Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic)

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	109th best
Capital	Bishkek
Land Area	191 800km21
Location	Asia
Population	6.3m2
Life Expectancy	69.98yrs (2017)3
GNI	$4 566 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	KG, KGZ, 4175
Internet Domain	.kg6
Currency	Som (KGS)7
Telephone	+9968

1. Overview
2. Kyrgyzstan National and Social Development
3. Kyrgyzstan's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Kyrgyzstan's Health
6. Kyrgyzstan's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Kyrgyzstan's Modernity and Learning
8. Kyrgyzstan's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#russia

“A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAEV, who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Over the next few years, the new president manipulated the parliament to accrue new powers for himself. In July 2009, after months of harassment against his opponents and media critics, BAKIEV won re-election in a presidential campaign that the international community deemed flawed. In April 2010, violent protests in Bishkek led to the collapse of the BAKIEV regime and his eventual fleeing to Minsk, Belarus. His successor, Roza OTUNBAEVA, served as transitional president until Almazbek ATAMBAEV was inaugurated in December 2011. Continuing concerns include: the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, poor interethnic relations, and terrorism.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“A half-forgotten land of mountain valleys, glittering lakes and felt yurts, Kyrgyzstan is a dream for DIY adventurers, eco tourists and wannabe nomads. Kyrgyzstan is a nation defined by its topography: joyously unspoilt mountainscapes, stark craggy ridges, and rolling summer pastures (jailoos) are brought to life by semi- nomadic, yurt-dwelling shepherd cultures. Add to this natural beauty a well-developed network of homestays and the recent introduction of visa-free travel, and it´s easy to see why Kyrgyzstan is rapidly becoming the gateway of choice for Western travellers in Central Asia. As can be expected in a country where the vast majority of attractions are rural and high altitude, the timing of your visit is crucial. Summer is ideal with hikes and roads generally accessible. Midsummer also sees Kazakh and Russian tourists converge on the beaches of never-freezing Lake Issyk-Köl. From October to May, much rural accommodation closes down and the yurts that add such character to the alpine vistas are stashed away. So think twice about a winter visit unless you´ve come to ski.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Kyrgyzstan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
116	Philippines	0.699
117	Botswana	0.693
118=	Bolivia	0.692
118=	Kyrgyzstan	0.692
120	Venezuela	0.691
121	Iraq	0.686
122	Tajikistan	0.685
123=	Belize	0.683
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
142	Nigeria	$4 790
143	Pakistan	$4 624
144	Marshall Islands	$4 620
145	Kyrgyzstan	$4 566
146	Tajikistan	$4 548
147	Kenya	$4 474
148	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	$4 461
149	Syria	$4 192
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	29.1
2	Norway	32.3
3	Sweden	34.1
	...
106	Jordan	92.2
107	Botswana	93.1
108	Guatemala	93.4
109	Kyrgyzstan	94.2
110	Bahrain	94.9
111	Belize	95.3
112	Senegal	95.8
113	Azerbaijan	95.8
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Kyrgyzstan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Kyrgyzstan's population is predicted to rise to 6.666 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.80. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
108	Libya	6.7m
109	Nicaragua	6.5m
110	El Salvador	6.4m
111	Kyrgyzstan	6.3m
112	Turkmenistan	5.9m
113	Singapore	5.8m
114	Denmark	5.8m
115	Finland	5.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
118	Egypt	70.2
119	Mexico	70.2
120	Honduras	70.1
121	Kyrgyzstan	70.0
122	St Vincent & Grenadines	69.6
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
135	Mongolia	2.77
136	Swaziland	2.79
137	Jordan	2.79
138	Kyrgyzstan	2.80
139	Aruba	1.18
140	China	1.18
141	Algeria	2.83
142	Spain	1.16
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
82	Mongolia	11.8
83=	Uzbekistan	11.9
83=	Tonga	11.9
85	Kyrgyzstan	12.1
86	Indonesia	12.4
87=	Myanmar (Burma)	12.5
87=	India	12.5
89	Bolivia	12.7
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
102	Slovakia	3.4%
103	Turkmenistan	3.4%
104	Iran	3.3%
105	Kyrgyzstan	3.3%
106	Chad	3.3%
107	Tajikistan	3.1%
108	Cape Verde	2.8%
109	Burundi	2.8%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
55	Latvia	12.3%
56	Luxembourg	11.8%
57	Jordan	11.3%
58	Kyrgyzstan	11.2%
59	Tajikistan	11.2%
60	Cuba	10.9%
61	Mauritius	10.9%
62	Greece	10.8%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #kyrgyzstan #kyrgyzstan_women #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
108	Nicaragua	93.2
109	Tunisia	95.2
110	Belarus	95.7
111	Kyrgyzstan	96.7
112	Russia	96.8
113	Nepal	96.9
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Kyrgyzstan is generally poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world. Kyrgyzstan does better than average when it comes to freethought₁₉, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₀, opposing gender inequality₂₁, eliminating modern slavery₂₂ and in LGBT equality₂₃. But, things still need to improve in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan does worse than average for the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₄, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₅ (still good for Asia), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₆, supporting press freedom₂₇ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. LGBT folk experience ill-treatment, extortion, and discrimination, both from wider society and the government_28,29. The government sometimes persecutes, wrongly imprisons and harasses human rights defenders and 2017 took further steps to limit the civil freedom of peaceful assembly₂₈. Allegations of torture are largely ignored (of 435 complains in 2016, 400 were not investigated)₂₈.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Kyrgyzstan

5. Kyrgyzstan's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #kyrgyzstan #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	Japan	41.2
2	Hong Kong	48.2
3=	S. Korea	49.9
	...
33	Uzbekistan	92.6
34	Russia	94.2
35	Turkmenistan	98.7
36	Kyrgyzstan	98.8
37	Oman	100.0
38	Philippines	102.5
39	Mongolia	103.0
40	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	103.1
41	Saudi Arabia	107.2
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
110	Algeria	97.0
111	St Vincent & Grenadines	97.5
112	Turkmenistan	98.7
113	Kyrgyzstan	98.8
114	Bahamas	99.1
115	Guam	99.3
116	Oman	100.0
117	Peru	100.3
	World Avg	97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue₃₁.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₁, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia₃₁.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Kyrgyzstan has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Kyrgyzstan does better than average when it comes to its immunizations take-up₃₂, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₃ and in its adolescent birth rate₃₄ (but bad for Asia). However Kyrgyzstan performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average when it comes to its suicide rate₃₅, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₆, its alcohol consumption rate₃₇, its smoking rate₃₈, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in its fertility rate₁₄. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Kyrgyzstan improved by +7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Kyrgyzstan's peak fertility rate was 5.51 in 1963.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
118	Egypt	70.2
119	Mexico	70.2
120	Honduras	70.1
121	Kyrgyzstan	70.0
122	St Vincent & Grenadines	69.6
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better37
Pos.		2016 Per Capita37
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
91=	Colombia	5.8
92	Nauru	6.0
93	Cuba	6.1
94	Kyrgyzstan	6.2
95=	Guyana	6.3
95=	Peru	6.3
97	Bosnia & Herzegovina	6.4
98=	Angola	6.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
135	Mongolia	2.77
136	Swaziland	2.79
137	Jordan	2.79
138	Kyrgyzstan	2.80
139	Aruba	1.18
140	China	1.18
141	Algeria	2.83
142	Spain	1.16
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better38
Pos.		201438
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
102	Bangladesh	665
103	Morocco	671
104	New Zealand	680
105	Kyrgyzstan	68339
106	Qatar	698
107	UAE	715
108	Namibia	740
109	Papua New Guinea	826
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Suicide Rate35
Pos.		2013 Per 100k35
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
43	Thailand	15.8
44	Australia	16.4
45	El Salvador	16.5
46	Kyrgyzstan	17.7
47	Netherlands	18.6
48	Luxembourg	19.3
49	Portugal	19.6
50	Singapore	20.6
	Asia Avg	19.50
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
83	Croatia	83
84	Indonesia	84
85	Bolivia	85
86	Kyrgyzstan	86
87	Moldova	87
88	Syria	88
89	Azerbaijan	89
90	Uganda	90
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better33
Pos.		1976 %33
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
85	St Kitts & Nevis	27.2
86=	Dominican Rep.	27.3
86=	Oman	27.3
86=	Kyrgyzstan	27.3
89	Vanuatu	27.5
90=	Jamaica	28.0
90=	Dominica	28.0
92	Bolivia	28.1
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 %40
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
99	Germany	24.2%
100	Bulgaria	24.2%
101	Algeria	24.2%
102	Kyrgyzstan	24.4%
103	Cyprus	25.1%
104	Guatemala	25.2%
105	Iran	25.3%
106	Bosnia & Herzegovina	25.5%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better34
Pos.		2022 Per 100034
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
92	Myanmar (Burma)	32.8
93	Indonesia	32.9
94	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	33.3
95	Kyrgyzstan	33.8
96	Vietnam	35.0
97	Uruguay	35.2
98	Romania	35.4
99	Micronesia	35.7
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better32
Pos.		2015 Avg %32
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
34	Russia	97.0
35	Guyana	97.0
36	Slovakia	97.0
37	Kyrgyzstan	96.7
38	Brazil	96.7
39=	Jordan	96.6
39=	Brunei	96.6
41	Spain	96.5
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

After succesfully reducing its adolescent birth rate from the 1990s to the 2000s, Kyrgyzstan suffered a double-digit increase in this problematic statistic (one of only 3 countries to do so in the 2010s), but by the 2020s, this rate was dropping back down.

6. Kyrgyzstan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #kyrgyzstan #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
40	Bahrain	107.9
41	Mongolia	108.1
42	Armenia	108.2
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
45	Bhutan	115.3
46	Uzbekistan	116.1
47	Tajikistan	128.6
48	Brunei	130.2
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
168	Mongolia	108.1
169	Armenia	108.2
170	Suriname	108.5
171	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
172	Angola	109.5
173	Kazakhstan	109.8
174	Barbados	110.1
175	Kiribati	111.4
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₂. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

With regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Kyrgyzstan ranks 171st in the world. This is derived from 21 data sets. Kyrgyzstan does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₃ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₄. But unfortunately Kyrgyzstan gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₅, its environmental performance₄₆ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in energy to GDP efficiency₄₇.

Environmental Performance Higher is better46
Pos.		201846
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
96	Bahrain	55.2
97	Nicaragua	55.0
98	Bahamas	55.0
99	Kyrgyzstan	54.9
100	Nigeria	54.8
101	Kazakhstan	54.6
102	Samoa	54.5
103	Suriname	54.2
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better47
Pos.		2022 Avg47
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
149	Lebanon	2.06
150	Ukraine	2.11
151	Syria	2.12
152	Kyrgyzstan	2.20
153	Iran	2.24
154	Russia	2.25
155	Oman	2.28
156	Canada	2.29
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
159	Albania	47%
160	Turkey	47%
161	Cambodia	47%
162	Kyrgyzstan	46%
163	Libya	46%
164	Micronesia	46%
165	Cape Verde	46%
166	Guinea-Bissau	46%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Kyrgyzstan enacted the Rotterdam Convention on obtaining prior consent for transporting certain hazardous chemicals in 2000, whilst most others delayed it until subsequent years.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better45
Pos.		2011 %45
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
84	Togo	33.3%
85	Benin	32.6%
86	Bulgaria	32.5%
87	Kyrgyzstan	32.0%
88	Georgia	31.9%
89	Australia	31.8%
90	Austria	31.8%
91	Azerbaijan	31.7%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better44
Pos.		2021 kg44
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
72	Georgia	37.8
73	Cape Verde	38.4
74	Honduras	38.8
75	Kyrgyzstan	39.0
76	Macedonia	41.0
77	Guatemala	42.1
78	Uzbekistan	42.3
79	Turkey	43.0
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Kyrgyzstan was reducing.₄₄

7. Kyrgyzstan's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #kyrgyzstan #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
	...
18	Thailand	75.0
19	Uzbekistan	76.5
20	Vietnam	76.9
21	Kyrgyzstan	77.3
22	Armenia	77.9
23	Iran	78.0
24	Brunei	78.4
25	Azerbaijan	78.9
26	Sri Lanka	79.2
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
80	Vietnam	76.9
81	Macedonia	77.2
82	Colombia	77.3
83	Kyrgyzstan	77.3
84	Armenia	77.9
85	Iran	78.0
86	Brunei	78.4
87	Azerbaijan	78.9
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₉. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₉. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₀.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₁

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₉, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₉.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Kyrgyzstan fell by half a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased. ₅₂

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2953
2	Israel	4.1153
3	Japan	3.5853
	...
96=	Oman	0.1754
96=	Kazakhstan	0.1754
98	Bolivia	0.1655
99=	Kyrgyzstan	0.1656
99=	Sri Lanka	0.1657
101	Albania	0.1558
102	Namibia	0.1457
103=	Georgia	0.1359
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better60
Pos.		201860
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
9	Slovakia	99.3%
10	Latvia	99.2%
11	Kazakhstan	98.6%
12	Kyrgyzstan	98.4%
13	Georgia	98.0%
14	Slovenia	97.6%
15	Armenia	97.2%
16	Hungary	97.2%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better61
Pos.		2021 Years61
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
101	Andorra	13.3
102	Bhutan	13.2
103	Turkmenistan	13.2
104	Kyrgyzstan	13.2
105	Philippines	13.1
106	Armenia	13.1
107	Cameroon	13.1
108	Panama	13.1
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
77	Jamaica	77
78	Colombia	78
79	Liberia	79
80	Kyrgyzstan	80
81	Saudi Arabia	81
82	Uganda	82
83	Mauritius	83
84	UAE	84
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better62
Pos.		2018 %62
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
42=	Moldova	42
43	Argentina	43
44	Mexico	45
45	Kyrgyzstan	47
46	Kosovo	48
47=	Tajikistan	50
47=	Romania	50
49	Georgia	51
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better63
Pos.		200663
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
54=	Cambodia	91
55	Albania	90
56=	Croatia	90
56=	Kyrgyzstan	90
56=	Chile	90
59	Costa Rica	89
60=	Laos	89
61	Ecuador	88
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better64
Pos.		201664
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
125	Bhutan	37%
126	Mongolia	36%
127	India	35%
128	Kyrgyzstan	34%
129	Egypt	33%
130	Cuba	32%
131	Micronesia	31%
132	Vanuatu	31%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better65
Pos.		201265
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
15	Nigeria	33
16=	S. Korea	34
16=	Uganda	34
18	Kyrgyzstan	35
19	Mexico	37
20	India	39
21	Indonesia	42
22=	Libya	43
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better66
Pos.		2017 Ratio66
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
90=	El Salvador	0.0
90=	Kenya	0.0
90=	Cameroon	0.0
90=	Kyrgyzstan	0.0
94	Cambodia	0.0
95=	Belarus	0.0
95=	Azerbaijan	0.0
95=	Angola	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better67
Pos.		202467
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
81	Paraguay	41.2%
82	Tunisia	40.4%
83	Bangladesh	40.3%
84	Kyrgyzstan	39.5%
85	Jamaica	38.9%
86	Bosnia & Herzegovina	38.8%
87	Trinidad & Tobago	38.1%
88	Ghana	37.9%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Kyrgyzstan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Asia (2020)68
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank68
1	Singapore	20.2
2	Taiwan	37.2
3	Hong Kong	40.5
	...
22	Philippines	76.8
23	Sri Lanka	79.8
24	China	80.6
25	Kyrgyzstan	81.7
26	Armenia	82.2
27	Bahrain	82.3
28	Uzbekistan	82.9
29	Nepal	83.4
30	India	85.6
	Asia Avg	79.59
q=49.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)68
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank68
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
84	Sri Lanka	79.8
85	Senegal	79.9
86	China	80.6
87	Kyrgyzstan	81.7
88	Armenia	82.2
89	Bahrain	82.3
90	Uzbekistan	82.9
91	Samoa	83.3
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

Kyrgyzstan has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption.

World Giving Index Higher is better69
Pos.		2022 %69
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
40=	Bosnia & Herzegovina	44.0
40=	Paraguay	44.0
40=	Dominican Rep.	44.0
40=	Kyrgyzstan	44.0
40=	Mexico	44.0
40=	Costa Rica	44.0
46	Vietnam	43.0
47=	Iran	43.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better70
Pos.		2022 Points70
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
138	Russia	28.0
139=	Mali	28.0
140	Pakistan	27.0
141=	Kyrgyzstan	27.0
142	Liberia	26.0
143=	Mozambique	26.0
143=	Madagascar	26.0
143=	Cameroon	26.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better71
Pos.		2024 Score71
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
72=	Croatia	5.9
72=	Jamaica	5.9
74	Bolivia	5.9
75	Kyrgyzstan	5.9
76	Dominican Rep.	5.8
77	Mongolia	5.8
78	Mauritius	5.8
79	Libya	5.8
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
73	Dominica	73
74	Antigua & Barbuda	74
75	Turkey	75
76	Kyrgyzstan	76
77	Togo	77
78	Albania	78
79	Brunei	79
80	Suriname	80
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
57	Mali	57
58	El Salvador	58
59	Senegal	59
60	Kyrgyzstan	60
61	Qatar	61
62	USA	62
63	Congo, DR	63
64	Honduras	64
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better72
Pos.		2023 Score72
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
99	Cuba	2.10
100	Turkmenistan	2.11
101	Tajikistan	2.11
102	Kyrgyzstan	2.12
103=	Peru	2.13
103=	Guatemala	2.13
103=	Togo	2.13
106	Guyana	2.13
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
118	Venezuela	118
119	Angola	119
120	Ivory Coast	120
121	Kyrgyzstan	121
122	Guinea	122
123	Israel	123
124	Malta	124
125	Burundi	125
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better36
Pos.		2017 Rank36
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
64	Moldova	64
65	Mozambique	65
66=	Burkina Faso	66
66=	Kyrgyzstan	66
68	Iran	68
69	Malawi	69
70	Latvia	70
71	Guatemala	71
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better73
Pos.		2019 Score73
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
61	Georgia	1.34
62	Papua New Guinea	1.36
63	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.39
64	Kyrgyzstan	1.47
65	Ghana	1.56
66	Kazakhstan	1.57
67	Austria	1.66
68	Argentina	1.68
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better74
Pos.		201974
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
87	Brazil	10.90
88	Belize	11.10
89	Grenada	11.20
90=	Kyrgyzstan	11.30
90=	St Vincent & Grenadines	11.30
92	Ecuador	11.50
93=	N. Korea	11.50
94	Egypt	11.60
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better75
Pos.		2023 %75
1	Slovakia	24.1%76
2	Slovenia	24.3%76
3	Belarus	24.4%77
4	Ukraine	25.6%77
5=	Moldova	25.7%76
5=	Netherlands	25.7%76
7	Iceland	26.1%78
8	Czechia	26.2%76
9=	Kyrgyzstan	26.4%79
9=	UAE	26.4%80
11	Syria	26.6%79
12=	Azerbaijan	26.6%81
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better82
Pos.		2018 Severity82
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
15	St Lucia	.007
16	Libya	.007
17	Algeria	.008
18	Kyrgyzstan	.008
19	Bosnia & Herzegovina	.008
20	Barbados	.009
21	Macedonia	.010
22	Guyana	.014
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #freedom_of_belief #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #Kyrgyzstan #religion #religiosity #secularisation #secularism

Religiosity (2018)62
Pos.		Lower is better %62
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
42=	Moldova	42
43	Argentina	43
44	Mexico	45
45	Kyrgyzstan	47
46	Kosovo	48
47=	Tajikistan	50
47=	Romania	50
49	Georgia	51
50=	Armenia	53
50=	USA	53
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53=	Greece	56
53=	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)83
Pos.		Higher is better %83
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
43	Albania	8
44=	Dominican Rep.	7
44=	Croatia	7
44=	Kyrgyzstan	7
44=	Cambodia	7
48	Moldova	6
49=	Italy	6
50	Laos	5
51=	Ireland	5
51=	Mozambique	5
53	Zimbabwe	4
54=	Namibia	4
54=	Iran	4
54=	Mexico	4
54=	Portugal	4
54=	Romania	4
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₈₄:

Christian	11.4%
Muslim	88%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.4%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 99.5% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (7%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 99.8% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 47% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%₈₅.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Kyrgyzstan's Constitution has strong protections for religious equality and secularism, prohibiting the state against promoting a specific religion and guaranteeing freedom of belief₂₉. Nevertheless, sometimes clergy gain improper influence over a politician, and sometimes, a politician gains undue influence over the Church, normally in both cases for mutual benefit₂₉. In reality, the rights to conduct religion are hindered by poor human rights overall and limits on public expression₂₉.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?
• Human Rights and Freedom in Kyrgyzstan: 4.2. Freedom of Thought