Understanding the Kyrgyz Som and Currency

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What is the Kyrgyz Som?

The som (symbol: ⃀, code: KGS) is what we use as money here in Kyrgyzstan. The word "som" actually means "pure" in our language and several other Turkic languages - it refers to pure silver or gold, similar to how British "sterling" originally meant pure silver. One som is divided into 100 tyiyn, which are the smaller coins you get as change.

A Brief History

We got our own currency on May 10, 1993. Actually, Kyrgyzstan was the first among all former Soviet republics to introduce its own independent currency! Before that, people were still using Russian rubles. When the som first came out, the exchange rate was 1 som for 200 rubles.

Getting our own currency was really important for the country's independence. The first banknotes had images from the Kyrgyz national epic "Manas" as a symbol of independence. Later on, they changed the design to feature historical and cultural figures on the front, with beautiful Kyrgyz landmarks on the back.

The Money We Use

Coins were introduced in January 2008. They're minted in Kazakhstan and come in these denominations:

  • 10 tyiyn

  • 50 tyiyn

  • 1 som

  • 3 som

  • 5 som

  • 10 som

All coins have the national emblem and traditional symbols like the leather bottle called "kookor" with the protective "tumar" symbol.

Banknotes currently come in:

  • 20 som

  • 50 som

  • 100 som

  • 200 som

  • 500 som

  • 1,000 som

  • 2,000 som

  • 5,000 som

Each banknote shows important historical figures from our culture on the front and landmarks or cultural symbols on the back.

Exchange Rates

Exchange rates show how much one currency is worth compared to another. As of late 2024, one US dollar equals about 87 som. So if something costs 10 dollars in America, you would need around 870 som here.

Exchange rates change every day based on supply and demand in international currency markets. When more people want to buy som, its value goes up. When demand is lower, the value drops. This matters especially when traveling abroad or buying imported goods.

Why Financial Literacy Matters

The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan, working with organizations like the OSCE, has been promoting financial literacy among young people. Between 2022 and 2025, more than 3,000 students took part in financial literacy programs across all regions. These programs teach budgeting, saving, banking services, investment basics, and safe use of digital financial platforms.

According to OECD surveys, Kyrgyzstan is improving in financial literacy. The financial behavior indicator went from 11.1 in 2017 to 11.6 in 2021. Understanding your national currency is really the first step toward making smart financial decisions that can improve your life and help you reach your goals.

Practical Tips

  • Always check exchange rates before traveling since they fluctuate

  • Keep your money in good condition - damaged bills might not be accepted

  • Learn what real banknotes look like to spot counterfeits

  • Remember that currency values affect prices of imported goods

  • Start learning about money early to make better decisions throughout life

Video

Kyrgyz Language Tutorials Episode 70: National Currency

History of the Development of the National Currency On May 10, 1993, during a difficult time for the republic, Kyrgyzstan introduced its own national currency - the som. As experts now note, this was not an end in itself for our country. There arose a necessity to conduct our own independent economic policy. Thus, in 1993, the first banknotes appeared in denominations of one, ten, fifty and one, five, twenty soms. And already in 1994, banknote samples were issued into circulation, depicting outstanding historical figures, prominent figures of culture and art. The bills were in denominations of one, five, ten, twenty, fifty and one hundred soms. The five-som banknote depicts the first Kyrgyz ballerina - Bibisara Bishenalieva. She entered the history of national art as the founder of Kyrgyz ballet. This portrait was probably drawn by someone later. This was when in '58 he left..

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