About Kyrgyzstan
| Area: | 198 500 sq km (77 181 sq mi), 94% of which is mountains. The country’s average elevation is 2750 m. About 40% of it is over 3000 m high, with three-quarters under permanent snow and glaciers |
| Location: | Situated in the North East of Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan in the North, North-Western China in the South and East, and Uzbekistan in the West |
| Population: | 6 523 529 people (2020) |
| Capital: | Bishkek. Population: 1 057 200 people (2020) |
| GDP (nominal): | US$ 1,334 per capita (2021) |
| Time: | 6 hours ahead of GMT/UTC (no daylight saving time) |
| Climate: | January: the warmest average is –4C/25F in the south and around Issyk-Kul Lake, the coldest average is -30C/-22F in high mountain valleys. July: average is +27C/80.6F in the south to -10C/14F on the highest mountain peaks (6000m-7000m) Continental, dry continental to polar in high Tien-Shan; subtropical in south-west (Fergana Valley) |
| Languages: | Kyrgyz (state), Russian (official). English is widely spoken in travel agencies, hotels and medium & high end restaurants |
| Nationalities: | Kyrgyz 73, 3%, Uzbek 14,6%, Russian 5,6%, other 6,5% |
| Religions: | Muslim 80%, Russian Orthodox 17%, other 3% |
| Health: | No vaccinations for entry required |
| Safety: | Usual precautions taken by travellers in any foreign country should be sufficient. |
| National currency: | 1 Som = 100 tyiyn (April 2021: USD 1 = 84,80 KGS EUR 1 = 102 KGS) |
| Changing Money: | Money may be changed at banks or exchange bureaus. USD, EUR, CHFr, GBP in cash are welcome. Credit cards: VISA is widely accepted in ATMS, hotels and supermarkets in Bishkek, Mastercard much less so. No USD-bills issued prior to 1990 are acceptable because the silver thread is missing. Money changers will not accept folded, old, marked or tatty bills for exchange. They are unusually fussy. |
| Tipping: | 5 to 10% extra for service in hotels as well as in the medium & high level restaurants. No tips for taxis are expected. |
| Official holidays: | January 1 – New Year; January 7 – Russian Christmas; March 21 – Nooruz, New Year Day of Equinox; May 1 – International Worker’s Day; May 5 – Constitution Day; May 9 – World War Two Victory Day; August 31 – Independence Day. Muslim holidays determined by the Lunar Calendar: Orozo-Ayt and Kurman-Ayt |
| Best travel time: | May through September |
| International Airports: | Manas (35 km from Bishkek), Osh (5 km from Osh). |
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