Largest Cities, Towns and Urban Settlements by Population in Kyrgyzstan

35 cities, towns and urban settlements in Kyrgyzstan with 5,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by population at the census of March 25, 2022 (by National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic).

RankCity, Town or Urban SettlementAlso Known AsNative NamePopulation
1BishkekBiškek, FrunzeБишкек1,103,562
2OshOšОш315,881
3Jalal-AbadŽalal-AbatЖалал-Абад117,533
4KarakolPrževal'skКаракол77,241
5Tokmok-Токмок73,433
6OzgonUzgenѲзгөн61,773
7Bazar-Korgon-Базар-Коргон58,383
8Kara-Balta-Кара-Балта52,499
9BalykchyBalykčy, Issyk-Kul', Rybač'eБалыкчы51,487
10Kyzyl-KiyaKyzyl-KyjaКызыл-Кыя44,012
11Naryn-Нарын41,681
12Talas-Талас41,067
13Kara-Suu-Кара-Суу27,013
14Kant-Кант23,249
15Kara-KolKara-KulКара-Көл23,048
16RazzakovIsfanaРаззаков22,764
17Toktogul-Токтогул20,852
18Majluu-SuuMajli-SajМайлуу-Суу20,071
19Batken-Баткен19,390
20Tash-KumyrTaš-Kômùr, Taš-KumyrТаш-Көмүр18,868
21Kochkor-AtaKočkor-AtaКочкор-Ата18,114
22KerbenKaravanКербен16,769
23Nookat-Ноокат15,891
24SuluktuSuljukta, SuluktaСүлүктү13,702
25Cholpon-AtaČolpon-AtaЧолпон-Ата12,552
26Kok-DzhangakKôk-ŽaṇgakКөк-Жаңгак12,234
27Shamaldy-SayŠamaldy-SajШамалды-Сай11,523
28Chong-ArykČoṇ-ArykЧоң-Арык11,022
29KhaidarkanAjdarken, ChajdarkanАйдаркен10,860
30KoshbulakKošbulak, VostočnyiВосточный10,458
31KadamjayKadamžaj, FrunzeКадамжай10,441
32ShopokovŠopokovШопоков10,018
33KaindyKajyṇdyКайыңды10,006
34KeminBystrovkaКемин8,679
35Orlovka-Орловка7,200

Source: National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (2022 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff.

Why don't these match official city populations?Official figures typically count only the population within administrative boundaries. UN urban area figures cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.

Tokyo

33,338,852

Urban area

9,953,160

23 wards

Essen

2,709,375

Urban area

573,618

City of Essen

Ankara

3,630,865

Urban area

5,186,002

Metropolitan municipality

What counts as an urban area? The UN uses satellite imagery to map built-up land, and treats each continuous stretch of built-up land as an urban area. This means that urban areas can extend beyond official city boundaries, and may include multiple cities and towns within a single urban area.

Can an urban area be smaller than its city? Yes. While most cities have urban areas larger than their administrative boundaries, some cities have extensive administrative limits that include sparsely populated areas.

12 urban areas in Kyrgyzstan with 50,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.

RankUrban AreaPopulation Estimate (2026)Yearly ChangeLand Area (km²)Density (P/km²)World RankProjections (2030)Projections (2050)
1Bishkek1,356,428+0.99%1538,8893771,409,9501,549,358
2Osh510,947+3.04%905,6521,093573,136695,260
3Jalal-Abad131,509+2.56%423,1164,702144,970173,466
4Özgön92,104+1.20%194,7976,80796,516113,499
5Suzak90,181+1.99%243,7896,96797,342124,818
6Nookat78,324+8.87%243,2638,077106,083135,167
7Kök-Moynok Eki73,697+6.02%8.408,7738,56091,450225,505
8Kara-Balta70,922+2.05%302,3338,86276,73194,960
9Bazar-Korgon65,270+1.79%193,3649,62069,95085,078
10Ak-Bulun64,456+1.85%115,8609,75269,224100,212
11Kyzyl-Kyya56,400+2.17%173,24111,05661,29873,518
12Tokmok52,850+1.60%202,61611,74156,24082,574

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision, Online Edition.

See also