Facts about Kyrgyzstan
Official languages: Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Russian
Capital: Bishkek
Area: 198,500 km²
Population: 5.5 million residents
Population density: 27.75 residents per km²
Currency: KGS
Internet TLD: .kg
ISO codes: KG, KGZ , 417
The dialing code for Kyrgyzstan is +996
Flag of Kyrgyzstan
The flag of Kyrgyzstan is composed of a red leaf and a yellow symbol resembling the sun. The sun has 40 rays to represent the 40 tribes living in the earth. In the middle of the sun there is a strange figure, which is supposed to resemble the vault of a yurt, the traditional dwelling of the local steppe peoples. The red leaf probably originated from the red banner of the national hero Manas, who united all 40 tribes into one state. The golden sun symbolizes peace and wealth, and the yurt signifies brotherhood among the tribes and peoples of the land. The flag was adopted quite a long time after the collapse of the Soviet Union and half a year after the declaration of independence, only in 1992.
Kyrgyzstan is a state in Central Asia. In general linguistic usage and in the media in Germany there is a certain lack of clarity about the exact country name. According to the Foreign Office, the official German-speaking country name is Kyrgyzstan. The name Kyrgyzstan and the name Kyrgyzstan, which was common in Soviet times, are also common. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Kyrgyz tried to strengthen their national identity by returning to their Turkish-speaking culture and chose Кыргызстан / Kırgızstan as the country name. This name with the originally Persian ending for region or country “-stan” underlines the cultural relationship with other Turkic-speaking countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It is controversial here whether the correct translation of this designation into German Kyrgyzstan or Kyrgyzstan is. The only official German name of the country used by the Foreign Office is Kyrgyzstan.
Biggest Cities of Kyrgyzstan by Population
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country located in the Tien Shan Mountains, with a population of over 6 million people. Its capital city is Bishkek which is the largest city in Kyrgyzstan and home to more than 1 million people. The city is known for its Soviet-era architecture, vibrant culture and lively nightlife making it a popular destination for tourists.
Other major cities in Kyrgyzstan include Osh located near the Ferghana Valley and known as ‘the City of Sun’; Jalal-Abad located near the Chatkal Mountains and known as ‘the City of Silk’; or Karakol located on the eastern side of Kyrgyzstan and known as ‘the City of Lakes’.
Kyrgyzstan also contains some smaller cities such as Talas located near Lake Issyk-Kul and home to many churches; Naryn located near the At-Bashi Range and home to many museums; or Batken located on the south-western side of Kyrgyzstan and known for its fruit production.
Throughout Kyrgyzstan there are plenty of attractions to explore including mosques, churches, museums, national parks, beaches and monuments. Visitors can also enjoy activities such as trekking or exploring mountains or take part in water sports on Lake Issyk-Kul.
| # | City | Population | Latitude | Longitude |
| 1 | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | 900,111 | 42.87 | 74.59 |
| 2 | Osh, Kyrgyzstan | 200,111 | 40.5283 | 72.7985 |
| 3 | Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan | 75,811 | 40.9333 | 73 |
| 4 | Karakol, Kyrgyzstan | 70,282 | 42.4907 | 78.3936 |
| 5 | Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan | 63,158 | 42.8419 | 75.3015 |
| 6 | Kara-Balta, Kyrgyzstan | 62,907 | 42.8142 | 73.8481 |
| 7 | Naryn, Kyrgyzstan | 52,411 | 41.4287 | 75.9911 |
| 8 | Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan | 40,471 | 40.7699 | 73.3007 |
| 9 | Balykchy, Kyrgyzstan | 40,111 | 42.4602 | 76.1871 |
| 10 | Talas, Kyrgyzstan | 35,283 | 42.5228 | 72.2427 |
| 11 | Kyzyl-Kyya, Kyrgyzstan | 32,111 | 40.2568 | 72.1279 |
| 12 | Bazar-Korgon, Kyrgyzstan | 27,815 | 41.0376 | 72.7459 |
| 13 | Iradan, Kyrgyzstan | 26,311 | 40.2667 | 72.1 |
| 14 | Tash-Kumyr, Kyrgyzstan | 23,705 | 41.3461 | 72.2171 |
| 15 | Kant, Kyrgyzstan | 20,292 | 42.8911 | 74.8508 |
| 16 | Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan | 19,447 | 41.8744 | 72.9419 |
| 17 | Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan | 18,706 | 42.6494 | 77.0823 |
| 18 | Kara Suu, Kyrgyzstan | 17,911 | 40.7046 | 72.8667 |
| 19 | Isfana, Kyrgyzstan | 17,063 | 39.839 | 69.5276 |
| 20 | Kyzyl-Suu, Kyrgyzstan | 17,038 | 42.3421 | 78.0064 |
| 21 | At-Bashi, Kyrgyzstan | 15,337 | 41.1695 | 75.801 |
| 22 | Suluktu, Kyrgyzstan | 15,130 | 39.9365 | 69.5678 |
| 23 | Kochkor-Ata, Kyrgyzstan | 14,925 | 41.0371 | 72.4832 |
| 24 | Nookat, Kyrgyzstan | 14,482 | 40.266 | 72.6183 |
| 25 | Kerben, Kyrgyzstan | 14,252 | 41.494 | 71.7583 |
| 26 | Tyup, Kyrgyzstan | 13,548 | 42.7276 | 78.3648 |
| 27 | Aydarken, Kyrgyzstan | 11,968 | 39.9432 | 71.3418 |
| 28 | Ak-Suu, Kyrgyzstan | 10,934 | 42.4995 | 78.527 |
| 29 | Kaindy, Kyrgyzstan | 10,727 | 42.8247 | 73.6758 |
| 30 | Kemin, Kyrgyzstan | 10,406 | 42.7861 | 75.6917 |
| 31 | Batken, Kyrgyzstan | 10,266 | 40.0626 | 70.8194 |
| 32 | Sosnovka, Kyrgyzstan | 5,996 | 42.6371 | 73.8961 |
Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek
The capital of Kyrgyzstan is called Bishkek. In the local spelling, this corresponds to Biškek. Bishkek is in the north of the country. The Tian Shan Mountains rise south of the city, while the steppe extends to the north as far as the border with Kazakhstan. Around 930,000 people live in Bishkek. This makes it the largest city in the country.
Originally it was a station on the Silk Road. In 1825 a clay fortress was built here by the Kokand Khanate. It was destroyed by Russian troops in 1862. The Russians then built their own fortress and relocated farmers here. In 1878 the place was called Pischpek. Between 1926 and 1991, when Kyrgyzstan was part of the Soviet Union, the city was called Frunze. That was the name of a close confidante of Lenin’s who was born here. With independence, the Kyrgyz form of the old name was chosen: Bishkek.