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[[Image:Kyrgyzstan_Map_CIA.gif|right|thumb|350px|Kyrgyzstan]]‎

'''Kyrgyzstan''' is a country in Central [[Asia]].  Its capital is Bishkek.  Kyrgyzstan is a former member of the [[USSR]]. Owing to its mountainous landscape and powerful banking sector, Kyrgyzstan is known as the Switzerland of Central Asia.

|gdp         =$4.6 billion

|gdp-year =2008

|currency =Som

|idd =

|tld            =

'''Kyrgyzstan''' or the '''Kyrgyz Republic''' is a country in Central [[Asia]].  Its capital is Bishkek.  Kyrgyzstan is a former member of the [[USSR]]. Owing to its mountainous landscape and powerful banking sector, Kyrgyzstan is known as the Switzerland of Central Asia.

==People==

==People==

According to recent findings of Kyrgyz and Chinese historians, Kyrgyz history dates back to 201 B.C. The earliest descendants of the Kyrgyz people, who are believed to be of Turkic descent, lived in the northeastern part of what is currently Mongolia. Later, some of their tribes migrated to the region that is currently southern Siberia and settled along the Yenisey River, where they lived from the 6th until the 8th centuries. They spread across what is now the Tuva region of the Russian Federation, remaining in that area until the rise of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, when the Kyrgyz began migrating south. In the 12th century, Islam became the predominant religion in the region. Most Kyrgyz are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school.  

According to recent findings of Kyrgyz and Chinese historians, Kyrgyz history dates back to 201 B.C. The earliest descendants of the Kyrgyz people, who are believed to be of Turkic descent, lived in the northeastern part of what is currently Mongolia. Later, some of their tribes migrated to the region that is currently southern Siberia and settled along the Yenisey River, where they lived from the 6th until the 8th centuries. They spread across what is now the Tuva region of the Russian Federation, remaining in that area until the rise of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, when the Kyrgyz began migrating south. In the 12th century, Islam became the predominant religion in the region. Most Kyrgyz are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school.  

*Population (July 2006): 5,213,988.

*Population (July 2008): 5,356,869.

*Annual growth rate (2006): 1.32%.  

*Annual growth rate (2008): 1.38%.  

*Ethnic groups (Jan. 2003): Kyrgyz 67%; Russian 11%; Uzbek 14%; Dungan (ethnic Chinese Muslims) 1%; Uighurs 1%; Tatars 0.9%; *German 0.3%; other 4.8%.

*Ethnic groups (Jan. 2003): Kyrgyz 67%; Russian 11%; Uzbek 14%; Dungan (ethnic Chinese Muslims) 1%; Uighurs 1%; Tatars 0.9%; *German 0.3%; other 4.8%.

*Main religions: Islam; Russian Orthodox.

*Main religions: Islam; Russian Orthodox.

==Government and Political Conditions==

==Government and Political Conditions==

The 1993 constitution defines the form of government as a democratic republic. The executive branch includes a president and prime minister. The judicial branch comprises a Supreme Court, a Constitutional Court, local courts, and a Procurator-General.

The 1993 constitution defines the form of government as a democratic republic. The executive branch includes a president and prime minister. The judicial branch comprises a Supreme Court, a Constitutional Court, local courts, and a Procurator-General.

===Principal Government Officials===  

===Principal Government Officials===  

*President--Kurmanbek Bakiyev

*President--Kurmanbek Bakiyev

*Prime Minister--Almazbek Atambayev

*Prime Minister--Igor Chudinov

*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Ednan Karabayev

*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Ednan Karabayev

*Ambassador to the U.S.--Zamira Sydykova  

*Ambassador to the U.S.--Zamira Sydykova  

The Kyrgyz Republic exports antimony, mercury, rare-earth metals, and chemical products to the United States. It imports grain, medicine and medical equipment, vegetable oil, paper products, rice, machinery, agricultural equipment, and meat from the United States. In 2005 Kyrgyz exports to the U.S. totaled $5 million; 2005 Kyrgyz imports from the U.S. totaled $31 million, much of which was equipment, food products, and commodities provided by assistance programs.  

The Kyrgyz Republic exports antimony, mercury, rare-earth metals, and chemical products to the United States. It imports grain, medicine and medical equipment, vegetable oil, paper products, rice, machinery, agricultural equipment, and meat from the United States. In 2005 Kyrgyz exports to the U.S. totaled $5 million; 2005 Kyrgyz imports from the U.S. totaled $31 million, much of which was equipment, food products, and commodities provided by assistance programs.  

*GDP: 2006, $2.8 billion; 2003, $1.9 billion; 2002, $1.6 billion; 2001, $1.5 billion.

*GDP: 2008, $4.6 billion; 2006, $2.8 billion; 2003, $1.9 billion; 2002, $1.6 billion; 2001, $1.5 billion.

*GDP growth rate in 2006: 2.7%.

*GDP growth rate in 2006: 2.7%.

*Inflation rate in 2006: 5.6%.

*Inflation rate in 2006: 5.6%.

*GDP per capita (2006 est.): $536.  

*GDP per capita (2008 est.): $870.  

*Unemployment rate (as of the end of 2006): 17.7%.

*Unemployment rate (as of the end of 2006): 17.7%.

*Natural resources: Abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of iron, bauxite, copper, tin, molybdenum, mercury, and antimony.

*Natural resources: Abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of iron, bauxite, copper, tin, molybdenum, mercury, and antimony.

{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5755.htm]}}

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Source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5755.htm]

[[Category:Asian Countries]]

[[Category:Asian Countries]]

[[Category:Former Soviet Countries]]

[[Category:Former Soviet Countries]]

[[Category:Landlocked Countries]]

[[Category:Landlocked Countries]]