Map of Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a country in Asia with its capital at Bishkek, home to about 7.34 million people across 199,951 km². The interactive map below plots 14 cities and towns, 2 rivers, 2 lakes and 4 mountain summits recorded for Kyrgyzstan in YearMaps.
- Population
- 7.34 million
- Area
- 199,951 km²
- Capital
- Bishkek
- Continent
- Asia
Interactive Map of Kyrgyzstan
Centred on Bishkek at 42.8750° N, 74.5833° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, formerly known as Kirghizia, is a landlocked country located in Central Asia, lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir mountain ranges. It is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and China to the east and southeast. The capital and largest city is Bishkek which lies on the northern border with Kazakhstan. Ethnic Kyrgyz make up the majority of the 7.5 million people, followed by significant minorities of Uzbeks and Russians.
Kyrgyzstan's history spans a variety of cultures and empires. Although geographically isolated by its highly mountainous terrain, Kyrgyzstan has been at the crossroads of several civilizations as part of the Silk Road along with other commercial routes. Inhabited by a succession of tribes and clans, Kyrgyzstan has periodically fallen under larger domination, e.g., the Turkic nomads who trace their ancestry to many Turkic states. It was first established as the Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate. In the 13th century it was conquered by the Mongol Empire and under several Mongol dynasties; it regained independence but was invaded by the Dzungar Khanate. After the Dzungar genocide by the Qing dynasty, Kyrgyz and Kipchaks were an integral part of the Kokand Khanate.
In 1876, Kyrgyzstan became part of the Russian Empire, and in 1936 the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic was formed to become a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. Following Mikhail Gorbachev's democratic reforms in the USSR, in 1990 pro-independence candidate Askar Akayev was elected president. On 31 August 1991, Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the USSR, and a democratic government was established. Kyrgyzstan attained sovereignty as a nation state after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
After independence, Kyrgyzstan was officially a unitary presidential republic. Following the Tulip Revolution it became a unitary parliamentary republic; however, it gradually developed an executive president and was governed as a semi-presidential republic before reverting to a presidential system in 2021. Throughout its existence, the country has continued to endure ethnic conflicts, revolts, economic troubles, transitional governments and political conflict.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Kyrgyzstan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Russian Empire annexed most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916, during which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to serve a full term and respect constitutional term limits, voluntarily stepping down at the end of his mandate. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election, which was the most competitive in the country’s history despite reported cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the 2021 legislative elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, tense regional relations, vulnerabilities due to climate change, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.
- Location
- Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan.
- Climate
- Dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone.
- Terrain
- Peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country.
- Highest point
- Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m.
- Lowest point
- Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m.
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- Land borders
- Total: 4,573 km; border countries: China 1,063 km; Kazakhstan 1,212 km; Tajikistan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,314 km.
- Major rivers
- Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Major lakes
- Salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km note - second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes.
- Natural resources
- Abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 54% (2023 est.); arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 46.9% (2023 est.); forest: 6.5% (2023 est.); other: 39.4% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes.
- Geographic note
- Landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes.
- Languages
- Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)
- Religions
- Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i) (2017 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Kyrgyz 73.8%, Uzbek 14.8%, Russian 5.1%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2021 est.)
- Economy
- Landlocked, lower-middle-income Central Asian economy; natural resource rich; growing hydroelectricity and tourism; high remittances; corruption limits investment; COVID-19 and political turmoil hurt GDP, limited public revenues, and increased spending.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Kyrgyzstan in Numbers
- Population
- 7.34 million
- GDP
- US$22.6 billion
- GDP per person
- US$3,081
- Life expectancy
- 72.4 years
- Population growth
- 1.66% a year
- Population density
- 38 per km²
- Urban population
- 34.8%
- Surface area
- 199,950 km²
- Forest cover
- 6.5%
- Arable land
- 6.7%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 92.0%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Kyrgyzstan in Depth
History
The Kyrgyz state reached its greatest expansion after defeating the Uyghur Khaganate in 840 AD. From the 10th century, the Kyrgyz migrated as far as the Tian Shan range and maintained their dominance over the territory for about 200 years.
There is a storytelling tradition of the Epic of Manas, which involves a warrior who unified all of the scattered tribes into a single nation in the 9th century. The trilogy, an element of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, expresses the memory of the nomadic Kyrgyz people.
In the 12th century, the Kyrgyz dominion had shrunk to the Altay range and Sayan Mountains as a result of the Mongol expansion. With the rise of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, the Kyrgyz migrated south.
Geography
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordering Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It lies between latitudes 39° and 44° N, and longitudes 69° and 81° E. It is farther from the sea than any other individual country and is an endorheic basin in which all its rivers flow into closed drainage systems which do not reach the sea. The mountainous region of the Tian Shan covers over 80% of the country (Kyrgyzstan is occasionally referred to as "the Switzerland of Central Asia" as a result), with the remainder made up of valleys and basins.
Issyk-Kul Lake, or Ysyk-Köl in Kyrgyz, in the north-eastern Tian Shan is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca.
Economy
Kyrgyzstan was among the less economically developed republics of the former Soviet Union and is currently the second-lowest in terms of income levels in Central Asia, after Tajikistan. 22.4% of the country's population lives below the poverty line.
Despite the backing of major Western lenders, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, Kyrgyzstan has had economic difficulties following independence. Initially, these were a result of the breakup of the Soviet trade bloc and resulting loss of markets, which impeded the republic's transition to a demand economy. The government reduced public spending, eliminated most price subsidies, and implemented a value-added tax.
Demographics
The population is estimated at 7,404,300 as of January 2026. In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Kyrgyzstan has a score of 6.8, ranking 36th among 127 countries with sufficient data. The hunger level is classified as low.
The nation's largest ethnic group are the Kyrgyz, a Turkic people, who comprise 77.8% of the population. Other ethnic groups include the Russians (3.7%) concentrated in the north and the Uzbeks (14.3%) living in the south. Small but noticeable minorities include the Dungans (1.0%), Tajiks (0.9%), Uyghurs (0.5%), Kazakhs (0.4%), and other smaller ethnic minorities.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kyrgyzstan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kyrgyzstan: Key Facts
| Currency | Kyrgyz som |
|---|---|
| Official language | Kyrgyz |
| Head of state | Sadyr Japarov |
| Head of government | Adylbek Kasymaliev |
| Form of government | parliamentary republic |
| Calling code | +996 |
| Internet domain | .kg |
| Highest point | Jengish Chokusu |
| Lowest point | Kara Darya |
| Established | 1991 |
Facts from Wikidata Q813 (CC0).
History of Kyrgyzstan: Empires and States
The atlas records 35 polities whose mapped territory included part of Kyrgyzstan, from Yuezhi in 404 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Yuezhi | 404–111 BCE | Most |
| Greco-Bactrian Kingdom | 203–145 BCE | A small part |
| Wusun | 170 BCE – 450 CE | A small part |
| Xiongnu | 144–67 BCE | A small part |
| Xionites | 387–401 CE | Most |
| Kidarites | 402–442 CE | Most |
| White Huns | 410–560 CE | Nearly all |
| Göktürk Khaganate | 561–586 CE | Nearly all |
| Western Göktürks | 587–660 CE | Nearly all |
| The Tang Dynasty | 661–756 CE | Nearly all |
| Turks | 666–754 CE | Most |
| Türgesh | 705–749 CE | Most |
| Uyghur Khaganate | 755–792 CE | Most |
| Qarlugs | 793–849 CE | Most |
| Kara-Khanids | 850–1045 CE | Nearly all |
| Samanid Empire | 896–999 CE | A large part |
| Eastern Kara-Khanids | 1046–1138 CE | Nearly all |
| Western Karakhanid Khanate | 1066–1084 CE | A small part |
| Great Seljuk Empire | 1085–1146 CE | A small part |
| Kara-Khitans | 1139–1219 CE | Nearly all |
| The Mongol Empire | 1220–1368 CE | Nearly all |
| Chagatai Khanate | 1294–1462 CE | Nearly all |
| Moghulistan | 1463–1518 CE | Most |
| Kazakh Khanate | 1468–1821 CE | A large part |
| Eastern Chagatai Khanate | 1492–1511 CE | Most |
| Shaybanids | 1502–1511 CE | A large part |
| Khanate of Bukhara | 1516–1708 CE | A large part |
| Western Moghulistan | 1519–1635 CE | A large part |
| Oirat Confederation | 1636–1676 CE | A large part |
| Dzungar Khanate | 1677–1756 CE | A large part |
| Khanate of Kokand | 1709–1876 CE | Most |
| The Qing Dynasty | 1757–1821 CE | A large part |
| The Russian Empire | 1859–1916 CE | Nearly all |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | 1922–1991 CE | Nearly all |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1992–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz and Russian: Кыргызстан), a Central Asian country, is often called as the "Switzerland" of Central Asia due to its mountainous terrain. The country offers breathtaking landscapes, including the Tien Shan Mountains, crystal-clear lakes such as Issyk-Kul and Song Kol, and beautiful valleys like the Ala-Archa National Park. These areas provide excellent hiking, trekking, horseback riding, and camping opportunities.
You can experience the hospitality of Kyrgyz nomads by staying in yurts, sample Kyrgyz cuisine, featuring hearty dishes like beshbarmak and manti, and sip on fragrant tea while listening to traditional music and folklore. The country celebrates cultural events and festivals throughout the year which showcase the country's traditions, arts, and sports.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Kyrgyzstan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Kyrgyzstan
14 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishkek | 837,000 | Bishkek | National capital |
| 2 | Osh | 391,277 | Osh | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Jalal Abad | 248,899 | Jalal-Abad | Populated place |
| 4 | Tokmak | 112,860 | Bishkek | Populated place |
| 5 | Kara Balta | 74,133 | Bishkek | Populated place |
| 6 | Karakol | 70,171 | Ysyk-Köl | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Naryn | 52,300 | Naryn | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Balykchy | 40,527 | Ysyk-Köl | Populated place |
| 9 | Talas | 35,172 | Talas | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Toktogul | 26,115 | Jalal-Abad | Populated place |
| 11 | Tash Komur | 23,594 | Jalal-Abad | Populated place |
| 12 | Cholpon Ata | 18,595 | Ysyk-Köl | Populated place |
| 13 | At Bashy | 15,601 | Naryn | Populated place |
| 14 | Kok Yangak | 15,000 | Jalal-Abad | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Kyrgyzstan
4 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pik Pobeda | 7,439 m | 24,406 ft | Asia |
| 2 | Pik Karakol | 5,216 m | 17,113 ft | Asia |
| 3 | Köketau | 4,622 m | 15,164 ft | Asia |
| 4 | Gora Manas | 4,482 m | 14,705 ft | Asia |
Largest Lakes in Kyrgyzstan
2 lakes recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Issyk-Kul | 6,252 km² | Alkaline Lake |
| 2 | Toktogul Suu Saktagychy | 610 km² | Reservoir |
Issyk-Kul
Alkaline Lake · 6,252 km²
Issyk-Kul is a alkaline lake in Kyrgyzstan, with a mapped surface area of about 6,252 km².
Issyk-Kul (Russian: Иссык-Куль) or Ysyk-Köl (Kyrgyz: Ысык-Көл [ɯsɯ́q kʰɵl]; lit. 'Hot Lake') is an endorheic saline lake in the western Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan—just south of a dividing range separating Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan. It is the eighth-deepest lake in the world, the eleventh-largest lake in the world by volume, and the second-largest saline lake. It is located at an elevation of 1,607 metres (5,272 ft). Despite the elevation and low temperatures during winter, it rarely freezes due to its high salinity.
The lake is a Ramsar site of globally significant biodiversity and forms part of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Issyk-Kul (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Surface area
- 6,252 km²
- Area rank
- #29 of 756 indexed
- Type
- Alkaline Lake
- Country
- Kyrgyzstan
- Coordinates
- 42.4227°, 77.3370°
Among the 756 water bodies with a mapped extent in YearMaps, Issyk-Kul ranks #29 by surface area, after Reindeer Lake (6,875 km²) and ahead of Vänern (5,856 km²). Areas are computed from the mapped outline and are approximate.
- Other water nearby:
- Kapchagay Reservoir (933 km²), Alakol (2,834 km²)
More about Issyk-Kul
Geography
Issyk-Kul Lake is 182 kilometres (113 mi) long, up to 60 kilometres (37 mi) wide and its surface area is 6,236 square kilometres (2,408 sq mi). It is the second-largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South America. It is at an altitude of 1,607 metres (5,272 ft) and reaches 668 metres (2,192 ft) in depth.
About 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest are the Jyrgalang and Tüp. It is fed by springs, including many hot springs, and snow melt. The lake has no current outlet, but some hydrologists hypothesize that the lake's water filters deep underground into the Chu River. The bottom of the lake contains the mineral monohydrocalcite, one of the few known lacustrine deposits.
History
Issyk-Kul was a stopover on the Silk Road, a land route for travelers from the Far East to Europe. The great Chinese Buddhist scholar-monk Xuanzang passed by this lake and noted it in the classic travelogue Great Tang Records on the Western Regions in the 7th century. The lake was once a part of the territory of the Qing dynasty of China and was ceded to Russia—along with the surrounding territory—after the Treaty of Tarbagatai. In Manchu/Mongol records, the lake was known as Temurtu-Nor, or "Iron Lake".
Many historians believe that the lake was the point of origin for the Black Death that plagued Europe and Asia during the early and mid-14th century.
Tourism
During the Soviet era, the lake became a popular vacation resort, with numerous sanitoria, boarding houses and vacation homes along its northern shore, many concentrated in and around the town of Cholpon-Ata. These fell on hard times after the break-up of the USSR, but now hotel complexes are being refurbished and simple private bed-and-breakfast rentals are being established for a new generation of health and leisure visitors.
The city of Karakol (formerly Przhevalsk, after the Russian explorer Przhevalsky, who died there) is the administrative seat of the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is near the east tip of the lake and is a base for excursions into the surrounding area.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Issyk-Kul (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Issyk-Kul: Key Facts
| Surface area | 6,236 km² |
|---|---|
| Maximum depth | 668 m |
| Volume | 1,738 km³ |
| Surface elevation | 1,606 m |
| Inflows | Jyrgalan River, Tamga River, Tosor River, Tyup River |
Facts from Wikidata Q42191 (CC0).
Rivers in Kyrgyzstan
2 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyrgyzstan
3 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sulaiman-Too | 2009 | Cultural | (iii) (vi) |
| 2 | Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor | 2014 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (v) (vi) |
| 3 | Western Tian Shan | 2016 | Natural | (x) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Kyrgyzstan
6 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asia | 46.28M km² | Continent | Asia |
| 2 | Plateau of Tibet | 3.05M km² | Plateau | Asia |
| 3 | Tarim Basin | 423,249 km² | Basin | Asia |
| 4 | Tian Shan | 414,352 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
| 5 | Pamirs | 97,312 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
| 6 | Fergana Valley | 18,784 km² | Valley | Asia |
States and Provinces of Kyrgyzstan
1 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Kyrgyzstan
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Asia
Kyrgyzstan: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Kyrgyzstan?
- The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek.
- What is the population of Kyrgyzstan?
- Kyrgyzstan has a population of about 7.34 million, the #107 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Kyrgyzstan?
- Kyrgyzstan covers 199,951 km², ranking #88 by area, with about 37 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Kyrgyzstan in?
- Kyrgyzstan is in Asia.
- Which countries border Kyrgyzstan?
- Kyrgyzstan shares a land or maritime border with China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.
- What is the largest city in Kyrgyzstan?
- Bishkek is the largest city in Kyrgyzstan, with a metropolitan population of about 837,000.
- What is the highest mountain in Kyrgyzstan?
- The highest summit recorded for Kyrgyzstan in YearMaps is Pik Pobeda at 7,439 m (24,406 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Kyrgyzstan is Issyk-Kul, at roughly 6,252 km².