Page last updated on February 6, 2013
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a dominant agricultural sector. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and electricity. The economy depends heavily on gold exports - mainly from output at the Kumtor gold mine - and on remittances from Kyrgyzstani migrant workers priimarily in Russia. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover and exports began to increase. In 2005, the BAKIEV government and international financial institutions initiated a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. The government made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007-08. GDP grew about 8% annually in 2007-08, partly due to higher gold prices internationally, but slowed to 2.9% in 2009. The overthrow of President BAKIEV in April 2010 and subsequent ethnic clashes left hundreds dead and damaged infrastructure. Shrinking trade and agricultural production, as well as political instability, caused GDP to contract 0.5% in 2010. The fiscal deficit widened to 11% of GDP, reflecting significant increases in crisis-related spending, including both rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and bank recapitalization. The economy grew 5.7% in 2011, but slowed to around 1% in 2012, primarily because of decreased production from Kumtor; the budget deficit has been reduced to under 8% of GDP. Progress in reconstruction, fighting corruption, restructuring domestic industry, and attracting foreign aid and investment are key to future growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.47 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$13.34 billion (2011 est.)
$12.62 billion (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
[see also:
GDP country ranks ]
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.197 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
5.7% (2011 est.)
-0.5% (2010 est.)
[see also:
GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]
GDP - per capita:
$2,400 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$2,400 (2011 est.)
$2,300 (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
[see also:
GDP - per capita country ranks ]
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.2%
[see also: GDP - composition by sector - agriculture country ranks ]
industry:
27.3%
services:
52.5% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
2.344 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 114
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 48%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry:
12.5%
services:
39.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.6% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
18% (2004 est.)
[see also:
Unemployment rate country ranks ]
Population below poverty line:
33.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%:
27.8% (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.4 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 95
29 (2001)
[see also:
Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]
Investment (gross fixed):
25.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
[see also: Investment (gross fixed) country ranks ]
Budget:
revenues: $1.741 billion
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures:
$2.223 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
28.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-7.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
16.6% (2011 est.)
[see also:
Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]
Central bank discount rate:
13.73% (22 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
2.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
[see also:
Central bank discount rate country ranks ]
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
28.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
34.07% (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]
Stock of narrow money:
$1.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.363 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of narrow money country ranks ]
Stock of broad money:
$1.952 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$1.654 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of broad money country ranks ]
Stock of domestic credit:
$897.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$759.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$165 million (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 115
$79 million (31 December 2010)
$71.84 million (31 December 2009)
[see also:
Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate:
10% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]
Current account balance:
-$546.3 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
-$252.4 million (2011 est.)
[see also:
Current account balance country ranks ]
Exports:
$2.294 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$2.331 billion (2011 est.)
[see also:
Exports country ranks ]
Exports - commodities:
gold, cotton, wool, garments, meat, tobacco; mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:
Uzbekistan 25.3%, Russia 22.1%, Kazakhstan 20.1%, China 7.8%, UAE 5.5%, Afghanistan 5%, Turkey 4.2% (2011)
Imports:
$4.272 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136