Red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt.
Administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses).
Population:
4,822,166 (July 2002 est.)
Languages:
Kyrgyz - official language, Russian - official language in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz
Geographic coordinates:
41° 00' N, 75° 00' E
Area total:
198,500 sq. km
Land area:
191,300 sq. km
Water area:
7,200 sq. km
Total land boundaries:
3,878 km
Borders with neighbor countries:
China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes:
Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m - Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Internet country code:
.kg
Currency:
Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
Name - conventional long form:
Kyrgyz Republic
Name - conventional short form:
Kyrgyzstan
Name - local long form:
Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Name - local short form:
none
Former name:
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1993 amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature