Pre-Trip Information

Kyrgyzstan's population, totaling over five million, consists of Kyrgyz (estimates range from 52 to 56 percent of the total population), Russians (18 percent), Uzbeks (13 percent), Ukrainians (three percent), Germans (two percent).

Many members of the German population, however, repatriated to Germany in the early years following independence from Soviet control. A significant number of Russians also left Kyrgyzstan during this period. Meanwhile, a number of Kyrgyz living outside of the country's borders returned at that time. The remainder of the country's population consists of some eighty other ethnic groups and nationalities. The most notable of these groups is the Uygurs, who are located in the northeast part of the country, and extend into the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. The importance in distinguishing this group lies its concerted effort aimed at establishing a political party whose primary aim would be to create an independent Uygurstan that also would include the Chinese-controlled Uygur territory. Tajik refugees also are part of the minority groups in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz and Russian are both official languages in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz is part of the Nogai-Kipchak subgroup of northeastern Turkic languages, which belong to the Uralic-Altaic language family. Although the Kyrgyz language has more Mongolian and Altaic elements than does Kazakh -- the language of neighboring Kazakhstan -- both modern forms of the two languages are very similar in structure. Unlike Kazakhstan, however, the Kyrgyz people possess an almost-universal mastery of their language. No written form of the Kyrgyz language was in existence until 1923 when an Arabic-based script was used. In 1928, a Latin-based alphabet was introduced instead of the Arabic script, and by 1940, it was replaced with a Cyrillic-based alphabet.

During the 1990s, soon after Soviet withdrawal and the acquisition of independence, a policy establishing Kyrgyz as the official language was vigorously pursued. Indeed, in 1992, a law was promulgated calling for all business to be conducted in Kyrgyz. Non-Kyrgyz members of the population resisted this process of Kyrgyzification. In March of 1996, a reversal of this process was instituted when the legislature of Kyrgyzstan amended the constitution making both Kyrgyz as well as Russian officially recognized languages in areas where Russian-speaking people were prevalent. According to reports, the measure was motivated be a desire for rapprochement between the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Nevertheless, by 1997, an aggressive attempt to make Kyrgyz the national language in all commercial and governmental enterprises had been launched. This return to increased Kyrgyzification was not well-received by either Russian-speakers or other non-Kyrgyz groups.

Most of the population of Kyrgyzstan are Sunni Muslims (about 70 percent), a significant minority are Russian Orthodox (approximately 20 percent), and there are also a variety of other religions represented among the remaining portions of the populations. Worth noting is the fact that although most of the people of Kyrgyzstan are Muslims, Islam has not been as heavy a cultural influence upon the population. Although the southern provinces tend to be more Islamic and conservative enclaves, while the northern areas tend to be more industrialized and modernized, in general, Kyrgyzstan can be considered a religiously moderate country. Tribal affiliations are at least as important as religious affiliations and lend themselves to the fascinating cultural tapestry of Kyrgyzstan.


Human Development

About  5.9 percent of GDP is spent in the country on educational expenditures. About 4.1 percent of GDP is spent on health expenditures.  Access to sanitation, water,  and health care is considered to be generally good.

Literacy in Kyrgyzstan, like many former Soviet republics, is highly rated at 97 percent and there has been a firm dedication to the education of all citizens. This effort, however, has been somewhat fettered by the lack of funds, a deficit of trained teachers, and insufficient text books. Nevertheless, the government of Kyrgyzstan has ambitiously attempted to deal with these challenges, while maintaining its objectives of universal education.

The health care system of Kyrgyzstan faces challenges reminiscent of the educational system in the post-Soviet era. There is a gross lack of funds, facilities, supplies, equipment, and trained professionals. Nonetheless, the government of Kyrgyzstan continues to chart the course of transition from a national health care system under the aegis of the Soviet administration, to independent public health care and insurance systems. Life expectancy remains at a respectable average rate of 68.4years old. Meanwhile, the infant mortality rate has been decreased (now 75 deaths per 1,000 live births), but this number is still one of the highest among former Soviet republics. Unsanitary conditions and contaminated water appear to be the greatest health hazards.

One notable indicator used to measure a country's quality of life is the Human Development Index (HDI), which is compiled annually since 1990 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The HDI is a composite of several indicators, which measure a country's achievements in three main arenas of human development: longevity, knowledge and education, as well as economic standard of living. In a recent ranking of 169 countries, the HDI placed Kyrgyzstan in the medium human development category, at 109th place.

Editor's Note: Although the concept of human development is complicated and cannot be properly captured by values and indices, the HDI, which is calculated and updated annually, offers a wide-ranging assessment of human development in certain countries, not based solely upon traditional economic and financial indicators.