By Farrukh Irnazarov

Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program
Silk Road Paper
December 2025

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Executive Summary:

Central Asian youth between the ages of 15 and 29 are driving the region’s digital transformation, though opportunities are unequal across the region. This comparative study of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan draws on a 468-respondent youth survey and extensive secondary data to map five dimensions of the online landscape.

Access and Devices. Mobile internet has eclipsed all other channels: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan report 89 to 93 percent general adoption rate, while Tajikistan lags at 57 percent. Registered mobile service lines exceed population numbers in every country—reaching 159 percent in Kyrgyzstan—indicating that smartphones are the primary tool for study, work, and leisure.

Platforms and Culture. Telegram is the region’s primary newswire, while Instagram and YouTube shape identity and TikTok dominates leisure time. √ now trails social media as the main news source for Central Asian youth.

Socio-Economic Payoff. Digital skills open doors to remote work and start-ups — Kazakh ventures drew $71 million in venture capital and Uzbek ventures drew $17 million in 2024 — yet rural youth still face slow service and limited access to devices, widening the divide.

Literacy Gap. Nine in ten youths say accuracy matters, but barely half fact-check routinely, leaving them exposed to propaganda and fake news, despite growing efforts by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide education on the topic.

Structural Limits. Cheap mobile data masks deeper barriers: expensive fixed broadband, patchy rural coverage, and renewed censorship hamper innovation and voice.

Country Snapshots. Kazakhstan leads the region in digital infrastructure, but risks repeat shutdowns; Uzbekistan saw growth after 2016 yet still grapples with red tape; Kyrgyzstan’s once-vibrant online sphere is tightening; and Tajikistan remains the most constrained.

What Works. The priorities are clear: complete last-mile broadband infrastructure, support an open and free internet, embed media-savvy curricula into education, and streamline start-up regulation and funding—especially for young women and rural creators. Achieving these goals will turn today’s mobile-native generation into the region’s next growth engine.

On January 29, 2025, the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council and the Times of Central Asia hosted a webinar "New Initiatives from Kyrgyzstan" on the evolving bilateral relationship between the United States and Kyrgyzstan. Dr. S. Frederick Starr, Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council, led a panel of experts. The discussion focused on economic cooperation, security, cultural and educational exchanges, and both countries' commitment to democratic values. Together, they explored Kyrgyzstan's diplomatic milestones, economic collaborations, and its rising profile in Central Asia. The discussion emphasized the strengthening ties between the two countries and their joint efforts to promote growth and stability in Central Asia. A recording of the full webinar is available on YouTube.

Kyrgyzstan is the second least populated country in Central Asia and has played a significant role in the region since gaining independence. It pioneered a bold parliamentary system of government and has worked diligently to make this system effective.

In the discussion, it was noted that the current president of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Zhaparov, is very active on all fronts. While he has transformed the country's governance to a presidential system, democratic processes continue with regular elections and pre-election campaigns.

As noted by Dr. Starr, President Zhaparov has successfully addressed important resource-related issues in the country. He fulfilled his promise to return the Kumtor mine to Kyrgyz ownership. He has also taken significant initiatives regarding water resources, overseeing various dams and power plants that are either operational or in development.

"A great credit to President Zhaparov is his efforts to fight corruption," states Dr. Starr.

Transportation is another key area of Zhaparov's work. He has actively advanced the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. Under his leadership, Kyrgyzstan has accelerated bilateral negotiations and pushed forward the project's implementation - a significant step that previous administrations had not achieved. Dr. Starr also highlighted Zhaparov's success in bridging the historical divide between the country's northern and southern regions through new transportation infrastructure. His presidency has seen the opening of airports in both regions, along with new road networks that have better integrated the country than ever before. The President has made significant progress in reducing the traditional north-south rivalry and confrontation that has historically hindered Kyrgyzstan's development. These improvements have created new opportunities for development in the south, particularly in the Ferghana Valley region.

Watch the video of the event below.