Two Nations, One Common Thread: Kyrgyzstan And Belarus

Kyrgyzstan and Belarus are two countries with a variety of differences and similarities. Both countries were part of the Soviet Union and share a similar landlocked geography. They have a comparable economic structure, with a focus on agriculture, and are members of international organisations like the Commonwealth of Independent States. However, they differ in terms of population, language, and religious demographics.

Both countries have a land border with Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan and Belarus have several things in common, one of them being that they both share a land border with Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world and shares borders with several countries, including Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border is 1,212 kilometres (753 miles) long and runs from the tripoint with Uzbekistan to the tripoint with China. The border starts in the west at the tripoint with Uzbekistan in the Ugam Range and then heads northeast, past Taraz and along the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountains. The border then traces a rough arc around Kara-Balta before following the Chu River past Bishkek and Tokmok. It then leaves the Chu near the town of Kara-Bulak and proceeds eastwards across the Küngöy Ala-Too Range, north of Lake Issyk-Kul, to the tripoint with China. The Kazakh city of Almaty is situated just 29 kilometres (18 miles) north of the border, while Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, is only 16 kilometres (10 miles) south.

Kazakhstan and Belarus also share a land border, although it is much shorter than the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border. The border between the two countries is located in the west of Kazakhstan and the north of Belarus. The exact location and length of the border have changed over time, with the border being destroyed in 1995 and restored in 2014 from the Belarusian side. In 2017, Russia created a border zone on the part of the Smolensk Oblast, which forms part of its border with Belarus.

They have similar population sizes

Kyrgyzstan and Belarus have similar population sizes. As of 2024, Kyrgyzstan has a population of around 6.8 million people, with official estimates in 2019 placing the figure at 6.39 million. The population of Belarus, meanwhile, is estimated to be around 9.46 million.

Kyrgyzstan's population has been steadily growing at a rate of 1% per year, and this trend is expected to continue. Between the censuses of 1959 and 1999, the population of Kyrgyzstan increased from 2.1 million to 4.8 million. The country has a median age of 25.3 years, with 34.4% of the population under the age of 15 and 6.2% over the age of 65. It is a rural country, with only about one-third of its population living in urban areas. The capital and largest city, Bishkek, has an estimated population of 875,000. The second-largest city, Osh, has a population of around 246,000.

Belarus, on the other hand, has an older population, with a median age of 40.3 years. The country has a higher population density than Kyrgyzstan, with 46 people per square kilometre compared to 27.4 in Kyrgyzstan. Minsk, the capital of Belarus, has a population of over 2 million, making it significantly larger than Bishkek.

Both countries have experienced changes in their ethnic compositions over time. In Kyrgyzstan, the percentage of ethnic Kyrgyz has risen from around 50% in 1979 to over 70% today, while the percentage of European ethnic groups like Russians, Ukrainians, and Germans has decreased from 35% to about 10%. Belarus, meanwhile, has experienced an influx of Russians, with the percentage of the population identifying as ethnically Russian increasing over time.

They are both members of the Commonwealth of Independent States

Kyrgyzstan and Belarus are both members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional intergovernmental organisation in Eurasia. The CIS was formed in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and is its legal successor. It covers an area of over 20 million km squared and has an estimated population of almost 240 million people.

The CIS encourages cooperation in economic, political, and military affairs and has certain powers relating to the coordination of trade, finance, lawmaking, and security, including cross-border crime prevention. The CIS is not a supranational organisation and does not have powers over its member states. Instead, its role is to facilitate cooperation between members.

The CIS was founded by Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan joined shortly after, along with several other former Soviet Republics. The CIS was founded on the basis of sovereign equality of all its members, and all members are independent and equal under international law. The CIS is committed to developing and strengthening friendship, inter-ethnic accord, trust, mutual understanding, and cooperation between states.

The CIS has several councils and committees to facilitate cooperation between members, including the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Executive Committee, and the Interstate Economic Committee of the Economic Union.

They have a similar life expectancy

Kyrgyzstan and Belarus have a similar life expectancy. In Kyrgyzstan, the average life expectancy at birth is 72.05 years. In Belarus, the average life expectancy at birth is unknown, but it is estimated to be around 72 years. This similarity in life expectancy is interesting given the countries' different income levels and rankings in the Human Development Index (HDI). Kyrgyzstan is a lower-middle-income country and ranked 117th in the HDI, while Belarus is an upper-middle-income country and has a higher ranking in the HDI.

The life expectancy at birth in Kyrgyzstan has remained relatively stable in recent years, with no significant changes between 2021 and 2022. However, 2022 still represents a peak in life expectancy at birth in the country. On the other hand, Belarus's life expectancy at birth is unknown, but it is estimated to be around 72 years, which is similar to Kyrgyzstan's.

The leading causes of death in both countries include non-communicable diseases, road traffic accidents, suicide, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV. Additionally, both countries have a history of political conflict and economic challenges, which may impact the health and life expectancy of their populations.

Overall, despite their differences in income levels and HDI rankings, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus share a similar life expectancy at birth, which is an important indicator of the health and well-being of their populations.

It is worth noting that life expectancy is influenced by various factors, including healthcare, lifestyle, and environmental conditions. Therefore, it is essential to consider the specific circumstances of each country when comparing life expectancy.

They have similar levels of internet access

Kyrgyzstan and Belarus have similar levels of internet access. In Kyrgyzstan, there were 3.41 million internet users in January 2022, with an internet penetration rate of 51.1% of the total population. In Belarus, there are 11.7 million users of broadband internet access, and mobile operators cover 98.7% of the country's territory, where 99.9% of the population lives.

In Kyrgyzstan, mobile connections are more readily available than fixed-line connections, but they are slower and of lower quality. In Belarus, the export of computer services is a key segment of the services sector, accounting for 88% of the sector in 2019. The Belarusian telecom industry comprises organisations specialising in telephone technologies, television and radio broadcasting, and mobile and stationary internet access.

In Kyrgyzstan, the average price of a mobile internet connection has decreased in recent years, making it more affordable for much of the population, though fixed-line broadband prices remain steep. In Belarus, the IT industry is one of the key segments in the services sector, and the country is ranked 32nd in the ICT Development Index.

Both countries have experienced issues with internet censorship. In Belarus, civil rights and free expression are severely limited, and many opposition media outlets are broadcast from nearby countries. In Kyrgyzstan, the government enforces the Law on Protection from False Information to block news sites and force online news outlets to remove content.

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