Country Context
Kyrgyz Republic | 2022 |
Population, million | 6.8 |
GDP, current $ billion | 10.9 |
GDP per capita, current $ | 1607.3 |
Life Expectancy at Birth, years | 71.8 |
The Kyrgyz Republic is a land-locked, lower-middle-income country. It has rich endowments, including minerals, forests, arable land, pastures, and has significant potential for the expansion of its hydroelectricity production, agriculture sector, and tourism industry.
The country has experienced instability since independence in 1991: political upheavals in 2005, 2010 and 2020 led to the overthrow of presidents. Mr. Sadyr Japarov, who came to power following political unrest in October 2020, was elected president in January 2021 with 79% of the vote and pledged to tackle crime and corruption while establishing order in the country. The presidential form of government has been consolidated, and the overall political situation has stabilized. The latest parliamentary election took place in November 2021.
The Kyrgyz economy is heavily dependent on remittances, gold production and foreign aid and as a result has been vulnerable to external shocks. Strong and sustainable economic growth requires institutional strengthening and policies to develop the private sector, spur international trade, and encourage fiscally sustainable energy production.