Kyrgyzstan is divided into seven provinces (singular: област - oblast, plural: областтар - oblasttar). The capital, Bishkek, is administratively an independent city (shaar), as well as being the capital of Chuy Province. Osh also has shaar status.
The provinces, with their areas, census populations and capitals, are as follows:
| Name | Number on map |
Area (km2) | Population Census 1999 |
Population Census 2009 |
Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishkek City (shaar) | 1 | 127.3 | 787,700 | 865,100 | Bishkek |
| Batken Province (oblast) | 2 | 17,023.9 | 380,200 | 380,300 | Batken |
| Chuy Province (oblast) | 3 | 18,684.4 | 772,200 | 790,500 | Bishkek |
| Jalal-Abad Province (oblast) | 4 | 33,647.5 | 869,500 | 938,600 | Jalal-Abad |
| Naryn Province (oblast) | 5 | 46,706.9 | 248,700 | 245,300 | Naryn |
| Osh Province (oblast) | 6 | 29,165.1 | 940,600 | 1,000,000 | Osh |
| Talas Province (oblast) | 7 | 11,445.9 | 200,300 | 219,600 | Talas |
| Issyk Kul Province (oblast) | 8 | 43,114.0 | 415,500 | 425,100 | Karakol |
| Osh City (shaar) | 9 | 236,000 | 243,200 | Osh | |
| Totals | 199,945.0 | 4,850,700 | 5,107,700 |
Each province is further divided into raions (districts), administered by government-appointed officials. Rural communities (aiyl okmotus) consisting of up to twenty small settlements have their own elected mayors and councils.