What is the currency of Kyrgyzstan?

The currency of Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyz som.

Kyrgyzstan introduced the som on 10 May 1993, making it one of the former Soviet republics to leave the ruble zone after the Soviet Union’s collapse. The new currency replaced the Russian ruble at a rate of 1 som for 200 rubles. Its international currency code is KGS, and the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic issues it.

The som is divided into 100 tıyın, although everyday transactions mainly use som-denominated coins and banknotes. Kyrgyzstan initially issued only banknotes; circulation coins appeared in 2008. Notes feature Kyrgyz historical figures, cultural imagery and national symbols.

The word som, also written soum or sum in related Turkic languages, means “pure,” especially in the sense of pure silver or gold. That linguistic connection explains why similar names appear in neighboring currencies. The Kyrgyz som is distinct from Tajikistan’s somoni, Kazakhstan’s tenge and Uzbekistan’s sum.