Kyrgyz Respublikasy (Kyrgyz)

Respublika Kirgizstan (Russian)

Note: Incumbent prime minister Almazbek Atambayev was elected president in balloting on October 30, 2011. Atambayev secured 63.2 percent of the vote, defeating 15 other candidates. His closest challenger was Adahan Madumarov (one Kyrgyzstan), who received 14.7 percent of the vote.

Political Status: Designated autonomous republic of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on February 1, 1926; became constituent republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) on December 5, 1936; Republic of Kyrgyzstan proclaimed December 13, 1990; independence from the USSR declared by the Kyrgyz Supreme Soviet August 31, 1991; current constitution approved by referendum on June 27, 2010.

Area: 76,640 sq. mi. (198,500 sq. km.).

Population: 5,497,403 (2012E—UN); 5,667,822 (2012E—US Census).

Major Urban Center (2009C): BISHKEK (formerly Frunze, 835,300), Osh (258,100).

Official ...