The most interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan include an epic poem, a rich nomadic culture and the World Nomad Games
Fast facts
Official name: Kyrgyz Republic
Capital city: Bishkek
Population: 6.1 million
Area: 199,951 sq km
Major languages: Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Russian
Major religions: Islam
Time zone: UTC+6 (Kyrgyzstan Time)
Interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan
1. Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in eastern Central Asia. A landlocked country is surrounded by land and doesn’t have access to open sea. Presently, there are 44 landlocked countries in the world along with five partially recognized nations.
2. During the eighth century, Arab invaders conquered what is now Kyrgyzstan and introduced Islam. Kyrgyzstan remains a predominately Muslim country with around 90% of its population Sunni Muslim.
3. The Silk Road, an ancient trade route that forged connections between China, Europe, and the Middle East, goes through Kyrgyzstan.
4. Kyrgyzstan became part of Russia in 1876 and then later the USSR until the country gained complete independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
5. In 1936 the country became a constituent republic within the USSR known as the Kirgiz Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR).
6. The flag of Kyrgyzstan is mainly red – which partly descends from the USSR’s Soviet Red Banner. However, it also stems from the flag carried by the national hero, Manas the Noble. In the centre of the flag is a yellow sun with 40 rays – a reference to the 40 clans of Manas. There is also a sun with an emblem of two crossed sets of three lines. This symbolizes a yurt – a traditional Kyrgyz home.
7. Kyrgyzstan gets its name from the Turkic words “kyrg” (forty) and “-yz” (tribes) with the Persian suffix “-stan” (country). Together, the name means “Land of the Forty Tribes” referring to the 40 clans united by the mythic Kyrgyz hero, Manas.
8. The Kyrgyz epic poem, Epic of Manas, is 20 times longer than Homer’s Odyssey. The poem is about the formation of the Kyrgyz people. There are Manas statues found in practically every city in Kyrgyzstan.
9. The poem has even been inscribed by UNESCO on a List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Inscribed as part of a trilogy of poems, UNESCO describes the Manas as part of ‘the historical memory of the Kyrgyz people and survives thanks to a community of epic tellers.’
10. Kyrgyzstan is a sparsely populated country. There are only 35 people per square km of land area.
11. If Scrabble allowed place names (proper nouns are not permitted), Kyrgyzstan would be worth 30 points (along with Kazakhstan). Of all the one-word countries, only Mozambique scores higher (34).
12. What it lacks in people, it makes up for in natural beauty. The country is home to nearly 2,000 lakes.
13. It is also very mountainous with 94% of the country located 1,000m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750m.
14. Bread is considered holy in Kyrgyzstan and it should never be wasted, thrown away or placed it upside down on the table. It is believed the bread honors and feeds the souls of the dead.
15. Fermented mare’s milk, widely known as Kymyz, holds the esteemed title of the national drink of Kyrgyzstan. Touted by locals for its health benefits, they not only drink it but also use it for bathing. Kymyz is also recognized as the national drink in Kazakhstan.
16. The traditional Kyrgyz way of life is based on nomadic livestock-herding.
17. Traditional shepherd shelters, yurts (boz-uy in Kyrgyz), are still widely used in Kyrgyzstan. The circular tent-like homes are made of kiyiz (multilayered felt) stretched around a kerege (collapsible wooden frame).
18. The world’s largest walnut forest is in Kyrgyzstan. In the small town of Arslanbob workers live in the forest for months at a time harvesting walnuts.
19. Kyrgyzstan currency is the som. Quite unusually, one of the coins in circulation comes in a denomination of three: the 3 som coin.
20. Kyrgyzstan created and hosted the first three World Nomad Games. Known as the ‘Olympics for nomads’ the games were designed to celebrate and preserve the culture of nomadic civilization.
21. Horses are very symbolic of the nomadic culture of Kyrgyzstan. So much so that during summer, horse games take place in Kyrgyzstan which, played mainly by men, depict ‘spectacular skills and manliness’.
22. Finally, one of the most fascinating facts about Kyrgyzstan is that the art of eagle hunting is still practiced. The tradition of hunting with eagles is believed to go back hundreds of years in Kyrgyzstan, possibly to the 12th and 13th centuries.
23. At 2,988m Kyrgyzstan has the world’s second-highest average elevation.
24. At over 170km long and 70km across, Issyk-Köl Oblast in Kyrgyzstan is the world’s second-largest alpine lake. Despite lying at an altitude of over 1600m, the lake never freezes due to a combination of extreme depth, thermal activity and mild salinity. Its name means “hot lake”.
25. Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s second city and is over 3,000 years old. The city’s Jayma Bazaar is one of Central Asia’s biggest markets.
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Every effort has been made to verify these facts about Kyrgyzstan using primary sources. However, if you find an error or have a question, please get in touch.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.