Over the past five years, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises in Kyrgyzstan has risen by almost 60 per cent

In Kyrgyzstan, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises has increased by almost 60 per cent over the past five years. Whilst there were 17,000 such enterprises in the country in 2021, by the end of 2025 their number had reached 27,300. Thus, over the course of four years, the economy has gained more than 10,000 enterprises.

According to the statistics, the most significant growth occurred in 2024. In that year, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises rose by 5,300, or 26.5 per cent, in one go — from 20,200 to 25,500.

In 2025, the rate of growth slowed. Over the course of the year, the number of enterprises increased by 1,739, or 6.8 per cent, reaching 27,258.

Small enterprises make up the bulk of the sector. Their number rose from 16,252 in 2021 to 26,031 in 2025. The increase over the four-year period amounted to 60.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, the number of medium-sized enterprises grew more slowly — from 798 to 1,227, or by 53.8 per cent. However, in 2025, 322 medium-sized enterprises were established in the country in a single year, representing a 35.6 per cent increase year-on-year, whilst the number of small enterprises rose by only 5.8 per cent.

Regional data also show that entrepreneurial activity is unevenly distributed across the country. A significant number of sole traders are concentrated in the Osh Region – over 91,000, the Chui Region – 66,600, and the Issyk-Kul Region – 57,700.

That said, smallholder and family farms remain the largest category of small and medium-sized enterprises in the regions. There are 136,600 of them in the Osh Region and nearly 107,000 in the Jalal-Abad Region.