# Geognos Data Export: Central Asia Generated: 2026-02-14T06:35:33.925Z ## Kazakhstan **Slug:** kazakhstan **Region:** Central Asia **Flag:** 🇰🇿 **Codes:** cek: kz, iso2: KZ, iso3: KAZ, iso_num: 398, genc: KAZ, stanag: KAZ, internet: .kz ### Introduction **Background:** Ethnic Kazakhs derive from a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes that migrated to the region in the 15th century. The Russian Empire conquered the Kazakh steppe in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. Forced agricultural collectivization led to repression and starvation, resulting in more than a million deaths in the early 1930s. During the 1950s and 1960s, the agricultural "Virgin Lands" program generated an influx of settlers -- mostly ethnic Russians, but also other nationalities -- and by the time of Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, ethnic Kazakhs were a minority. However, non-Muslim ethnic minorities departed Kazakhstan in large numbers from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s, and a national program has repatriated about a million ethnic Kazakhs (from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and the Xinjiang region of China) to Kazakhstan. As a result of this shift, the ethnic Kazakh share of the population now exceeds two-thirds. Kazakhstan's economy is the largest in Central Asia, mainly due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include diversifying the economy, attracting foreign direct investment, enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness, and strengthening economic relations with neighboring states and foreign powers. ### Geography **Location:** Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Oral) River in easternmost Europe **Geographic coordinates:** 48 00 N, 68 00 E **Map references:** Asia **Area:** total : 2,724,900 sq km land: 2,699,700 sq km water: 25,200 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than four times the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 13,364 km border countries (5): China 1,765 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,212 km; Russia 7,644 km; Turkmenistan 413 km; Uzbekistan 2,330 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid **Terrain:** vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south **Elevation:** highest point: Pik Khan-Tengri 7,010 m note - the northern most 7,000 meter peak in the World lowest point: Qauyndy Oyysy -132 m mean elevation: 387 m **Natural resources:** major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium **Land use:** agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 11% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.) forest: 1.3% (2023 est.) other: 19.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 17,794 sq km (2022) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 sq km salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Russia) - 374,000 sq km; Aral Sea (north) - 3,300 sq km; Ozero Alakol - 2,650 sq km; Ozero Teniz 1,590 sq km; Ozero Seletytenzi - 780 sq km; Ozero Sasykkol - 740 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Syr Darya river mouth (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) - 3,078 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km) **Population distribution:** most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country **Natural hazards:** earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty **Geography - note:** world's largest landlocked country and one of only two landlocked countries in the world that extends into two continents (the other is Azerbaijan); Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq mi) of territory enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome ### People and Society **Population:** total: 20,432,662 (2025 est.) male: 9,902,303 female: 10,530,359 **Nationality:** noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani **Ethnic groups:** Kazakh 71%, Russian 14.9%, Uzbek 3.3%, Ukrainian 1.9%, Uyghurs 1.5%, German 1.1%, Tatar 1.1%, other 4.9%, unspecified 0.3% (2023 est.) **Languages:** Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 80.1%, Russian 83.7%, English 35.1% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Әлемдік деректер кітабы, негізгі ақпараттың таптырмайтын көзі. (Kazakh) Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: percentages are based on population that understands the spoken language **Religions:** Muslim 69.3%, Christian 17.2% (Orthodox 17%, other 0.2%), Buddhism 0.1%, other 0.1%, non-believers 2.3%, unspecified 11% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 27.6% (male 2,883,200/female 2,712,772) 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 6,233,881/female 6,486,019) 65 years and over: 9.6% (2024 est.) (male 700,091/female 1,244,043) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 59.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 43.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 15.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 6.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 32.1 years (2025 est.) male: 30 years female: 33.8 years **Population growth rate:** 0.83% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 16.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country **Urbanization:** urban population: 58.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.987 million Almaty, 1.291 million NUR-SULTAN (capital), 1.155 million Shimkent (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.56 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.9 years (2019 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 10 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 73.3 years (2024 est.) male: 69 years female: 77.9 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.57 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.24 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.9% of GDP (2021) 10.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.75 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 6.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 21% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 20.1% (2025 est.) male: 35.7% (2025 est.) female: 6.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 63.8% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.2% (2015) women married by age 18: 7% (2015) **Education expenditure:** 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 22% national budget (2024 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2024 est.) male: 14 years (2024 est.) female: 14 years (2024 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** radioactive or toxic chemical sites from former defense industries; severe industrial pollution in some cities; air and soil pollution (including dust storms) from chemical pesticides and natural salts left after two rivers were diverted; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals; salination from infrastructure and irrigation practices; water pollution; desertification **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid **Land use:** agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 11% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.) forest: 1.3% (2023 est.) other: 19.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 58.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 269.83 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 175.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 50.387 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 43.596 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 38.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 1,903.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 781.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 184.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 17.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.66 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 4.877 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 5.995 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 14.264 billion cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 108.41 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: Qazaqstan former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name may derive from the Turkic word kazak, meaning "nomad;" the Persian suffix -stan means "place of" or "country" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Astana geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: On 1 March 2024, Kazakhstan moved from using two time zones to one etymology: the name means "capital city" in Kazakh note: founded in 1830 as Akmoly, the capital city became Akmolinsk in 1832, Tselinograd in 1961, Akmola (Aqmola) in 1992, Astana in 1998, and Nur-Sultan in 2019; the latest name change back to Astana in 2022 occurred just three and a half years after the city was renamed to honor a former president, who subsequently fell out of favor **Administrative divisions:** 17 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 4 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Abay (Semey), Almaty (Qonaev), Almaty*, Aqmola (Kokshetau), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Shymkent*, Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl), Turkistan, Ulytau (Zhezqazghan), Zhambyl (Taraz), Zhetisu (Taldyqorghan) note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses note 2: in 1995, the Kazakh and Russian governments agreed that Russia would lease for 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq mi) around the Baikonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baikonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, the lease was extended to 2050 **Legal system:** civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation **Constitution:** history: previous 1937, 1978 (pre-independence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995 amendment process: introduced by a referendum initiated by the president of the republic, on the recommendation of Parliament, or by the government; the president has the option of submitting draft amendments to Parliament or directly to a referendum; passage of amendments by Parliament requires four-fifths majority vote of both houses and the signature of the president; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote by more than one half of the voters in at least two thirds of the oblasts, major cities, and the capital, followed by the signature of the president **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kazakhstan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024) cabinet: the president appoints ministers based on the prime minister's recommendations; the president has veto power over all appointments and independently appoints the ministers of defense, internal affairs, and foreign affairs election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 7-year term (prior to September 2022, the president of Kazakhstan could serve up to two 5-year terms; legislation reduced it to one 7-year term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Mazhilis most recent election date: 20 November 2022 election results: 2024: Olzhas BEKTENOV elected as prime minister; 69-0 in parliament 2022: Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 81.3%, Zhiguli DAYRABAEV (Auyl) 3.4%, Qaraqat or Karakat ÄBDEN (KÄQŪA) 2.6%, Meyram KAZHYKEN (Amanat) 2.5%, Nurlan AUYESBAYEV (NSDP) 2.2%, Saltanat TURSYNBEKOVA (QA-DJ) 2.1%, other 5.8% 2019: Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 71%, Amirzhan KOSANOV (Ult Tagdyry) 16.2%, Daniya YESPAYEVA (Ak Zhol) 5.1%, other 7.7% expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlament) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Mazhilis) number of seats: 98 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/19/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Amanat party (62); Auyl party (8); Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (6); Respublica (6); People's Party of Kazakhstan (5); Independents (7); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 18.4% expected date of next election: March 2028 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate number of seats: 50 (40 indirectly elected; 10 appointed) scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 1/14/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 20% expected date of next election: January 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of the chairperson and 6 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the president of the republic on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council and confirmed by the Senate; judges normally serve until age 65 but can be extended to age 70; Constitutional Council - the president of the republic, the Senate chairperson, and the Mazhilis chairperson each appoints 2 members for a 6-year term; chairperson of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president for a 6-year term subordinate courts: regional and local courts **Political parties:** Ak Zhol Democratic Party or Ak Zhol Amanat formerly Nur Otan Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party or Auyl Green Party of Kazakhstan orBaytaq Nationwide Social Democratic Party or NSDP People's Party of Kazakhstan or PPK Respublica **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Magzhan ILYASSOV (since 16 December 2025) chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845 email address and website: washington@mfa.kz https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington?lang=en consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Julie STUFFT; Chargé d'Affaires Deborah ROBINSON (since January 2025) embassy: Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3, Astana 010010 mailing address: 2230 Astana Place, Washington DC 20521-2230 telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00 FAX: [7] (7172) 54-09-14 email address and website: USAKZ@state.gov https://kz.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Almaty **International organization participation:** ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 16 December (1991) **Flag:** description: a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky-blue background; the left side displays a national pattern called koshkar-muiz (the horns of the ram) in gold meaning: the blue color has religious significance for the Turkic peoples and symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity, as well as sky and water; the sun stands for wealth and plenitude, with rays shaped like grain; the eagle has appeared on Kazakh tribal flags for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the future **National symbol(s):** golden eagle **National color(s):** blue, yellow **National coat of arms:** winning design from a competition held in 1992; the design uses the national colors of yellow and blue, with blue standing for the hope for unity, peace, and friendship with all people and gold for a clear future for the country’s population; a shanyrak (the upper dome-like portion of a yurt) represents familial well-being, peace, and calmness, with the circular shape standing for life and eternity; the winged horses, or tulpars, protect the shanyrak and symbolize bravery, prosperity, and inspiration **National anthem(s):** title: "Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan) lyrics/music: Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV history: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (c); Petroglyphs at Tanbaly (c); Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (n); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien-Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income Central Asian economy; robust growth due to rising oil production, expansion in manufacturing and services, rising domestic demand, and infrastructure investments; however, rapid growth contributing to high inflation rate; declining unemployment and poverty rates **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $739.385 billion (2024 est.) $705.52 billion (2023 est.) $671.285 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.8% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $35,900 (2024 est.) $34,700 (2023 est.) $33,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $288.406 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 8.8% (2024 est.) 14.7% (2023 est.) 15% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 3.9% (2024 est.) industry: 31.4% (2024 est.) services: 58.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 51.4% (2023 est.) government consumption: 11.1% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 3.3% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -27.5% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, milk, barley, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons, sunflower seeds, maize, onions, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, uranium, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials **Industrial production growth rate:** 6.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 10.285 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.8% (2024 est.) 4.9% (2023 est.) 4.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 3.8% (2024 est.) male: 3% (2024 est.) female: 4.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 5.2% (2023 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 29.2 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 50.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 4.3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $44.25 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $47.247 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 20.9% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 11.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$3.702 billion (2024 est.) -$9.448 billion (2023 est.) $6.436 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $91.908 billion (2024 est.) $90.926 billion (2023 est.) $93.822 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 16%, UK 15%, Russia 10%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, gold, radioactive chemicals, refined copper, copper ore (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $74.246 billion (2024 est.) $72.723 billion (2023 est.) $60.439 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 28%, Russia 24%, Gambia, The 4%, Turkey 4%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, vehicle bodies, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $45.808 billion (2024 est.) $35.965 billion (2023 est.) $35.076 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $25.765 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** tenge (KZT) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 468.962 (2024 est.) 456.165 (2023 est.) 460.165 (2022 est.) 425.908 (2021 est.) 412.953 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 27.624 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 106.201 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2.243 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 3.694 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 9.439 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 87.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025) **Coal:** production: 120.279 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 86.349 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 34.043 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 114,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 25.605 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 1.955 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 30 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 28.769 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 22.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 7.071 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 408.952 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.407 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 172.936 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 2.44 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 26.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** the state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; there are 96 TV channels, and 4 state-run radio stations; some former state-owned media outlets have been privatized; households with satellite dishes have access to foreign media; small number of commercial radio stations; all media outlets have to register with the government (2018) **Internet country code:** .kz **Internet users:** percent of population: 93% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 3.59 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** UP **Airports:** 132 (2025) **Heliports:** 32 (2025) **Railways:** total: 16,636 km (2021) broad gauge: 16,636 km (2021) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 122 (2023) by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Land Forces (Army of Kazakhstan), Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police, National Guard Committee for National Security (KNB): Border Guard Service (2025) note: the National Guard is a gendarmerie type force administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also serves the Ministry of Defense; it is responsible for fighting crime, maintaining public order, and ensuring public safety; other duties include anti-terrorism operations, guarding prisons, riot control, and territorial defense in time of war **Military expenditures:** 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** available information varies widely; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 30,000 National Guard (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Kazakh military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has sought to diversify to suppliers such as China, France, Israel, South Korea, and Türkiye; Kazakhstan has a defense industry capable of assembling or producing such items as naval vessels, combat vehicles, helicopters, and radar systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** men 18-27 are subject to conscription for 12-24 months; conscripts may be assigned to the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Border Service, the State Security Service, or the Ministry of Emergency Situations; women may volunteer (2025) **Military - note:** the military’s principal responsibilities are territorial defense while the National Police, National Guard, Committee for National Security, and Border Service have primary responsibility for internal security, although the military may provide assistance if required; the military also participates in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, as well as regional exercises; in recent years, Kazakhstan has placed greater emphasis on regional military partnerships and equipment modernization and diversification in order to reduce reliance on Russia, its traditional security partner; other efforts to enhance the country’s security sector have included boosting the capabilities of the National Guard and improving military professionalism Kazakhstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has obligated troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; it also has had a relationship with NATO since 1992 focused on democratic, institutional, and defense reforms (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Aerospace Committee of the Kazakh Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Ministry (aka National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan or KazCosmos; established 2007) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** Baikonur Cosmodrome/Space Center (Baikonur) (2025) note 1: Baikonur Cosmodrome is leased and administered by Russia until 2050; the cosmodrome was originally built by the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s and is the site of the World's first successful satellite launch (Sputnik) in 1957; it is also the largest space launch facility in the World note 2: in 2018, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed that Kazakhstan would build, maintain, and operate a new space launch facility (Baiterek) at the Baikonur Space Center (estimated to be fully operational in 2027-2028) **Space program overview:** space program originated with the former Soviet Union; focuses on satellite acquisition and operation; builds (with foreign assistance) and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; building space infrastructure, such as launch and testing facilities, ground stations, and rocket manufacturing; has an astronaut (cosmonaut) program; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, and the UK; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; has state-owned and private companies that assist with the country’s space program and work closely with foreign commercial entities (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1991 - first Kazakh in space on the last Soviet Soyuz mission 2006 - first communications satellite (KazSat-1) built jointly with Italy and launched by Russia 2014 - first remote sensing satellite (KazEOSat-1) built by France and launched on European rocket 2024 - joined China-led lunar base project ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 66,152 (2024 est.) IDPs: 0 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 7,865 (2024 est.) --- ## Kyrgyzstan **Slug:** kyrgyzstan **Region:** Central Asia **Flag:** 🇰🇬 **Codes:** cek: kg, iso2: KG, iso3: KGZ, iso_num: 417, genc: KGZ, stanag: KGZ, internet: .kg ### Introduction **Background:** 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. ### Geography **Location:** Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan **Geographic coordinates:** 41 00 N, 75 00 E **Map references:** Asia **Area:** total : 199,951 sq km land: 191,801 sq km water: 8,150 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than South Dakota **Land boundaries:** total: 4,573 km border countries (4): China 1,063 km; Kazakhstan 1,212 km; Tajikistan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,314 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **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 **Elevation:** highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m mean elevation: 2,988 m **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.) **Irrigated land:** 10,041 sq km (2022) **Major lakes (area sq km):** 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 **Major rivers (by length in km):** 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 watersheds (area sq km):** Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) **Population distribution:** the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, in the Tien Shan mountains **Natural hazards:** major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes **Geography - 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 ### People and Society **Population:** total: 6,219,751 (2025 est.) male: 3,043,940 female: 3,175,811 **Nationality:** noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani **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.) **Languages:** Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.) major-language sample(s): Дүйнөлүк фактылар китеби, негизги маалыматтын маанилүү булагы. (Kyrgyz) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i) (2017 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 29.1% (male 922,086/female 873,245) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,935,200/female 2,013,733) 65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 164,032/female 263,805) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 8.8 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 28.6 years (2025 est.) male: 26.9 years female: 29.8 years **Population growth rate:** 0.75% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 18.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, in the Tien Shan mountains **Urbanization:** urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.105 million BISHKEK (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 22.6 years (2019 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 24 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 72.9 years (2024 est.) male: 68.9 years female: 77.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.43 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.18 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 85.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 90.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 14.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 9.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.4% of GDP (2021) 7.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.85 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 16.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 3.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 26% (2025 est.) male: 50.7% (2025 est.) female: 3.1% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 2.9% (2023 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.4% (2023 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.3% (2018) women married by age 18: 12.9% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 6.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 19.6% national budget (2024 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2024 est.) male: 12 years (2024 est.) female: 13 years (2024 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution; increasing soil salinity from irrigation practices; air pollution due to vehicle traffic **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone **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.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 11.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 6.301 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.234 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 854,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 40.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.113 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 224 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 336 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 23.618 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: Kyrgyzstan etymology: named for the local Kyrgyz people, with "-stan" coming from the Persian word ostan, meaning "country;" the Kyrgyz name may derive from the Turkic root words kir, or "steppe," and gismek, "to wander;" the name is traditionally said to come from a combination of the Turkic words kyrg (forty) and -is (hundred), based on a tale about two tribes and the number of their tents **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Bishkek geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the meaning of the name is unknown; the city was founded in 1862 as a Russian settlement on the site of an Uzbek fortress named Bishkek; the Russian version of the name was Pishpek, and the original name only came back into use in 1991 **Administrative divisions:** 7 provinces (oblustar, singular - oblus) and 2 cities* (shaarlar, singular - shaar); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses **Legal system:** civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws **Constitution:** history: previous 1993, 2007, 2010; latest approved by referendum in 2021 amendment process: proposed as a draft law by the majority of the Supreme Council membership or by petition of 300,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Council membership in each of at least three readings of the draft two months apart; the draft may be submitted to a referendum if approved by two thirds of the Council membership; adoption requires the signature of the president **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan dual citizenship recognized: yes, but only if a mutual treaty on dual citizenship is in force residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021) head of government: Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 10 January 2021 election results: 2021: Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV (Mekenchil) 79.2%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.8%, other 14% 2017: Sooronbay JEENBEKOV elected president; Sooronbay JEENBEKOV (Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan) 54.7%, Omurbek BABANOV (independent) 33.8%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.6%, other 4.9% expected date of next election: 2027 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Supreme Council (Jogorku Kenesh) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 90 (all directly elected) electoral system: other systems scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/30/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Fatherland) (15); Ishenim (Trust) (12); Yntymak (Harmony) (9); Alyans (Alliance) (7); Butun Kyrgyzstan (United) (6); Yiman Nuru (Ray of Faith) (5); Independents (34) percentage of women in chamber: 22.2% expected date of next election: November 2030 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (consists of the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president; Supreme Court judges serve for 10 years, Constitutional Court judges serve for 15 years; mandatory retirement at age 70 for judges of both courts subordinate courts: Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts **Political parties:** Afghan's Party Alliance Cohesion Fatherland Kyrgyzstan Ishenim Light of Faith Mekenchil Social Democrats or SDK United Kyrgyzstan **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Aibek MOLDOGAZIEV (since 11 June 2025) chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822 FAX: [1] (202) 449-8275 email address and website: kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA and Canada (mfa.gov.kg) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Lesslie VIGUERIE (since 29 December 2022) embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016 mailing address: 7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC 20521-7040 telephone: [996] (312) 597-000 FAX: [996] (312) 597-744 email address and website: ConsularBishkek@state.gov https://kg.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 31 August (1991) **Flag:** description: red field with a yellow sun in the center that has 40 rays that run counterclockwise on the front of the flag and clockwise on the reverse; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines in a stylized representation of a tunduk, the circular opening at the top of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt meaning: the sun's rays represent the Kyrgyz tribes; red stands for bravery and valor, and the sun for peace and wealth **National symbol(s):** white falcon **National color(s):** red, yellow **National coat of arms:** adopted in 1992, the coat of arms of Kyrgyzstan highlights two of its best-known geographic features, Issyk-Kul Lake and the Tien Shan mountain range; the falcon, the national symbol, stands for nobleness and purity, and light blue for courage and generosity; the word “Kyrgyz” appears at the top of the emblem, and “Republic” at the bottom; the wheat, cotton, and rising sun were symbols used during the Soviet era **National anthem(s):** title: "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic) lyrics/music: Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV history: adopted 1992 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** 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 **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $50.907 billion (2024 est.) $46.686 billion (2023 est.) $42.826 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 9% (2024 est.) 9% (2023 est.) 9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $7,000 (2024 est.) $6,600 (2023 est.) $6,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $17.478 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 10.8% (2023 est.) 13.9% (2022 est.) 11.9% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 8.6% (2024 est.) industry: 24.7% (2024 est.) services: 52.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 88.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 16% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 12.5% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 36.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -95.5% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals **Industrial production growth rate:** 9.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 3.197 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.3% (2024 est.) 4% (2023 est.) 4.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 6.8% (2024 est.) male: 6.3% (2024 est.) female: 7.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 33.3% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 26.4 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 4.4% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 22% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 18.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 26.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 32.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $4.84 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $4.452 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 40.5% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 19.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$5.18 billion (2022 est.) -$737.696 million (2021 est.) $374.257 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $3.628 billion (2022 est.) $3.292 billion (2021 est.) $2.435 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $10.655 billion (2022 est.) $5.928 billion (2021 est.) $4.051 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $5.089 billion (2024 est.) $3.237 billion (2023 est.) $2.799 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $3.617 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** soms (KGS) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 87.15 (2024 est.) 87.856 (2023 est.) 84.116 (2022 est.) 84.641 (2021 est.) 77.346 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 99.7% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 99.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.944 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 14.872 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 428.01 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 3.929 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.363 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 85.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 3.685 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 4.212 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.672 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.443 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 28.499 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 40 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 28.638 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 435.336 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 406.698 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 27.58 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 157,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 7.72 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-funded public TV broadcaster NTRK operates Ala-Too 24 news channel and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR is a state-owned TV station; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 TV stations are struggling to increase Kyrgyz-language content to 60% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; several Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations (2023) **Internet country code:** .kg **Internet users:** percent of population: 89% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 456,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** EX **Airports:** 28 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 424 km (2022) broad gauge: 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic: Land Forces (Kygyz Army), Air Defense Forces (Kyrgyz Air Force), National Guard of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Service State Committee for National Security: Border Guard Service (2025) note: the National Guard’s missions include counterterrorism, responding to emergencies, and the protection of government facilities **Military expenditures:** 3% of GDP (2024 est.) 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 3% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** limited available information; estimated 10-15,000 active Armed Forces, including the National Guard (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Kyrgyz military inventory is comprised almost entirely of Russian and Soviet-era weapons and equipment; in recent years, the military has acquired small amounts of armaments from other suppliers such as Türkiye, which provided unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary service for men in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 12-month service obligation (9 months for university graduates), with optional fee-based 3-year service in the call-up mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2025) **Military - note:** the Kyrgyz military’s primary responsibility is defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, although it also has some internal security duties; the military also participates in UN and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping missions, as well as bilateral and multinational exercises; particular issues of concern include border security and terrorism; the military’s closest security partner is Russia, which provides training and material assistance, and maintains a presence in the country, including an airbase; the military also conducts training with other regional countries such as India, traditionally with a focus on counterterrorism Kyrgyzstan has been a member of CSTO since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; it also started a relationship with NATO in 1992 and joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994 (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): US-designated foreign terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province have operated in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 25,413 (2024 est.) IDPs: 12 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 925 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Kyrgyzstan remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/kyrgyz-republic/ --- ## Russia **Slug:** russia **Region:** Central Asia **Flag:** 🇷🇺 **Codes:** cek: rs, iso2: RU, iso3: RUS, iso_num: 643, genc: RUS, stanag: RUS, internet: .ru ### Introduction **Background:** Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy emerged from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and gradually conquered and absorbed surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new ROMANOV dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Devastating defeats and food shortages in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow of the ROMANOV Dynasty in 1917. The communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened communist control and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. After defeating Germany in World War II as part of an alliance with the US (1939-1945), the USSR expanded its territory and influence in Eastern Europe and emerged as a global power. The USSR was the principal US adversary during the Cold War (1947-1991). The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the decades following Stalin's rule, until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize communism. His initiatives inadvertently released political and economic forces that by December 1991 led to the dissolution of the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent states. In response to the ensuing turmoil during President Boris YELTSIN's term (1991-99), Russia shifted toward a centralized authoritarian state under President Vladimir PUTIN (2000-2008, 2012-present) in which the regime seeks to legitimize its rule through managed elections, populist appeals, a foreign policy focused on enhancing the country's geopolitical influence, and commodity-based economic growth. In 2014, Russia purported to annex Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and occupied large portions of two eastern Ukrainian oblasts. In sporadic fighting over the next eight years, more than 14,000 civilians were killed or wounded as a result of the Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia escalated its conflict with Ukraine by invading the country on several fronts in what has become the largest conventional military attack on a sovereign state in Europe since World War II. The invasion received near-universal international condemnation, and many countries imposed sanctions on Russia and supplied humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. In September 2022, Russia unilaterally declared its annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia -- even though none were fully under Russian control. The annexations remain unrecognized by the international community. ### Geography **Location:** North Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean, extending from Eastern Europe (the portion west of the Urals) to the North Pacific Ocean **Geographic coordinates:** 60 00 N, 100 00 E **Map references:** Asia **Area:** total : 17,098,242 sq km land: 16,377,742 sq km water: 720,500 sq km **Area - comparative:** approximately 1.8 times the size of the US **Land boundaries:** total: 22,407 km border countries (14): Azerbaijan 338 km; Belarus 1,312 km; China (southeast) 4,133 km and China (south) 46 km; Estonia 324 km; Finland 1,309 km; Georgia 894 km; Kazakhstan 7,644 km; North Korea 18 km; Latvia 332 km; Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 261 km; Mongolia 3,452 km; Norway 191 km; Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Ukraine 1,944 km **Coastline:** 37,653 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast **Terrain:** broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions **Elevation:** highest point: Gora El'brus (highest point in Europe) 5,642 m lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m mean elevation: 600 m **Natural resources:** wide natural-resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, bauxite, reserves of rare earth elements, timber note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources **Land use:** agricultural land: 13.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.) forest: 50.7% (2023 est.) other: 35.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 43,000 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Baikal - 31,500 sq km; Lake Ladoga - 18,130 sq km; Lake Onega - 9,720 sq km; Lake Khanka (shared with China) - 5,010 sq km; Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Estonia); Ozero Vygozero - 1,250 sq km; Ozero Beloye - 1,120 sq km salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Ozero Malyye Chany - 2,500 sq km; Curonian Lagoon (shared with Lithuania) - 1,620 sq km note - the Caspian Sea is the World's largest lake **Major rivers (by length in km):** Yenisey-Angara - 5,539 km; Ob-Irtysh - 5,410 km; Amur river mouth (shared with China [s] and Mongolia) - 4,444 km; Lena - 4,400 km; Volga - 3,645 km; Kolyma - 2,513 km; Ural river source (shared with Kazakhstan [m]) - 2,428 km; Dnepr (Dnieper) river source (shared with Belarus and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km; Don - 1,870 km; Pechora - 1,809 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Arctic Ocean drainage: Kolyma (679,934 sq km), Lena (2,306,743 sq km), Ob (2,972,493 sq km), Pechora (289,532 sq km), Yenisei (2,554,388 sq km) Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Caspian Sea basin) Volga (1,410,951 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Angara-Lena Basin, Pechora Basin, North Caucasus Basin, East European Aquifer System, West Siberian Basin, Tunguss Basin, Yakut Basin **Population distribution:** population is heavily concentrated in the westernmost fifth of the country, extending from the Baltic Sea south to the Caspian Sea, and eastward parallel to the Kazakh border; elsewhere, sizeable population pockets are isolated and generally found in the south **Natural hazards:** permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires in Siberia and parts of European Russia volcanism: Kamchatka Peninsula is home to 29 historically active volcanoes, with dozens more in the Kuril Islands; Kliuchevskoi (4,835 m) is Kamchatka's most active volcano; Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, which pose a threat to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Bezymianny, Chikurachki, Ebeko, Gorely, Grozny, Karymsky, Ketoi, Kronotsky, Ksudach, Medvezhia, Mutnovsky, Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Tiatia, Tolbachik, and Zheltovsky; see note 2 under "Geography - note" **Geography - note:** note 1: largest country in the world in terms of area; despite its size, much of the country lacks the soil and climate (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture note 2: Russia's far east, particularly the Kamchatka Peninsula, lies along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak; Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, is estimated to hold one fifth of the world's fresh surface water note 4: Kaliningrad oblast is an exclave annexed from Germany after World War II; its capital city of Kaliningrad -- formerly Koenigsberg -- is the only Baltic port in Russia that remains ice-free in the winter ### People and Society **Population:** total: 140,134,279 (2025 est.) male: 65,166,555 female: 74,967,724 **Nationality:** noun: Russian(s) adjective: Russian **Ethnic groups:** Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9% (2010 est.) note: nearly 200 national and/or ethnic groups are represented in Russia's 2010 census **Languages:** Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1% (2010 est.) major-language sample(s): Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent native language spoken **Religions:** Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.) note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of official atheism under Soviet rule; Russia officially recognizes Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism as the country's traditional religions **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.5% (male 11,956,284/female 11,313,829) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 45,007,073/female 47,518,221) 65 years and over: 17.8% (2024 est.) (male 8,533,448/female 16,491,955) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 52.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 27.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.3 years (2025 est.) male: 39.4 years female: 44.5 years **Population growth rate:** -0.49% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.27 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 13.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population is heavily concentrated in the westernmost fifth of the country, extending from the Baltic Sea south to the Caspian Sea, and eastward parallel to the Kazakh border; elsewhere, sizeable population pockets are isolated and generally found in the south **Urbanization:** urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 12.680 million MOSCOW (capital), 5.561 million Saint Petersburg, 1.695 million Novosibirsk, 1.528 million Yekaterinburg, 1.292 million Kazan, 1.251 million Nizhniy Novgorod (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 25.2 years (2013 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 9 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 72.3 years (2024 est.) male: 67.4 years female: 77.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.52 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.74 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 91.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 8.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.9% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.4% of GDP (2021) 13.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 71.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 89.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 28.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 10.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 23.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 3.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 26.5% (2025 est.) male: 40.2% (2025 est.) female: 15.1% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.6% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.3% (2017) women married by age 18: 6.2% (2017) **Education expenditure:** 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 14.3% national budget (2018 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.9% (2021 est.) male: 99.9% (2021 est.) female: 99.9% (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from heavy industry, coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals; nuclear waste disposal; scattered areas of radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid-waste management; abandoned stocks of pesticides **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 **Climate:** ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast **Land use:** agricultural land: 13.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.) forest: 50.7% (2023 est.) other: 35.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 1.844 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 479.311 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 453.103 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 912.076 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 13,815.3 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,972.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 4,069.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 363.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 60 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 17.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 29.03 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 18.64 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 4.53 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Yangan-Tau (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Russian Federation conventional short form: Russia local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya local short form: Rossiya former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic etymology: Russian lands were referred to as Muscovy until PETER I declared the Empire of All Russias in 1721; the new name aimed at identifying the new Russia with European political tradition; "Rus" was the Old Finnish name given to Varangians (eastern Vikings) who entered the area in the 9th century **Government type:** semi-presidential federation **Capital:** name: Moscow geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 36 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time (DST) time zone note: Russia has 11 time zones, the largest number of contiguous time zones of any country in the world; in 2014, two time zones were added and DST dropped etymology: named after the Moskva River; the origin of the river's name is unclear **Administrative divisions:** 46 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respubliki, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous districts (avtonomnyye okrugi, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 federal subjects (kraya, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous province (avtonomnaya oblast') oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (Gatchina), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk) autonomous districts: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi-Yugra (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard) federal subjects: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorskiy [Maritime] (Vladivostok), Stavropol, Zabaykalsk [Transbaikal] (Chita) federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg] autonomous province: Yevreyskaya [Jewish] (Birobidzhan) note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses note 2: the United States does not recognize Russia's annexation or renaming of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol; it similarly does not recognize the annexation of the Ukrainian oblasts Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson **Legal system:** civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous (during Russian Empire and Soviet era); latest drafted 12 July 1993, adopted by referendum 12 December 1993, effective 25 December 1993 amendment process: proposed by the president of the Russian Federation, by either house of the Federal Assembly, by the government of the Russian Federation, or by legislative (representative) bodies of the Federation's constituent entities; proposals to amend the government’s constitutional system, human and civil rights and freedoms, and procedures for amending or drafting a new constitution require formation of a Constitutional Assembly; passage of such amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of its total membership; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of valid votes; approval of proposed amendments to the government structure, authorities, and procedures requires approval by the legislative bodies of at least two thirds of the Russian Federation's constituent entities **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Russia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 7 May 2012) head of government: Premier Mikhail Vladimirovich MISHUSTIN (since 16 January 2020) cabinet: the government is composed of the premier, his deputies, and ministers, all appointed by the president; the premier is also confirmed by the Duma election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term) most recent election date: 15-17 March 2024 election results: 2024: Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 88.5%, Nikolay KHARITONOV (Communist Party) 4.4%, Vladislav DAVANKOV (New People party) 3.9%, Leonid SLUTSKY (Liberal Democrats) 3.2% 2018: Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 77.5%, Pavel GRUDININ (CPRF) 11.9%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY (LDPR) 5.7%, other 4.9%; Mikhail MISHUSTIN (independent) approved as premier by Duma; vote - 383 to 0 expected date of next election: 2030 note: a Presidential Administration provides staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also reports directly to the president **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Federal Assembly (Federalnoye Sobraniye) legislative structure: bicameral note 1: the State Duma now includes 3 representatives from the "Republic of Crimea," while the Federation Council includes 2 each from the "Republic of Crimea" and the "Federal City of Sevastopol," both regions that Russia occupied and attempted to annex from Ukraine and that the US does not recognize as part of Russia **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: State Duma (Gossoudarstvennaya Duma) number of seats: 450 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/19/2021 parties elected and seats per party: United Russia (326); Communist Party (KPRF) (57); A Just Russia (28); Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) (23); Other (16) percentage of women in chamber: 16.4% expected date of next election: September 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Council of the Federation (Soviet Federatsii) number of seats: 170 (all appointed) percentage of women in chamber: 18.5% **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (consists of 170 members organized into the Judicial Panel for Civil Affairs, the Judicial Panel for Criminal Affairs, and the Military Panel); Constitutional Court (consists of 11 members, including the chairperson and deputy) judge selection and term of office: all members of Russia's 3 highest courts nominated by the president and appointed by the Federation Council (the upper house of the legislature); members of all 3 courts appointed for life subordinate courts: regional (kray) and provincial (oblast) courts; Moscow and St. Petersburg city courts; autonomous province and district courts (the 21 Russian republics have court systems specified by their own constitutions) **Political parties:** A Just Russia for Truth or SRZP Civic Platform or CP Communists of Russia or CPCR Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF Cossack Party of the Russian Federation or CosPRF Democratic Party of Russia or DPR Green Alternative or GA Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR New People or NP Party for Fairness! or PARZAS! Party of Direct Democracy or PDD Party of Progress or PP Party of Pensioners or RPPSJ Party of Russia's Rebirth or PRR Party of Social Protection or PSP Rodina Russian Ecological Party or The Greens Russian Party of Freedom and Justice or RPFJ Russia United Democratic Party or Yabloko United Russia or UR **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander Nikitich DARCHIEV (since 11 June 2025) chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735 email address and website: rusembusa@mid.ru https://washington.mid.ru/en/ consulate(s) general: Houston, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires J. Douglas DYKHOUSE (since June 2025) embassy: 55,75566° N, 37,58028° E mailing address: 5430 Moscow Place, Washington DC 20521-5430 telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000 FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090 email address and website: MoscowACS@state.gov https://ru.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Vladivostok (suspended status), Yekaterinburg (suspended status) **International organization participation:** APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, BSEC, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 25 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union; Russian SFSR renamed Russian Federation); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established) **National holiday:** Russia Day, 12 June (1990) note: commemorates the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red meaning: colors may have been based on the Dutch flag, but no official meaning is assigned history: created when Russia built its first naval vessels, and was used mostly as a naval flag until the 19th century note: inspired several other Slavic countries to adopt horizontal tricolors of the same colors in different arrangements **National symbol(s):** bear, double-headed eagle **National color(s):** white, blue, red **National coat of arms:** the current coat of arms of Russia was adopted by presidential decree on 30 November 1993; the double-headed eagle was adopted as a Russian symbol in 1472 when Ivan III married Sophia Palaiologina, niece of the last Byzantine emperor in Constantinople -- the eagle was her family's emblem **National anthem(s):** title: “Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii” (National Anthem of the Russian Federation) lyrics/music: Sergey Vladimirovich MIKHALKOV/Aleksandr Vasilyevich ALEKSANDROV history: adopted 2000; Russia adopted the tune of the Soviet Union's anthem (composed in 1939), as well as new lyrics; MIKHALKOV, who wrote the new lyrics, also authored the Soviet lyrics in 1943 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 33 (22 cultural, 11 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments (c); Kizhi Pogost (c); Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow (c); Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings (c); White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal (c); Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad (c); Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye (c); Lake Baikal (n); Volcanoes of Kamchatka (n); Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery (c); Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin (c); Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent (c); Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent (c); Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve (n); Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl (c); Lena Pillars Nature Park (n); Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (c); Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk (c); Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture (c); Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea (c); Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** natural resource-rich Eurasian economy; leading energy exporter to Europe and Asia; decreased oil export reliance; endemic corruption, Ukrainian invasion, and lack of green infrastructure limit investment and have led to sanctions **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $6.089 trillion (2024 est.) $5.835 trillion (2023 est.) $5.607 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.3% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) -1.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $41,700 (2024 est.) $39,900 (2023 est.) $38,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.174 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 6.7% (2021 est.) 3.4% (2020 est.) 4.5% (2019 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.7% (2024 est.) industry: 30.7% (2024 est.) services: 57.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 49.4% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 4.2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -17.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, potatoes, sunflower seeds, maize, soybeans, chicken, pork (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; defense industries (including radar, missile production, advanced electronic components), shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 72.517 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.6% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 9.3% (2024 est.) male: 8.8% (2024 est.) female: 9.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.1% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 35.1 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 25.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 5.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.7% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 26.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $704.613 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $635.809 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 18.5% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 12.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $62.287 billion (2024 est.) $49.439 billion (2023 est.) $237.735 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $475.277 billion (2024 est.) $465.22 billion (2023 est.) $640.878 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 33%, India 17%, Turkey 8%, Kazakhstan 4%, Brazil 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, coal, fertilizers (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $381.45 billion (2024 est.) $379.659 billion (2023 est.) $347.384 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 53%, Turkey 5%, Germany 5%, Kazakhstan 5%, Italy 2% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, garments, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $597.217 billion (2023 est.) $581.71 billion (2022 est.) $632.242 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $135.301 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Russian rubles (RUB) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 85.162 (2023 est.) 68.485 (2022 est.) 73.654 (2021 est.) 72.105 (2020 est.) 64.738 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99.1% electrification - rural areas: 100% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 301.926 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.011 trillion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 18.66 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 2.852 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 97.301 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 61.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 19.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 17.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 36 (2025) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 26.8GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 18.4% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 11 (2025) **Coal:** production: 531.13 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 290.763 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 211.944 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 20.765 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 162.166 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 10.879 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3.863 million bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 80 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 613.447 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 474.448 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 124.479 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 5.724 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 47.805 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 224.858 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 20.8 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 270 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 186 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 13 national TV stations: the federal government owns 1 and controls a second, state-owned Gazprom controls 2, state-affiliated Bank Rossiya controls 2, Moscow city administration runs 1, the Russian Orthodox Church owns 1, and the Russian military owns 1; around 3,300 national, regional, and local TV stations, with over two-thirds completely or partially state-controlled; satellite TV available; 2 state-run national radio networks, with a third majority-owned by Gazprom; around 2,400 public and commercial radio stations **Internet country code:** .ru **Internet users:** percent of population: 92% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 35.9 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** RA **Airports:** 905 (2025) **Heliports:** 494 (2025) **Railways:** total: 85,494 km (2019) narrow gauge: 957 km **Merchant marine:** total: 2,910 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 20, general cargo 976, oil tanker 387, other 1,512 **Ports:** total ports: 67 (2024) large: 4 medium: 5 small: 19 very small: 38 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 32 key ports: Arkhangels'k, De Kastri, Dudinka, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novorossiysk, Sankt-Peterburg, Vladivostok, Vyborg ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: Ground Forces (SV), Aerospace Forces (VKS), Navy (VMF); separate or independent troop branches include the Airborne Forces (VDV), Missile Troops of Strategic Purpose (RVSN; commonly to as Strategic Rocket Forces), Special Operations Forces, and Unmanned Systems Forces Federal National Guard Troops Service of the Russian Federation (FSVNG, National Guard, Russian Guard, or Rosgvardiya) Federal Security Services (FSB): Federal Border Guard Service (includes land and maritime forces) (2025) note 1: the National Guard was created in 2016 as an independent agency for internal/regime security, combating terrorism and narcotics trafficking, protecting important state facilities and government personnel, and supporting border security; it also works closely with the Armed Forces; forces under the National Guard include the Special Purpose Mobile Units (OMON), Special Rapid Response Detachment (SOBR), and Interior Troops (VV) note 2: the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federal Security Service, Investigative Committee, Office of the Prosecutor General, and National Guard are responsible for law enforcement; the Federal Security Service is responsible for state security, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism, as well as for fighting organized crime and corruption; the Ministry of Internal Affairs includes the national police force **Military expenditures:** 7% of GDP (2024 est.) 5% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 4% of GDP (2021 est.) 4% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 1.1-1.2 million active Armed Forces; estimated 350,000 Federal National Guard Troops (2025) note: in September 2024, President PUTIN ordered the Russian military to increase in size to 1.5 million personnel **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Russian Federation's military and paramilitary services are equipped with domestically produced weapons systems, although in recent years Russia has imported military hardware from external suppliers such as Iran and North Korea to support its war on Ukraine; the Russian defense industry is capable of producing a full range of advanced air, land, missile, and naval systems; Russia is one of the world's largest exporters of military hardware (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 years of age for compulsory service for men; 18-65 years of age for voluntary/contractual service; women and non-Russian citizens (18-30) may volunteer; minimum 12-month service obligation (2025) note 1: in 2022, Russia removed the previous upper age limit of 30 for contractual service in the military; that same year, began drafting dual-national Russians and those with permanent residency status in foreign countries for military service note 2: since 2015, foreigners 18-30 with a good command of Russian have been allowed to join the military on five-year contracts and become eligible for Russian citizenship after serving three years; in 2022, Russia began recruiting foreigners for one-year service contracts with armed forces participating in the invasion of Ukraine with the promise of simplifying the process of obtaining Russian citizenship **Military deployments:** estimated 600,000 in Ukraine; more than 20,000 additional military personnel deployed in former Soviet states and elsewhere, including Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Moldova, Syria, sub-Saharan Africa, and Tajikistan (2025) note: Russia is also assessed to have thousands of paramilitary security personnel and private military contractors deployed in Africa, including in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Niger, and Sudan **Military - note:** the Russian military is responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, providing maritime security, and supporting Moscow's national security objectives, including projecting influence and power abroad and deterring perceived external threats; its missions include air, land, maritime, strategic missile, and expeditionary operations; it is also active in the areas of cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and space; the Russian military's focus is its ongoing war on Ukraine and the perceived threat from NATO and the US in February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, beginning what is the largest war in Europe since World War II ended in 1945; Russian military forces occupied Ukraine’s province of Crimea in 2014, and Moscow subsequently backed separatist forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine with arms, equipment, and training, as well as Russian military troops, although Moscow denied their presence prior to 2022 Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war at the request of the Syrian Government from September 2015 until the collapse of the ASAD regime in December 2024; it was Moscow’s first overseas military expeditionary operation since the Soviet era; Russian assistance included air support, arms and equipment, intelligence, military advisors, private military contractors, special operations forces, and training; Russia seized the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by force in 2008 (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** State Space Corporation of the Russian Federation (Roscosmos; established 2015); Russian Space Forces (Kosmicheskie voyska Rossii, KV; under the Russian Aerospace Forces) (2025) note 1: Russia’s space strategy is defined jointly by Roscosmos and the Ministry of Defense note 2: Roscosmos was established from a merger of the Federal Space Agency and the state-owned United Rocket and Space Corporation; it began as the Russian Space Agency (RSA or RKA) in 1992 and restructured in 1999 and 2004 as the Russian Aviation and Space Agency and then the Federal Space Agency **Space launch site(s):** Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan); Vostochny Cosmodrome (Amur Oblast); Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Arkhangel'sk Oblast) (2025) note 1: the Baikonur cosmodrome and the surrounding area are leased and administered by Russia until 2050 for approximately $115 million/year; the cosmodrome was originally built by the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s and is the site of the World's first successful satellite launch (Sputnik) in 1957; it is also the largest space launch facility in the World, comprising 15 launch pads for space launch vehicles, four launch pads for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles, more than 10 assembly and test facilities, and other infrastructure note 2: in 2018, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed that Kazakhstan would build, maintain, and operate a new space launch facility (Baiterek) at the Baikonur space center (estimated to be ready for operations in 2025) **Space program overview:** has one of the world’s largest space programs and is active across all areas of the space sector; builds, launches, and operates satellite/space launch vehicles, satellites, space stations, interplanetary probes, and manned, robotic, and re-usable spacecraft; has astronaut (cosmonaut) training program and conducts human space flight; researching and developing a broad range of other space-related technologies; participates in international space programs such as the International Space Station; has had relations with dozens of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of China, the ESA, India, Japan, and the US; Roscosmos and its public subsidiaries comprise the majority of the Russian space industry; Roscosmos has eight operating areas, including manned space flights, launch systems, unmanned spacecraft, rocket propulsion, military missiles, space avionics, special military space systems, and flight control systems; private companies are also involved in a range of space systems (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1957 - placed world’s first satellite (Sputnik-1) in orbit 1961-1964 - launched first man, first woman, and first multi-member crew into space 1965 - launched first probe to successfully land on the Moon 1967 - initial launch of Soviet-made Soyuz series space launch vehicle (SLV) 1971 - placed first space station (Salyut) in orbit and successfully landed a probe on Venus 1975 - joint Soviet (Soyuz)-US (Apollo) space mission 1986 - began operation of Mir space station (in orbit until 2001) 1995 - Global Navigation Satellite System (GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema or GLONASS) constellation completed 2014 - initial launch of Angara SLV series 2021 - announced agreements with China to send a robotic probe to an asteroid and jointly establish a station on the Moon 2023 - launch first of a planned series of Moon landers (Luna-25; crashed on Moon's surface); announced intent to place first module of a new space station in orbit by 2027 ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 11,440 (2024 est.) IDPs: 172,783 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 90,185 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 3 — Russia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Russia remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/russia/ --- ## Tajikistan **Slug:** tajikistan **Region:** Central Asia **Flag:** 🇹🇯 **Codes:** cek: ti, iso2: TJ, iso3: TJK, iso_num: 762, genc: TJK, stanag: TJK, internet: .tj ### Introduction **Background:** The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. At that time, bands of indigenous guerrillas (known as "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first established as an autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924, but in 1929 the Soviet Union made Tajikistan as a separate republic and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd Province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan, and ethnic Tajiks an even larger minority in Uzbekistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the country experienced a civil war among political, regional, and religious factions from 1992 to 1997. Despite Tajikistan's general elections for both the presidency (once every seven years) and legislature (once every five years), observers note an electoral system rife with irregularities and abuse, and results that are neither free nor fair. President Emomali RAHMON, who came to power in 1992 during the civil war and was first elected president in 1994, used an attack planned by a disaffected deputy defense minister in 2015 to ban the last major opposition party in Tajikistan. RAHMON further strengthened his position by having himself declared "Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation," with limitless terms and lifelong immunity through constitutional amendments ratified in a referendum. The referendum also lowered the minimum age required to run for president from 35 to 30, which made RAHMON's first-born son Rustam EMOMALI, the mayor of the capital city of Dushanbe, eligible to run for president in 2020. RAHMON orchestrated EMOMALI's selection in 2020 as chairman of the Majlisi Milli (the upper chamber of Tajikistan's parliament), positioning EMOMALI as next in line of succession for the presidency. RAHMON opted to run in the presidential election later that year and received 91% of the vote. The country remains the poorest of the former Soviet republics. Tajikistan became a member of the WTO in 2013, but its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistani migrant laborers in Russia and Kazakhstan, pervasive corruption, the opiate trade, and destabilizing violence emanating from neighboring Afghanistan. Tajikistan has endured several domestic security incidents since 2010, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. Tajikistan suffered its first ISIS-claimed attack in 2018, when assailants attacked a group of Western bicyclists, killing four. Friction between forces on the border between Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic flared up in 2021, culminating in fatal clashes between border forces in 2021 and 2022. ### Geography **Location:** Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan **Geographic coordinates:** 39 00 N, 71 00 E **Map references:** Asia **Area:** total : 144,100 sq km land: 141,510 sq km water: 2,590 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Wisconsin **Land boundaries:** total: 4,130 km border countries (4): Afghanistan 1,357 km; China 477 km; Kyrgyzstan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,312 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains **Terrain:** mountainous region dominated by the Alay Mountains in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofirnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest **Elevation:** highest point: Qullai Somoniyon 7,495 m lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m mean elevation: 3,186 m **Natural resources:** hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold **Land use:** agricultural land: 27.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 20.4% (2023 est.) forest: 3.1% (2023 est.) other: 69% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 5,681 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river source (shared with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) **Population distribution:** the population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as many as 90% living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west **Natural hazards:** earthquakes; floods **Geography - note:** landlocked; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR ### People and Society **Population:** total: 10,593,876 (2025 est.) male: 5,322,920 female: 5,270,956 **Nationality:** noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani **Ethnic groups:** Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2014 est.) **Languages:** Tajik (official) 84.4%, Uzbek 11.9%, Kyrgyz 0.8%, Russian 0.5%, other 2.4% (2010 est.) major-language sample(s): Китоби Фактҳои Ҷаҳонӣ, манбаи бебадали маълумоти асосӣ (Tajik) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Russian widely used in government and business **Religions:** Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 36.9% (male 1,953,472/female 1,877,192) 15-64 years: 59.3% (male 3,086,964/female 3,071,642) 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 181,382/female 223,411) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 68.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 61.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 14.5 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 22.8 years (2025 est.) male: 22.3 years female: 23.2 years **Population growth rate:** 1.89% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 25.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as many as 90% living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west **Urbanization:** urban population: 28.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 987,000 DUSHANBE (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 23.2 years (2017 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 14 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.) male: 70.1 years female: 73.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.52 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.71 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 76.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 81.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 18.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8% of GDP (2021) 6.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 14.2% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 5.2% (2023 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 68% (2020 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.1% (2017) women married by age 18: 8.7% (2017) **Education expenditure:** 5.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 19.3% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** female: 94.6% (2017 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 12 years (2024 est.) male: 12 years (2024 est.) female: 11 years (2024 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from motor vehicles and industry; water pollution from agricultural runoff and untreated industrial waste and sewage; poor management of water resources; soil erosion; increasing levels of soil salinity **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains **Land use:** agricultural land: 27.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 20.4% (2023 est.) forest: 3.1% (2023 est.) other: 69% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 28.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 8.616 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.676 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.855 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 86,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 53.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.787 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 912 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.61 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 7.378 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 21.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston local short form: Tojikiston former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the Persian suffix -ostan means "land," so the country name means "Land of the Tajik [people];" the name Tajik comes from the Sanskrit tajika, a name originally used to distinguish Arabs from Turks and derived from the Tay, an Arab people **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Dushanbe geographic coordinates: 38 33 N, 68 46 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means Monday in Persian; today's city was originally at the crossroads where a large bazaar was held on Mondays, or the second day (du) after Saturday (shambe) **Administrative divisions:** 2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor), 1 capital region** (viloyati poytakht), and 1 area referred to as Districts Under Republic Administration***; Dushanbe**, Khatlon (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least one third of the total membership of both houses of the Supreme Assembly; adoption of any amendment requires a referendum, which includes approval of the president or approval by at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly of Representatives; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of votes; constitutional articles, including Tajikistan’s form of government, its territory, and its democratic nature, cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tajikistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years or 3 years of continuous residence prior to application **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 16 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly Chairman since 20 November 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (two-term limit), but as the "Leader of the Nation," president has no term limit; prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 11 October 2020 election results: 2020: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 92.1%, Rustam LATIFZODA (APT) 3.1%, other 4.8% 2013: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 84%, Ismoil TALBAKOV CPT) 5%, other 11% expected date of next election: 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Supreme Council (Majlisi Oli) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlisi namoyandogon) number of seats: 63 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/2/2025 parties elected and seats per party: People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) (49); Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) (7); Party of Economic Reforms of Tajikistan (PERT) (5); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 28.6% expected date of next election: March 2030 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Majlisi milli) number of seats: 33 (25 indirectly elected; 8 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/28/2025 percentage of women in chamber: 30.3% expected date of next election: March 2030 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairmen, and 34 judges organized into civil, family, criminal, administrative offense, and military chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of the court chairman, deputy chairman, and 5 judges); High Economic Court (consists of 16 judicial positions) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and High Economic Court judges nominated by the president and approved by the National Assembly; judges of all 3 courts appointed for 10-year renewable terms with no term limits, but the last appointment must occur before the age of 65 subordinate courts: regional and district courts; Dushanbe City Court; viloyat (province-level) courts; Court of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region **Political parties:** Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT Democratic Party or DPT Party of Economic Reforms or PERT People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Zavqi ZAVQIZODA (since 14 November 2025) chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090 FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091 email address and website: tajemus@mfa.tj https://mfa.tj/en/washington **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Manuel P. MICALLER Jr. (since 9 March 2023) embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue (Zarafshon district), Dushanbe 734019 mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Washington DC 20521-7090 telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00 FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50 email address and website: DushanbeConsular@state.gov https://tj.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991) **Flag:** description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown under seven five-pointed gold stars is in the center of the white stripe meaning: red stands for the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation; white for purity, cotton, and mountain snows; green for Islam and nature's bounty; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the stars represent the number seven, which is considered a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness **National symbol(s):** arc of seven five-pointed stars over a crown, Marco Polo sheep **National color(s):** red, white, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon YUDAKOV history: adopted 1994; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem, but adopted new lyrics **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Proto-urban Site of Sarazm (c); Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c); Tugay forests of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve (n); Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower-middle-income Central Asian economy; large infrastructure projects, including Rogun Dam, and a push towards green development and digitalization driving growth; strong metal mining, electricity, and manufacturing industries; challenges include land scarcity, climate vulnerability, and complex bureaucratic processes for investors **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $50.37 billion (2024 est.) $46.467 billion (2023 est.) $42.905 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 8.4% (2024 est.) 8.3% (2023 est.) 8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $4,800 (2024 est.) $4,500 (2023 est.) $4,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $14.205 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 7.7% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 7.3% (2017 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 22.9% (2023 est.) industry: 33.6% (2023 est.) services: 34.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 89.6% (2023 est.) government consumption: 10.7% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.3% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 3.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 17.2% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -48.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** potatoes, milk, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, cotton, vegetables, grapes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil **Industrial production growth rate:** 9.9% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.78 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 11.7% (2024 est.) 11.6% (2023 est.) 11.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 27.1% (2024 est.) male: 30% (2024 est.) female: 23.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20.4% (2023 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 34 (2015 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3% (2015 est.) highest 10%: 26.4% (2015 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 47.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 37.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 49.9% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.911 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $3.036 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 10.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $887.016 million (2024 est.) $584.022 million (2023 est.) $1.635 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.618 billion (2024 est.) $2.105 billion (2023 est.) $1.753 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 31%, Kazakhstan 18%, China 17%, Uzbekistan 10%, Turkey 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, precious metal ore, aluminum, lead ore, antimony (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $6.907 billion (2024 est.) $5.931 billion (2023 est.) $5.261 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 57%, Kazakhstan 13%, Uzbekistan 8%, Turkey 6%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** garments, footwear, cars, wheat, vehicle parts/accessories (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.304 billion (2023 est.) $3.847 billion (2022 est.) $2.499 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $3.024 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 10.799 (2024 est.) 10.845 (2023 est.) 11.031 (2022 est.) 11.309 (2021 est.) 10.322 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99% electrification - rural areas: 100% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 6.481 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 15.275 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 3.101 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 714.025 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.94 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 92.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 2.394 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 2.297 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 475,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 147,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 4.075 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 18.476 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 43.767 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 24.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 16.192 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 502,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 7.92 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-run broadcaster has 9 national TV and 10 radio stations, and 4 regional stations; 31 independent TV and 20 independent radio stations broadcast locally and regionally; Russian and other foreign stations available via cable and satellite (2016) **Internet country code:** .tj **Internet users:** percent of population: 57% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 6,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** EY **Airports:** 19 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 680 km (2014) broad gauge: 680 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan: Ground Forces, Mobile Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces Tajik National Guard (TNG); Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops of Tajikistan; State Committee on National Security: Border Troops (aka Tajik Border Service) (2025) note 1: the Mobile Forces are the airborne, air assault, mountain, and rapid reaction troops of the Armed Forces note 2: the Tajik National Guard, formerly the Presidential Guard, is a paramilitary force under direct authority of the President; it is tasked with ensuring public safety and security, similar to the tasks of the Internal Troops; it also has ceremonial duties **Military expenditures:** 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 5-10,000 active paramilitary National Guard, Border Service, and Internal Troops personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military is equipped with mostly older Russian and Soviet-era armaments; it also has smaller amounts of items from suppliers such as China, Türkiye, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-27 years of age for compulsory (men only) or voluntary (men and women) military service; up to a 24-month service obligation for conscripts based on education level (2025) note 1: in addition to the Armed Forces, conscripts are assigned to Tajikistan's other security agencies note 2: those called up to perform military service can participate in just one month of military training instead of fulfilling the full service obligation for a fee of about the equivalent of $2,200 USD **Military - note:** the military's primary concerns are terrorism, border security, territorial defense, and regional security, particularly in neighboring Afghanistan; Russia is traditionally Tajikistan’s most important security partner and thousands of Russian troops are stationed in the country, primarily at the 201st military base, which Moscow has leased until at least 2042; Russia and Tajikistan have a joint air defense system, and they conduct periodic joint exercises; Tajikistan has been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; Tajikistan also cooperates on security matters with China, including joint military training Tajikistan is the only former Soviet republic that did not form its armed forces from old Soviet Army units following the collapse of the USSR in 1991; rather, Russia retained command of the Soviet units there while the Tajik government raised a military from scratch; the first ground forces were officially created in 1993 from groups that fought for the government during the Tajik Civil War (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note 1: US-designated foreign terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province have operated in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods note 2: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 15,191 (2024 est.) IDPs: 238 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 4,466 (2024 est.) --- ## Turkmenistan **Slug:** turkmenistan **Region:** Central Asia **Flag:** 🇹🇲 **Codes:** cek: tx, iso2: TM, iso3: TKM, iso_num: 795, genc: TKM, stanag: TKM, internet: .tm ### Introduction **Background:** Present-day Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. Various Persian empires ruled the area in antiquity, and Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians conquered it. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia in the late 1800s, Turkmen territories later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik resistance in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence when the USSR dissolved in 1991. President for Life Saparmurat NIYAZOV died in 2006, and Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV, a deputy chairman under NIYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president. BERDIMUHAMEDOV won Turkmenistan's first multi-candidate presidential election in 2007, and again in 2012 and 2017 with over 97% of the vote in elections widely regarded as undemocratic. In 2022, BERDIMUHAMEDOV announced that he would step down from the presidency and called for an election to replace him. His son, Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV, won the ensuing election with 73% of the vote. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV, although no longer head of state, maintains an influential political position as head of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) and as National Leader of the Turkmen People, a title that provides additional privileges and immunity for him and his family. Since Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV stepped down from the presidency, state-controlled media upgraded his honorific from Arkadag (protector) to Hero-Arkadag, and began referring to Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV as Arkadagly Serdar, which can be translated as "Serdar who has a protector to support him." Turkmenistan has sought new export markets for its extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited. Turkmenistan's reliance on gas exports has made the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the global energy market, and economic hardships since the drop in energy prices in 2014 have led many citizens of Turkmenistan to emigrate, mostly to Turkey. ### Geography **Location:** Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan **Geographic coordinates:** 40 00 N, 60 00 E **Map references:** Asia **Area:** total : 488,100 sq km land: 469,930 sq km water: 18,170 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly more than three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California **Land boundaries:** total: 4,158 km border countries (4): Afghanistan 804 km; Iran 1,148 km; Kazakhstan 413 km; Uzbekistan 1,793 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** subtropical desert **Terrain:** flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west **Elevation:** highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya (Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya, the lake has dropped as low as -110 m) -81 m mean elevation: 230 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt **Land use:** agricultural land: 84.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 80.8% (2023 est.) forest: 5% (2023 est.) other: 10.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 16,459 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km) **Population distribution:** the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat **Natural hazards:** earthquakes; mudslides; droughts; dust storms; floods **Geography - note:** landlocked; the western and central low-lying desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,795,896 (2025 est.) male: 2,867,835 female: 2,928,061 **Nationality:** noun: Turkmenistani(s) adjective: Turkmenistani **Ethnic groups:** Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003 est.) **Languages:** Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7% major-language sample(s): Dünýä Faktlar Kitaby – esasy maglumatlaryň wajyp çeşmesidir (Turkmen) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim 93%, Christian 6.4%, Buddhist <1%, folk religion <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified <1% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 24.5% (male 711,784/female 692,967) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 1,956,740/female 1,984,333) 65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 174,346/female 223,981) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 46.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 35.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 10.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 9.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 31.6 years (2025 est.) male: 30.7 years female: 31.7 years **Population growth rate:** 0.88% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 16.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat **Urbanization:** urban population: 54% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 902,000 ASHGABAT (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 24.2 years (2019) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 43.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 72.4 years (2024 est.) male: 69.4 years female: 75.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.02 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.99 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.6% of GDP (2021) 8.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 18.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 4.8% (2025 est.) male: 9.4% (2025 est.) female: 0.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 3.1% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 65% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.2% (2019) women married by age 18: 6.1% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 29.6% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.9% (2022 est.) male: 99.9% (2022 est.) female: 99.9% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 12 years (2022 est.) female: 12 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** soil and groundwater pollution from agricultural chemicals and pesticides; salination, waterlogging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; river diversion for irrigation; soil erosion; desertification **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** subtropical desert **Land use:** agricultural land: 84.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 80.8% (2023 est.) forest: 5% (2023 est.) other: 10.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 54% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 106.215 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 100 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 18.062 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 88.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 28.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 5,451.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 294.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 44.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 1.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 500,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 453.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 806.765 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 16.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 24.765 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the suffix -stan means "land," so the country name means the "Land of the Turkmen [people];" the people's name means "Turk-like," from the Persian words tork and mandan, referring to their formerly nomadic lifestyle that differed from the settled Turks of Turkey **Government type:** presidential republic; authoritarian **Capital:** name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: derived from the Turkmen words ushq, meaning "love," and abad, meaning "inhabited place" or "town;" the city was originally a military outpost built in 1881 that took its name from an ancient settlement on the site **Administrative divisions:** 5 provinces (velayatlar, singular - velayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Velayat (Arkadag), Ashgabat*, Balkan Velayat (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Velayat, Lebap Velayat (Turkmenabat), Mary Velayat note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses **Legal system:** civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 14 September 2016 amendment process: proposed by the Assembly or Mejlis; passage requires two-thirds majority vote or absolute majority approval in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022) head of government: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (no term limits) most recent election date: 12 March 2022 election results: 2022: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV elected president; percent of vote - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 73%, Khydyr NUNNAYEV (independent) 11.1%, Agadzhan BEKMYRADOV (IAP) 7.2%, other 8.7% 2017: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 97.7%, other 2.3% expected date of next election: 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Assembly (Mejlis) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 56 (48 indirectly elected; 8 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/28/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) (65); Groups of citizens of Turkmenistan (28); Agrarian Party (24); Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (8) percentage of women in chamber: 25.5% expected date of next election: March 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Turkmenistan (consists of the court president and 21 associate judges and organized into civil, criminal, and military chambers) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms subordinate courts: High Commercial Court; appellate courts; provincial, district, and city courts; military courts **Political parties:** Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan or TAP Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan or TSTP The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or TDP note: all parties support President BERDIMUHAMEDOV; unofficial, small opposition movements exist abroad **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Meret ORAZOV (since 14 February 2001) chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-1500 email address and website: turkmenembassyus@verizon.net https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth ROOD (since 31 July 2024) embassy: 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat 744000 mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070 telephone: [993] (12) 94-00-45 FAX: [993] (12) 94-26-14 email address and website: ConsularAshgab@state.gov https://tm.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings and held the chairmanship of the CIS in 2012), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO **Independence:** 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 27 October (1991) **Flag:** description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the left side; the stripe has five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five five-pointed white stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper left corner of the main field meaning: the green color and crescent moon stand for Islam, the five stars for the country's regions, and the guls for national identity **National symbol(s):** Akhal-Teke horse **National color(s):** green, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Garaşsyz, Bitarap Türkmenistanyň" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem) lyrics/music: collective/Veli MUKHATOV history: adopted 1997; lyrics revised in 2008 to eliminate references to deceased President Saparmurat NYYAZOW **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Merv (c); Kunya-Urgench (c); Parthian Fortresses of Nisa (c); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income Central Asian economy; houses fourth-largest natural gas reserves and rich in natural resources; authoritarian and dominated by state-owned enterprises; challenges include overvalued currency, high inflation risks, lack of economic diversification due to heavy state control and bureaucracy **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $134.555 billion (2024 est.) $131.576 billion (2023 est.) $123.778 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.3% (2024 est.) 6.3% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $18,000 (2024 est.) $17,900 (2023 est.) $17,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $64.24 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 11.5% (2022 est.) 19.5% (2021 est.) 6.1% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 11.3% (2023 est.) industry: 39.3% (2023 est.) services: 49.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, potatoes, cotton, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes, barley, beef, lamb/mutton (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing **Labor force:** 2.445 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.4% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 9.6% (2024 est.) male: 14.7% (2024 est.) female: 6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Average household expenditures:** on food: 36.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Remittances:** 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $5.954 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $6.134 billion (2019 est.) **Exports:** $13.111 billion (2023 est.) $14.67 billion (2022 est.) $10.282 billion (2021 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 63%, Turkey 11%, Greece 7%, Uzbekistan 6%, Azerbaijan 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, electricity (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $7.563 billion (2023 est.) $7.362 billion (2022 est.) $6.25 billion (2021 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Turkey 21%, UAE 21%, China 20%, Kazakhstan 8%, Germany 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** broadcasting equipment, cars, wheat, computers, iron pipes (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $3.696 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Turkmenistani manat (TMM) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 4.125 (2017 est.) 3.5 (2016 est.) 3.5 (2015 est.) 3.5 (2014 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 6.512 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 21.526 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 9 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.258 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 152,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 84.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 44.936 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 41.334 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 11.327 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 261.142 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 802,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 6.25 million (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88 (2021 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-controlled broadcast media; 7 state-owned TV and 4 state-owned radio networks; satellite dishes available for other broadcasts; officials sometimes limit access to satellite TV by removing satellite dishes **Internet country code:** .tm **Internet users:** percent of population: 21% (2017 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 377,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** EZ **Airports:** 23 (2025) **Heliports:** 25 (2025) **Railways:** total: 5,113 km (2017) broad gauge: 5,113 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 73 (2023) by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 8, other 59 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Turkmenistan (aka Turkmen National Army): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, Turkmen (National) Police, Federal/State Border Guard Service (2025) **Military expenditures:** 1.9% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2018 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2016 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2015 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 35,000 active Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is comprised largely of Russian/Soviet-era armaments with smaller quantities from suppliers such as Brazil, China, Italy, and Türkiye (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service for men and volunteer service for men and women; 24-month conscript service obligation (2025) **Military - note:** the military is responsible for external defense and works closely with the Border Service on protecting the country’s borders; areas of emphasis for the military include border security, competition on the Caspian Sea, regional stability, and military modernization; while Turkmenistan has a policy of permanent and "positive" neutrality and has declined to participate in post-Soviet military groupings such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it has participated in multinational exercises and bilateral training with neighboring countries, including Russia and Uzbekistan; Turkmenistan joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994, but it does not offer any military forces to NATO-led operations (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Turkmenistan National Space Agency (established 2011; transferred to the Space Department of the Ministry of Communications in 2019) (2025) **Space program overview:** has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the infrastructure to build and operate satellites; particularly interested in communications and remote sensing satellites; has cooperated with the space agencies and/or space industries of France, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and the US (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2015 - first commercial telecommunications satellite (Turkmen Sat 52E) built by European company and launched by US 2024 - announced beginning of program to develop or acquire a second communications satellite ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 3,409 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Turkmenistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Turkmenistan was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/turkmenistan/ --- ## Uzbekistan **Slug:** uzbekistan **Region:** Central Asia **Flag:** 🇺🇿 **Codes:** cek: uz, iso2: UZ, iso3: UZB, iso_num: 860, genc: UZB, stanag: UZB, internet: .uz ### Introduction **Background:** Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base, although cotton remains a major part of its economy. Uzbekistan’s first president, Islom KARIMOV, led Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death in 2016. His successor, former Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, has improved relations with Uzbekistan’s neighbors and introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms. MIRZIYOYEV was reelected in 2021 with 80% of the vote and again following a 2023 constitutional referendum with 87% of the vote. ### Geography **Location:** Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan **Geographic coordinates:** 41 00 N, 64 00 E **Map references:** Asia **Area:** total : 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** about four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California **Land boundaries:** total: 6,893 km border countries (5): Afghanistan 144 km; Kazakhstan 2,330 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,314 km; Tajikistan 1,312 km; Turkmenistan 1,793 km **Coastline:** 0 km (doubly landlocked) note: Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline **Maritime claims:** none (doubly landlocked) **Climate:** mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east **Terrain:** mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west **Elevation:** highest point: Xazrat Sulton Tog' 4,643 m lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m **Natural resources:** natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum **Land use:** agricultural land: 58.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 47.9% (2023 est.) forest: 8.7% (2023 est.) other: 31.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 37,305 sq km (2022) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Aral Sea (shared with Kazakhstan) - largely dried up **Major rivers (by length in km):** Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river mouth (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan) - 2,620 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) **Population distribution:** most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated **Natural hazards:** earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts **Geography - note:** along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world ### People and Society **Population:** total: 37,015,151 (2025 est.) male: 18,576,048 female: 18,439,103 **Nationality:** noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani **Ethnic groups:** Uzbek 83.8%, Tajik 4.8%, Kazakh 2.5%, Russian 2.3%, Karakalpak 2.2%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.9% (2017 est.) **Languages:** Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% major-language sample(s): Jahon faktlari kitobi, asosiy ma'lumotlar uchun zaruriy manba. (Uzbek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: in the semi-autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status **Religions:** Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3% **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 29.6% (male 5,597,947/female 5,213,403) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 11,649,017/female 11,617,411) 65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,077,849/female 1,364,966) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 46.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 11.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 29.2 years (2025 est.) male: 28.1 years female: 29.8 years **Population growth rate:** 1.26% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 18.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated **Urbanization:** urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.603 million TASHKENT (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 23.7 years (2019 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 26 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 17.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76.2 years (2024 est.) male: 73.6 years female: 79 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.6 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.25 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.) rural: 95.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 96.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 4.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.7% of GDP (2021) 7.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.81 physicians/1,000 population (2021) **Hospital bed density:** 4.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 16.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 15.4% (2025 est.) male: 30.2% (2025 est.) female: 1% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 1.8% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 74.7% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.2% (2022) women married by age 18: 3.4% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 22.1% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 100% (2022 est.) male: 100% (2022 est.) female: 100% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2024 est.) male: 13 years (2024 est.) female: 13 years (2024 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts in the shrinking Aral Sea; desertification; water pollution and soil salination from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east **Land use:** agricultural land: 58.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 47.9% (2023 est.) forest: 8.7% (2023 est.) other: 31.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 110.992 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.845 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 13.437 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 84.71 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 46.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 848.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 868.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 261.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 2.3 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 1.2 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 41 billion cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 48.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: O'zbekiston Respublikasi local short form: O'zbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name comes from the local people, the Uzbeks, whose name is said to have originated with Mongol leader Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad UZBEK; the Persian suffix -stan means "country" **Government type:** presidential republic; highly authoritarian **Capital:** name: Tashkent (Toshkent) geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 69 15 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the current name of the ancient city was first used in the 11th century and comes from the Sogdian (Turkic) words tash (stone) and kent (town); the city was first recorded in the 5th or 4th century B.C. with the name of Chach or Shash **Administrative divisions:** 12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), and 3 cities** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Shahri, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Shahri [Samarkand City], Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Nurafshon], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch) note: administrative divisions show the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses **Legal system:** civil law system note: in 2020, the criminal code, criminal procedure code, and code of administrative responsibility were reformed; a constitutional referendum in 2023 included additional criminal code reforms **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992 amendment process: proposed by the Supreme Assembly or by referendum; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the Assembly or passage in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Uzbekistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 14 December 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with most requiring approval of the Senate chamber of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis) election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by majority party in the Supreme Assembly but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president most recent election date: 9 July 2023 election results: 2023: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in snap election; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 87.7%, Robaxon Maxmudova (Adolat) 4.5%, Ulugbek Inoyatov (PDP) 4%, Abdushukur Xamzayev (Ecological Party) 3.8% 2021: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.3%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4% expected date of next election: 2030 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Legislative Chamber (Qonunchilik palatasi) number of seats: 150 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/7/2024 to 11/12/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople - Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP) (64); Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party (O'zMTDP) (29); Social Democratic Party ("Adolat" SDP) (21); People's Democratic Party (XDP) (20); Ecological Party (O'EP) (16) percentage of women in chamber: 38% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senat) number of seats: 65 (56 indirectly elected; 9 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/27/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 24.6% expected date of next election: November 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 67 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and economic sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges of the highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for a single 10-year term; the court chairman and deputies appointed for 10-year terms without the right to reelection. (Article 132 of the constitution) subordinate courts: regional, district, city, and town courts **Political parties:** Ecological Party of Uzbekistan or EPU Justice Social Democratic Party or ASDP People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or PDP Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party or UzLiDep Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party or UzMTDP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Furqat SIDIKOV (since 19 April 2023) chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 email address and website: info.washington@mfa.uz https://www.uzbekistan.org/ consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan HENICK (since 14 October 2022) embassy: 3 Moyqorghon, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, 100093 Tashkent mailing address: 7110 Tashkent Place, Washington DC 20521-7110 telephone: [998] 78-120-5450 FAX: [998] 78-120-6335 email address and website: ACSTashkent@state.gov https://uz.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB, CICA, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EEU (observer), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 1 September (1991) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by narrow red stripes with a vertical white crescent moon and 12 five-pointed white stars in the left corner of the top band meaning: blue stands for the Turkic peoples and the sky, white for peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, and green for nature and Islam; the red stripes represent the vital force of all living organisms; the crescent stands for Islam, and the 12 stars for the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar **National symbol(s):** khumo (mythical bird) **National color(s):** blue, white, red, green **National anthem(s):** title: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan) lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV history: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Itchan Kala (c); Historic Bukhara (c); Historic Shakhrisyabz (c); Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (c); Western Tien Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower-middle income Central Asian economy; key exporter of natural gas, cotton, and gold; ongoing reform efforts to reduce state-owned sector dominance, attract foreign investment, and improve sustainability of cotton production **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $379.989 billion (2024 est.) $356.797 billion (2023 est.) $335.678 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 6.5% (2024 est.) 6.3% (2023 est.) 6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $10,500 (2024 est.) $10,000 (2023 est.) $9,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $114.965 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 9.6% (2024 est.) 10% (2023 est.) 11.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 18.3% (2024 est.) industry: 31.8% (2024 est.) services: 45.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 68% (2024 est.) government consumption: 13.9% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 37.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -3.8% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -38% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, cotton, potatoes, carrots/turnips, tomatoes, grapes, watermelons, vegetables, apples (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals **Industrial production growth rate:** 7.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 13.974 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.5% (2024 est.) 4.5% (2023 est.) 4.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 10.9% (2024 est.) male: 7.2% (2024 est.) female: 18.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 11% (2023 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 34.5 (2023 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 46.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.1% (2023 est.) highest 10%: 25.3% (2023 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 14.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 13.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $21.565 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $25.953 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$5.738 billion (2024 est.) -$7.799 billion (2023 est.) -$2.847 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $26.173 billion (2024 est.) $25.05 billion (2023 est.) $20.966 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $43.624 billion (2024 est.) $42.646 billion (2023 est.) $35.643 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 32%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 8%, S. Korea 6%, Turkey 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $41.237 billion (2024 est.) $34.558 billion (2023 est.) $35.774 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $25.714 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 12,652.287 (2024 est.) 11,734.833 (2023 est.) 11,050.145 (2022 est.) 10,609.464 (2021 est.) 10,054.261 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 17.901 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 75.753 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2.043 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 4.977 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.433 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 90.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 6.379 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3.521 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.375 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 594 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 43.249 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 44.455 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 1.308 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.514 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.841 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 55.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 6.147 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 40.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1,110 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-controlled media; 17 state-owned broadcasters, including 13 TV and 4 radio, with national service; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast locally; privately owned TV stations required to lease transmitters from state-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation (2019) **Internet country code:** .uz **Internet users:** percent of population: 89% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 10.8 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** UK **Airports:** 74 (2025) **Heliports:** 3 (2025) **Railways:** total: 4,642 km (2018) broad gauge: 4,642 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge (1,684 km electrified) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Uzbekistan: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Troops, Border Guards, police (2024) note 1: the National Guard is under the Defense Ministry, but is independent of the other military services; it is responsible for ensuring public order and the security of diplomatic missions, radio and television broadcasting, and other state entities note 2: the State Security Service, whose chairperson reports directly to the president, is responsible for national security and intelligence matters, including terrorism, corruption, organized crime, border control, and narcotics **Military expenditures:** 2.8% of GDP (2019 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2016 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2015 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** limited available information; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Uzbek Armed Forces use mainly Russian or Soviet-era armaments with smaller quantities of items from suppliers such as China, Türkiye, and the US; Uzbekistan has a small defense industry, which is involved in repairing and maintaining aircraft and armored vehicles, as well as producing light armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, and other military items (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 for voluntary/contract service for men and women; 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service for men with a 12-month service obligation (2025) note: those conscripted have the option of paying for a shorter service of one month while remaining in the reserves until the age of 27; Uzbek citizens who have completed their service terms in the armed forces have privileges in employment and admission to higher educational institutions **Military - note:** the military’s responsibilities include ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing its borders, and assisting with internal security; regional security and international terrorism are areas of concern; Uzbekistan joined the Russian-sponsored Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the 1990s but withdrew in 1999; it returned in 2006 but left again in 2012; although not part of CSTO, Uzbekistan continues to maintain defense ties with Russia, including joint military exercises and defense industrial cooperation; it also has defense ties with other regional countries, including Azerbaijan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Turkey; it is part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and participates in SCO training exercises (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Space Research and Technology Agency (UzCosmos or UzSpace; established 2019) (2025) note: Uzcosmos operates under the Ministry of Digital Technologies **Space program overview:** has a small but growing space effort focused on acquiring satellites and developing the country’s space industries and technologies in key sectors, including cartography, data processing, environmental and disaster monitoring, land use, resource management, and telecommunications; recognized for its astronomy program; member of international space organizations; cooperates with foreign space agencies or commercial companies from a variety of countries, including those of Canada, China, France, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the UAE (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2018 - signed space cooperation agreements with France and India 2022 - signed space cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan 2025 - Uzbek engineers began two-year satellite development training program in Japan with goal of building country's first satellite; signed space cooperation agreement with South Korea; announced development of 10-year national space program ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K) note 1: these groups have typically been active in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods note 2: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 8,505 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 20,000 (2024 est.) ---