Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Location:
Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan

Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 199,951 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 87
land: 191,801 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:
total: 3,051 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,224 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
More Climate Details

Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Natural resources:
abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Land use:
arable land: 6.38%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.37%
other: 93.24%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut forest (2011)

Irrigated land:
10,210 sq km (2005)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
23.62 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.01 cu km/yr (3%/4%/93%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 1,558 cu m/yr (2006)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes