Provinces

Kyrgyzstan is divided into seven provinces (oblast) administered by appointed governors. The capital, Bishkek, is administratively an independent city (shaar). The provinces are listed below, with their administrative centre names noted in brackets):

• Batken Oblasty (Batken)
• Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek)
• Jalal-Abad Oblasty (Jalal-Abad)
• Naryn Oblasty (Naryn)
• Osh Oblasty (Osh)
• Talas Oblasty (Talas)
• Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)

Each province comprises a number of districts (rayon), administered by government-appointed officials (akim). Rural communities (ayil okmotu), consisting of up to twenty small settlements, have their own elected mayors and councils.