In 2010, the population of the Kyrgyz Republic was estimated at 5.4 million (World Bank 2008). Its population is relatively young with children under 14 representing 30% of the total population and adults over 65 representing just 5.5% in 2010. The sex ratio in Kyrgyzstan is 0.96 males per female (UN DESA n.d.). 

The population is expected to grow at a rate of 1% for the period between 2010 and 2015 (UN DESA n.d.). It is important to note that the growth rate of Kyrgyz population is considerably lower than the one of other low income countries in its category (World Bank 2011). The country’s Infant Mortality Rate of 29 (per 1000 births) is also ranked as 153rd lowest in the world. Kyrgyzstan is a multi-ethnic country with significant Russian, Tajik and Uzbek populations. Kyrgyz and Russian are the official languages of the Republic, although Uzbek language is spoken by 13% of the population.

In the early 1990s the Kyrgyz Republic transitioned successfully from a centrally planned to a market economy. Since transition, the Kyrgyz economy has faced several obstacles to further growth which can be attributed to three specific events: the 1998 regional financial crisis; significant decrease of price of gold in 2002; and the political unrest of 2005. In fact, its economic growth slowed down dramatically to an annual rate of 4.7% during the period 1996-2005, while the rest of post-Soviet economies were averaging growth rates of about 8% (UNESCO 2008). Political troubles have also been blamed for the contraction of the economy (-1.4%) in 2010 (World Bank 2011). Approximately 30% of the country’s economic activity is devoted to agriculture but the fragile mountain topography, combined with depletion of forest cover that causes soil erosion by wind and water has been leading to a decline agricultural production. Two major natural resources exploited in Kyrgyzstan are hydropower and gold (UNESCO 2008) that, combined with the service sector, account for the majority of Kyrgyz exports. Unemployment rates have teetered around 8% for the past decade. The latest statistics point to an 8.2% national rate (UNECE 2009). Internal and foreign labour migration flows have been major factors in the Kyrgyz economy. Between 1990 and 2005, over half a million internal rural migrants have flocked to city centres such as Bishkek and Osh (ILO 2006). Moreover, many Kyrgyz men travel to neighbouring countries, such as Kazakhstan and Russia, in search for work. Their remittances contributed to 28 % of national GDP in 2011 (World Bank 2011).

After the October Revolution of 1917, Kyrgyzstan (then known by the name of the Kyrgyz Socialist Soviet Republic) was incorporated into the newly formed USSR. The borders of Kyrgyzstan were consequently redrawn several times by the Soviet authorities thus dramatically altering the ethnic make-up of the nation. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan’s communist leadership was among the first among Central Asian Republics to vote for, and obtain, independence. A turbulent political period followed as the country went through 11 different parliamentary governments in the post-independence period until 2005 (UNESCO 2008). Kyrgyzstan is a Republic and has a mixed system of governance with both an office of the presidency and a unicameral parliament. The most recent constitution of the Republic, which has sought to balance executive and legislative powers, was adopted on 27 June 2010 (Central Intelligence Agency n.d.). Under the new arrangement, it is possible for a President to serve one six-year term with no re-election (Council of Europe 2010). Nonetheless, the President is still in charge of Cabinet Ministers appointments, proposed by the head of government. The former Prime Minister, Almazbek Atambayev, won the latest presidential election in the Republic in October of 2011. 

The country is divided into 7 administrative provinces (oblast) and two city-districts for Bishkek and Osh (the second largest city) (National Online n.d.). Each administrative unit is further divided into districts (rayons) managed by akims (government-appointed officials). Aiyl okmotu - rural settlement encompassing up to 20 villages – is the smallest administrative unit in the Republic. In recent years, a reform aimed at decentralisation of public administration has sought to increase capacity building of local self-governance organs (UNESCO 2008). The consequence of this reform has been the creation of 470 aiyl akmotu. Each aiyl okmotu has its own mayor and councils.

Poverty and children’s rights as well as gender equality and governance are the major development issues to be tackled in the Kyrgyz Republic. The poverty rate in the country is relatively high, with the latest statistics for 2008 putting the figure at 32% of population living under the official poverty line (UN 2008). Poverty remains a mainly rural phenomenon with about 80% of the poor living in rural areas (ADB 2007). In fact, the proportion of the poor in rural areas - reaching 55.5% in 2006 - was almost double that in urban areas. Many of the challenges posed by rural poverty are replicated in the area of children’s rights particularly with respect to child labour. In 2005, 61.2% of 23,000 children in the Republic who were reported to be working on fields and farms (UNECE 2009) have been doing so since the age of 7-9 (ILO 2006). 

Gender equality is also an area of concern. In the economic sphere women represent 40% of the working population but are more likely to hold low-end positions and earn on average a quarter less men (UNESCO 2008). In addition, an overwhelming majority of women are confined to employment in the service sector. Unemployment is about 8% higher per annum among women than men. Progress has been made with respect to women’s involvement in public life. In 2007, a newly introduced 30% gender quota allowed an unprecedented 24 women MPs to join the Kyrgyz parliament (UNFPA 2008, UNDP 2010). Finally, the Republic faces several governance challenges on its path to development. Protests in 2005 and 2009 have been attributed to grievances related to issues of corruption and lack of transparency in the political system (UNESCO 2008). Corruption is rampant in numerous aspects of political life and the country was ranked 166th in the world by Transparency International in 2009 (Transparency International 2009).