Kyrgyzstan

Summary

Official Name

Kyrgyz Republic

International Conventions

CDE (1995), CSICH (2006), ICCPR (1994), UNCRPD (2019)

Population

6,316,000

Principal Languages

Kyrgyz, Russian

Literacy Rate

100% (2018 UNESCO)

General References

Sebeok 1963

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Kyrgyzstan is 8. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 4 are developing, 1 is in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 15 unestablished languages.

Languages

Azerbaijani, North azj: Users: 11,500 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 17,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
Chechen che: Users: 1,500 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 1,900 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Crimean Tatar crh: Users: 38,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2013 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern
Dargwa dar: Users: 2,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 2,400 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Dargi
Dungan dng: Bishkek city; Chuy region: 2 small nearby border areas; Osh region; Ysyk-Kol region: Karakol area. Users: 56,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 58,100 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 108,500. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Dzhunyan, Huizu, Kwuizwu, Tungan, Zwn’jan Autonym: Хуэйзў йүян‎ (Huejzw jyjan) Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Erzya myv: Users: 5,390 in Kyrgyzstan (2013 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mordvin
German, Standard deu: Scattered. Users: 2,700 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 9,500 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch, Nemetskiy Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Kalmyk-Oirat xal: Ysyk-Kol region. Users: 300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 4,200 (2009 census). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Oirat-Kalmyk-Darkhat
Karachay-Balkar krc: Users: 2,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 3,000 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian
Kazakh kaz: Users: 22,400 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 33,200 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Korean kor: Users: 8,500 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 17,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Users: 12,700 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 13,200 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Kyrgyz kir: Widespread. Users: 4,510,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2018). Ethnic population: 3,800,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 5,132,100. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Art 5 (1)). Alternate Names: Kara-Kirgiz, Kirghiz, Kirgiz Autonym: кыргыз тили‎ (Kyrgyz tili), кыргызча‎ (Kyrgyzcha) Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Lezgi lez: Users: 2,400 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 2,600 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic
Russian rus: Ysyk-Kol region: Lake Ysyk Kol area; widespread. Users: 2,868,000 in Kyrgyzstan, all users. L1 users: 568,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2018). L2 users: 2,300,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 420,000 (2009 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Article 10(2)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Russian Sign Language rsl: Scattered. Users: 32,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 19,000–39,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Tajik tgk: Scattered, mostly south. Users: 42,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 46,100 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2010, Constitution, Article 10(3)). Alternate Names: Tajiki Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Tatar tat: Scattered, mostly northeast. Users: 20,900 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 31,400 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Turkish tur: Users: 16,200 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 39,400 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Turkmen tuk: Users: 1,200 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 1,400 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 5,400 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 21,900 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Uyghur uig: Users: 37,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 48,500 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Uzbek, Northern uzn: Scattered, mostly south. Users: 910,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2018). Ethnic population: 768,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (1997, Constitution, Article 10(3)). Alternate Names: oʻzbek, oʻzbek tili, oʻzbekcha Classification: Turkic, Eastern

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Kyrgyz

[kir] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Art 5 (1)). 4,510,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2018). Ethnic population: 3,800,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 5,132,100.

Russian

[rus] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Article 10(2)). 2,868,000 in Kyrgyzstan, all users. L1 users: 568,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2018). L2 users: 2,300,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 420,000 (2009 census).

5 (Dispersed)

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 2,700 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 9,500 (2009 census).

Tajik

[tgk] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2010, Constitution, Article 10(3)). 42,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 46,100 (2009 census).

Uzbek, Northern

[uzn] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (1997, Constitution, Article 10(3)). 910,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2018). Ethnic population: 768,000 (2009 census).

5 (Developing)

Russian Sign Language

[rsl] 5* (Developing). 32,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 19,000–39,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population.

7 (Shifting)

Dungan

[dng] 7 (Shifting). 56,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 58,100 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 108,500.

8a (Moribund)

Kalmyk-Oirat

[xal] 8a (Moribund). 300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 4,200 (2009 census).