fight corruption, and tackle poverty. However, Bakiev’s enthusiasm to introduce democratic constitutional amendments seemed to have died away soon after his inauguration. The political shift in power did not result in significant economic improvements
in Kyrgyzstan, as the country entered economic stagnation and two-thirds of the population remained below the poverty line. International observers predict that new civil
conflicts may erupt if the country does not adopt urgent economic measures. 1
The Internet is one of the few free outlets for expressing public criticism in Kyrgyzstan, and it has been used as an instrument to mobilize protest and opposition against
the government. Kyrgyzstan’s UN global ranking for e-government for 2008 (0.4195)
has deteriorated; however, compared to its Central Asian neighbors, the country remains in second place after Kazakhstan. 2
Internet Infrastructure
Kyrgyzstan has one of the highest Internet penetration rates in Central Asia, although
the figures gathered from different sources vary widely. According to local sources,
around 7 percent of the population had access at the end of 2008 (760,664 people). 3
The ITU reports a high figure for Internet penetration for 2008 (13.8). The government
estimated that Internet penetration would reach 10 percent by 2008, 4 while the United
Nations e-Government Survey states that Internet penetration was no more than 5.6 percent for 2008. 5 Broadband users in Kyrgyzstan are estimated to be only 0.05 percent
for 2008. 6 Personal computers (PCs) remain unaffordable for the vast majority: only
1.9 percent of the population own a PC. 7 There are more than 150 public Internet
access centers in the country, including commercial Internet cafe ´s and free-access centers sponsored by NGOs. The majority (51 percent) of users access the Internet from
their workplace, 21 percent through their mobile telephone, 20 percent from Internet
KEY INDICATORS
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international dollars)
1,894
Life expectancy at birth (years)
68
Literacy rate (percent of people age 15þ)9 9
Human development index (out of 179)
122
Rule of law (out of 211)
191
Voice and accountability (out of 209)
149
Democracy index (out of 167)
114 (Hybrid regime)
Digital opportunity index (out of 181)
135
Internet users (percent of population)
13.8
Source by indicator: World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, UNDP 2008, World
Bank 2009b, World Bank 2009b, Economist Intelligence Unit 2008, ITU 2007, Miniwatts Marketing
Group 2009.
192
Kyrgyzstan
in Kyrgyzstan, as the country entered economic stagnation and two-thirds of the population remained below the poverty line. International observers predict that new civil
conflicts may erupt if the country does not adopt urgent economic measures. 1
The Internet is one of the few free outlets for expressing public criticism in Kyrgyzstan, and it has been used as an instrument to mobilize protest and opposition against
the government. Kyrgyzstan’s UN global ranking for e-government for 2008 (0.4195)
has deteriorated; however, compared to its Central Asian neighbors, the country remains in second place after Kazakhstan. 2
Internet Infrastructure
Kyrgyzstan has one of the highest Internet penetration rates in Central Asia, although
the figures gathered from different sources vary widely. According to local sources,
around 7 percent of the population had access at the end of 2008 (760,664 people). 3
The ITU reports a high figure for Internet penetration for 2008 (13.8). The government
estimated that Internet penetration would reach 10 percent by 2008, 4 while the United
Nations e-Government Survey states that Internet penetration was no more than 5.6 percent for 2008. 5 Broadband users in Kyrgyzstan are estimated to be only 0.05 percent
for 2008. 6 Personal computers (PCs) remain unaffordable for the vast majority: only
1.9 percent of the population own a PC. 7 There are more than 150 public Internet
access centers in the country, including commercial Internet cafe ´s and free-access centers sponsored by NGOs. The majority (51 percent) of users access the Internet from
their workplace, 21 percent through their mobile telephone, 20 percent from Internet
KEY INDICATORS
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international dollars)
1,894
Life expectancy at birth (years)
68
Literacy rate (percent of people age 15þ)9 9
Human development index (out of 179)
122
Rule of law (out of 211)
191
Voice and accountability (out of 209)
149
Democracy index (out of 167)
114 (Hybrid regime)
Digital opportunity index (out of 181)
135
Internet users (percent of population)
13.8
Source by indicator: World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, UNDP 2008, World
Bank 2009b, World Bank 2009b, Economist Intelligence Unit 2008, ITU 2007, Miniwatts Marketing
Group 2009.
192
Kyrgyzstan