Report on human development in the Kyrgyz Republic released in 2024

In 2024, UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic released the new National Human Development Report (NHDR), the culmination of a long-term, inclusive, and participatory analytical process. Far more than a standalone publication, the NHDR 2024 reflects sustained dialogue, evidence generation, and collaboration among government institutions, academia, civil society, independent experts, the private sector, UN agencies, and development partners. Together, these efforts have shaped a shared understanding of how energy systems, climate action, and human development intersect in the Kyrgyz context.

A distinctive feature of the NHDR 2024 is its strong empirical foundation. As part of the report’s preparation, UNDP conducted a dedicated household survey that generated unique, previously unavailable data on energy vulnerability and living conditions. The survey captured the everyday realities faced by households, including the specific challenges experienced by residents of new residential settlements in Chui and Jalal-Abad oblasts in accessing reliable, affordable, and clean energy. It also collected detailed information on household living standards, energy and fuel expenditures, heating practices, awareness and use of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, and perceptions of energy-related risks and opportunities.

The NHDR 2024 focuses on energy vulnerability and the human dimensions of the energy transition, examining how access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy can act as a powerful driver of well-being, resilience, and opportunity. The report shows that the Kyrgyz Republic has made remarkable progress in human development over recent decades, moving into the group of countries with high human development. Crucially, the analysis demonstrates that further improvements in the Human Development Index (HDI) are achievable by addressing energy-related constraints that continue to affect people’s lives—particularly in rural, mountainous, and peri-urban areas.

Rather than viewing energy challenges solely as constraints, the report frames them as opportunities for inclusive growth. By strengthening energy efficiency, modernizing buildings, expanding renewable and decentralized energy solutions, and improving the reliability and affordability of supply, the Kyrgyz Republic can simultaneously enhance living standards, improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and unlock new pathways for sustainable economic growth. These measures have the potential not only to lower household energy costs but also to create decent green jobs, stimulate regional development, and increase productivity across sectors.

A central pillar of the NHDR 2024 is the concept of a just, people-centered energy transition. Drawing on both analytical modeling and household-level evidence, the report highlights how climate and energy reforms—when designed with social equity at their core—can become catalysts for higher human development. Aligning energy policies with social protection, skills development, gender equality, and regional development strategies ensures that the transition expands people’s choices and capabilities, particularly for vulnerable groups.

The NHDR 2024 also plays a forward-looking role in national policymaking. Its findings directly inform and complement key strategic frameworks, including the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and the Kyrgyz Republic’s Carbon Neutrality Concept by 2050. By identifying where climate action, energy reform, and human development reinforce one another, the report provides a practical roadmap for a fair, inclusive, and resilient transition that can sustain progress in human development over the coming decades.

What is a National Human Development Report? 

Human Development Reports are UNDP’s flagship analytical products, introduced in the 1990s to promote a people-centered approach to development. They go beyond income-based measures by focusing on the expansion of human capabilities and opportunities, as reflected in indicators such as health, education, and living standards. The Human Development Index (HDI), developed within this framework, is now one of the most widely used tools globally to track human development progress.

National Human Development Reports are country-led and participatory by design. They combine rigorous analysis with broad stakeholder engagement, serving as platforms for dialogue, learning, and policy innovation. NHDRs translate global development concepts into nationally owned strategies, helping countries identify practical pathways to reduce inequalities, strengthen resilience, and accelerate sustainable development.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, NHDRs have previously explored themes such as overall human development trends, democratic governance, development in mountainous regions, civil society, youth, local self-governance, and trade. The 2024 report builds on this legacy by positioning energy not as a constraint, but as a strategic enabler of human development—placing people, equity, and opportunity at the center of the country’s energy transition.

For media inquiries, please contact Ainagul Abdrakhmanova, Communications Officer at ainagul.abdrakhmanova@undp.org