Remittances to Kyrgyzstan reached $3.5 billion in 2025, equivalent to 15.4% of the country's GDP, according to a report by the Eurasian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), 24.kg reports.
The EBRD data shows a 16.8% increase compared to 2024. The primary influx originated from Russia, where transfers grew by 16.1%. Several factors contributed to this surge:
- Ruble Appreciation: The significant increase in dollar terms was fueled by a 24% year-on-year strengthening of the Russian ruble against the U.S. dollar by the end of 2025. During this period, the ruble reached its highest value since mid-2022.
- Som Stability: In contrast, the Kyrgyz som remained remarkably stable, weakening by only 0.5% against the dollar over the past year.
The increased inflow of funds acted as a major catalyst for domestic demand. As a result, the volume of internal trade in Kyrgyzstan grew by 17.8% by the end of the year.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 17, 2026