Kyrgyzstan Population

1. Reported Stateless Persons

Kyrgyzstan became the first country to successfully resolve all known cases of statelessness in the country in July of 2019. However, Kyrgyzstan reported 203 stateless persons to UNHCR at the end of 2022, which shows that the number of identified stateless persons is still increasing despite the successes Kyrgyzstan has had in combating the issue. The stateless population in Kyrgyzstan is largely made up of former citizens of the USSR or others living in the area who have not yet gained citizenship of a new successor state.

Official statistics on stateless persons in Kyrgyzstan only includes individuals who have a permanent residence permit as well as an official document verifying their stateless status. There is currently no legislation regarding the collection of quantitative data on stateless persons in Kyrgyzstan. Further, statelessness determination is not covered by a specific statelessness determination procedure placed down in legislation but rather under regulations that are limited in their scope and only apply to certain categories of persons. The current regulations do not align with international standards.

2. Persons at Risk of Statelessness

The nomadic Lyuli/Mugat community have low access to social services due to discrimination. While the Lyuli/Mugat community is largely no longer nomadic, their nomadic past meant that many members of the community never acquired documentation such as birth certificates.

Further, children of stateless parents who are temporarily residing in Kyrgyzstan and those who are in the process of relinquishing their citizenship of another state to gain Kyrgyz citizenship have historically been at risk of statelessness. While recent amendments to citizenship laws should provide protection to these cohorts, their impact is yet to be seen.