Population: 5,284,149
Capital: Bishkek
Time Zone: UTC+6
Currency Name: som (KGS)
Government Type: Republic
Languages: Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official), Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (
Ethnic Breakdown: Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7%
Religion: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Major Cities: Bishkek, Osh
Phone Country Code: 996
Health Concerns:
Official Tourism Website: www.kyrgyzstan.org/topic/tourism
High Travel Season: June - August
Voltage: 220 V - 50 Hz
Electrical Plug Type: b
Major Holidays:
Misc Fact / Good to Know: After their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyz authorities tried to reduce the Russian influence in the country. As a result Kyrgyz was the only official language. However, this also meant outmigration of ethnic Russians, who possessed most of the skills needed for economic development. Thus the legislature reinstated Russian as an official language with equal status to Kyrgyz in 2001.
