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Research

Analysis from the observatory

Data briefs, explainers and long reads on the economies of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Figures are computed from the platform's data.

The road along the Toktogul reservoir
The road along the Toktogul reservoirPhoto: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 PL, via Wikimedia Commons

DraftThese publications are planned topics with data-driven abstracts. Full texts are in preparation.

Turbine hall of the Ekibastuz power station, Kazakhstan
Turbine hall of the Ekibastuz power station, KazakhstanPhoto: Yakov Fedorov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Data brief

A growth spurt: what is behind Kyrgyzstan's recent expansion?

Real GDP grew by an average of 9.2% a year over 2021–2025. This brief breaks the expansion down by sector and asks how much comes from re-export trade, construction and gold.

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On the Bishkek–Osh highway
On the Bishkek–Osh highwayPhoto: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 PL, via Wikimedia Commons

Explainer

Remittances and the trade gap

Remittances equalled 17.6% of GDP in 2024. How migrant earnings finance a persistent trade deficit, and what that means for exposure to Russia's economy.

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Dried fruit and nuts at Osh Bazaar, Bishkek
Dried fruit and nuts at Osh Bazaar, BishkekPhoto: Thomas Depenbusch, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Data brief

Prices in perspective

Consumer price inflation was 8.2% in 2025. We compare headline inflation across the region and set out what is needed to track food and utility prices in detail.

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Irrigated fields in the Chüy valley
Irrigated fields in the Chüy valleyPhoto: Vmenkov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Long read

Leaving the farm: the structural shift in Kyrgyz employment

Agriculture's share of employment went from 27.8% in 2005 to 15.4% in 2025. Where did the workers go, and did productivity follow?

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Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, on the Ishim river
Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, on the Ishim riverPhoto: Alex J. Butler, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Comparison

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: measuring the income gap

At purchasing power parity, GDP per capita was Int$9,220 in Kyrgyzstan and Int$44,293 in Kazakhstan in 2025. Why PPP and nominal comparisons tell different stories.

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Tashkent's new business district
Tashkent's new business districtPhoto: Solijonovm1996, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Methodology note

Nominal, PPP and real: a guide to GDP measures

How this platform distinguishes total GDP from GDP growth and nominal from PPP measures, and why it never mixes them on one axis.

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