On July 11, World Population Day is celebrated worldwide. This year’s theme is Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. It is a reminder of the importance of advancing gender equality to help realize the dreams of women and girls, the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan reported to CentralAsia.news.
In the past decade, Kyrgyzstan has experienced rapid population growth (2.0-2.1 percent per year). In 2020-2022, this rate has fallen to 1.7-1.8 percent. This is due to excess deaths associated with COVID-19, as well as a decline in birth rates.
According to the Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic, 150,200 births were registered in 2022, approximately equally for boys and girls. The average age at which women give birth stood at 28.1 years. Most children are born to women in their 20s and 30s. However, in recent years, the birth rate for women over that age has risen.
Also, the birth rate for girls of premarital age (15-17 years old) has decreased from 3.6 children per 1,000 girls in 2021 to 3.0 children in 2022. The highest birth rate for young girls is recorded in Chui and Talas Regions.
