Kyrgyzstan

Summary

Official Name: Kyrgyz Republic
Population: 6,700,000
Principal Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian
Literacy Rate: 100% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006)
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).

Unestablished

Azerbaijani, North

[azj] Unestablished. 11,500 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 17,300 (2009 census).

Chechen

[che] Unestablished. 1,500 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 1,900 (2009 census).

Crimean Tatar

[crh] Unestablished. 38,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2013 J. Leclerc).

Dargwa

[dar] Unestablished. 2,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 2,400 (2009 census).

Erzya

[myv] Unestablished. 5,390 in Kyrgyzstan (2013 J. Leclerc).

Karachay-Balkar

[krc] Unestablished. 2,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 3,000 (2009 census).

Kazakh

[kaz] Unestablished. 22,400 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 33,200 (2009 census).

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 8,500 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 17,300 (2009 census).

Kurdish, Northern

[kmr] Unestablished. 12,700 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 13,200 (2009 census).

Lezgi

[lez] Unestablished. 2,400 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 2,600 (2009 census).

Tatar

[tat] Unestablished. 20,900 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 31,400 (2009 census).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 16,200 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 39,400 (2009 census).

Turkmen

[tuk] Unestablished. 1,200 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 1,400 (2009 census).

Ukrainian

[ukr] Unestablished. 5,400 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 21,900 (2009 census).

Uyghur

[uig] Unestablished. 37,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 48,500 (2009 census).

Maps

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Kyrgyzstan with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Kyrgyzstan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Kyrgyzstan with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Kyrgyzstan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Kyrgyzstan in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Kyrgyzstan ($149.95, 27 page PDF)

Kyrgyzstan

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action