 The country
The Kyrgyz are a Turkic people group who were traditionally nomads. Kyrgyzstan is a very mountainous country struggling with very few natural resources and much poverty. It is a predominantly Muslim country with 10 times as many mosques as churches. Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan are among the strongest Muslims in Central Asia; their conservative dress and regular attendance at the mosque marking them out as people of faith. ChristianityThe Kyrgyz church has enjoyed greater freedom and grown faster than any of the other new Central Asian churches, with dynamic leaders and some large congregations. The number of Uzbek Christians in Kyrgyzstan is much smaller, as is the total number of Uyghur believers.
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"Amazing! The mountains are right on our doorstep." |
| "The best thing about living in Kyrgyzstan is the nice cold winter!" |  |
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Fast FactsCapital city Bishkek Population 5.4 million Ethnic groups
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1% Religions
Muslim 75%,
Eastern Orthodox 20% Languages
Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official) Scripture
The complete Bible was first published in 1998. Literacy 98.7% Link to Lonely Planet website/Kyrgyzstan Detailed map: map of Kyrgyzstan |
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Cultural insight "Over the centuries, people have learned to go with the flow, so are outwardly very adaptable." |
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