West Asia is growing.
