BISHKEK — Poverty levels in Bishkek have risen, as recently announced by Kanat Tilekeyev, Deputy Director of the Institute of Public Administration and Politics at the University of Central Asia. His remarks came during the National Poverty and Inequality Development Forum, drawing attention to the economic challenges facing the capital city.

According to 24.kg News Agency, poverty in Bishkek has not only increased but has reached a figure of 35.7 percent, which is 3 percent above the national average. He provided a comparison, pointing out that the situation in Batken region, affected by border conflicts and limited arable land, has forced many to migrate in search of livelihoods.

Tilekeyev noted that in contrast to the capital, the poverty level in the Osh region is just over 20 percent, which is significantly lower. However, he emphasized the impact of remittances from migrants on these figures, stating that excluding this income would result in a poverty increase of approximately 15 percent, a phenomenon not observed in Bishkek.

The National Statistical Committee provided corroborating data, indicating that urban poverty rose by 0.7 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. As per the latest results, 34 percent of urban residents live below the poverty threshold, with rural areas slightly better at 32.6 percent. The cumulative poverty level for Kyrgyzstan at the end of 2022 stood at 33.2 percent, marginally lower by 0.1 percent from the previous year.