Fighting Poverty in Kyrgyzstan

Facts about Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a poor country. Though agriculture employs nearly half the population, it accounts for only one-fifth of the economy. Kyrgyzstan’s economy still hasn’t recovered from political and ethnic conflicts that destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. Today, over a third of the population lives below the national poverty line.

Over 40 percent of the labor force is employed in the rural economy. However, agricultural lands have been degraded by various tactics, such as overgrazing and excessive logging. Without the ability to fully realize agricultural productivity, many rural-based Kyrgyz migrate to neighboring countries, like Russia and Kazakhstan, leaving families to depend on remittances for support.

When poor people have access to financial services and life-enhancing products, they can earn more, build their assets, create jobs and cushion themselves against external shocks. Since 1995, FINCA has been helping thousands of Kyrgyz improve their lives. FINCA offers financial services, such as loans, savings and money transfers throughout the country.