The electricity intensity of the Kyrgyz economy has decreased significantly over the past five years. In 2024, the production of goods and services worth 1 million soms ($11,400) required 9,300 kWh of electricity, compared to 23,100 kWh in 2019. Thus, to generate the same volume of GDP, the economy now uses almost 2.5 times less electricity, Akchabar.kg reported.
According to the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, this indicator has decreased by almost 60% over the past five years, and by 10.6% in 2024 alone. Electricity intensity characterizes the volume of electricity required to produce goods and services of a given value and can therefore be used as an indicator of energy efficiency.
Positive trends were also observed in industry. While in 2019, for every 1 million soms of industrial output, there were 23,600 kWh, in 2024 this figure will be 14,200 kWh. The decline over five years was almost 40%, and over the past year, it was 18.9%.
In agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, electricity intensity over the same period decreased from 14,300 to 10,300 kWh per 1 million soms, or approximately 28%. However, a reverse trend has emerged: after a minimum of 9,300 kWh in 2022, the figure rose to 9,600 in 2023 and 10,300 kWh in 2024.
The decline in electricity intensity is a positive sign for the Kyrgyz economy, especially given the chronic electricity shortages and growing domestic demand. Essentially, the economy is producing more added value with less electricity consumption per unit of GDP.
However, it is important to interpret these statistics with caution. A decrease in electricity intensity does not necessarily mean a similarly significant improvement in the energy efficiency of enterprises. The indicator is also affected by changes in the economic structure, including the growth of sectors less dependent on electricity, as well as price and nominal GDP dynamics.
Agriculture requires special attention: a second consecutive year of increased electricity intensity may indicate rising energy costs in the sector. Therefore, a further reduction in the overall indicator should be accompanied by equipment modernization, the introduction of energy-saving technologies, and a reduction in electricity losses. This is especially important for Kyrgyzstan: improving the efficiency of each kilowatt-hour is effectively becoming one of the tools for reducing pressure on the energy system.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 26, 2026