Kyrgyz DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Kyrgyzstan · Central Asia
The Kyrgyz live in the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan and in neighbouring parts of China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and their epic of Manas, one of the longest oral poems in the world, is recognised by UNESCO. Their name goes back to the Yenisei Kyrgyz of southern Siberia, whose khaganate defeated the Uyghurs in 840 AD, and Kyrgyz is today a Kipchak Turkic language close to Kazakh. In our model, the Kyrgyz average is 49.6% Ancient Northeast Asian, 21.3% steppe, 11.6% East Asian, 5.9% Arctic Siberian and 5.8% each of Anatolian and Iranian Neolithic farmer ancestry. That is the most East Asian-leaning profile among our Central Asian pages, somewhat more than the Kazakhs (47.6% Ancient Northeast Asian, 6.2% East Asian). The neighbours lean east as well: after other Kyrgyz samples, the closest are Kazakhs from Xinjiang, while the average on our Kazakh page comes only tenth (0.0479). Iron Age Kalatasi in Xinjiang tops the ancient list (0.0367).
- Largest ancient components in our model: Ancient Northeast Asians 49.6%, Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 21.3%, East Asian 11.6%
- Closest modern population in our data: Kyrgyz (Bishkek), distance 0.0174
- Closest ancient group in our data: Xinjiang IA Kalatasi, distance 0.0367
Where does Kyrgyz DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Kyrgyz individuals sampled in Kyrgyzstan and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Kyrgyz average
The ancient make-up of the Kyrgyz average is led by Ancient Northeast Asians (49.6%), followed by Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (21.3%) and East Asian (11.6%). The Ancient Northeast Asians component reflects ancestry most common today in East Asia. The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) share (21.3%) reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC.
The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.037): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Kyrgyz
Genetically, the Kyrgyz average sits nearest to Kyrgyz (Bishkek) at 0.017, Kyrgyz (China) at 0.018 and Kirghiz (China) at 0.019. On our scale, a distance of 0.017 counts as very close. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Kirghiz (China) (0.019), Kirghiz (0.019) and Kazakh (China) (0.028). By the tenth closest (Kazakh) the distance grows to 0.048, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyrgyz (Bishkek) | 0.0174 | Very close |
| 2 | Kyrgyz (China) | 0.0175 | Very close |
| 3 | Kirghiz (China) | 0.0194 | Very close |
| 4 | Kirghiz | 0.0194 | Very close |
| 5 | Kazakh (China) | 0.0281 | Close |
| 6 | Kazakh (Xinjiang) | 0.0335 | Close |
| 7 | Kazakh (Kazakhstan Abai) | 0.0345 | Close |
| 8 | Kirghiz (Tajikistan Pamir) | 0.0353 | Close |
| 9 | Sart (Kalmyk) | 0.0473 | Close |
| 10 | Kazakh | 0.0479 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Kyrgyz
Looking back in time, the ancient sample that most resembles the Kyrgyz average is Xinjiang IA Kalatasi (Iron Age), at 0.037. Ukraine Late Medieval Crimean Khanate Mamay-Gora (Nogai, Central Asian Turkic Profile) and Russia Samara Early Medieval Malaya Ryazan' Novinki (East Asian-Mixed Profile) come next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xinjiang IA Kalatasi | Iron Age | 0.0367 |
| 2 | Ukraine Late Medieval Crimean Khanate Mamay-Gora (Nogai, Central Asian Turkic Profile) | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0371 |
| 3 | Russia Samara Early Medieval Malaya Ryazan' Novinki (East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0447 |
| 4 | Kazakhstan Early Modern Kuygenzhar | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.0496 |
| 5 | Xinjiang HP Jirentaigoukou | Historical period | 0.0527 |
| 6 | Mongolia Late Medieval Mongol Period (Turanian+Han-Mixed Profile) | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0531 |
| 7 | Xinjiang HP Baiyanghe | Historical period | 0.0544 |
| 8 | Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0544 |
| 9 | Xinjiang HP Ayousaigoukou | Historical period | 0.0574 |
| 10 | Mongolia Early Medieval Uygur Period (Turanian+Han-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0590 |
Ancient DNA from Kyrgyzstan
Our ancient DNA database holds 98 individuals excavated in present-day Kyrgyzstan, dated from about 2,129 BC to 1811 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are R1a (15), J2a (6) and Q1b (6), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are C4 (7), D4 (5) and U5 (5). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Kyrgyz population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Kyrgyzstan
- Genomic insights into the Iron Age Saka of Boz-Barmak, Kyrgyzstan (2026)
- Genomic insights into the Iron Age Saka of Boz-Barmak, Kyrgyzstan (2026)
- Genetic insights into Iron Age Saka culture: Ancient DNA analysis of the Boz-Barmak burial ground, Kyrgyzstan (2025)
- Ancient genomic time transect from the Central Asian Steppe unravels the history of the Scythians (2021)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 98 from Kyrgyzstan.
Compare yourself with Kyrgyz
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Kyrgyz average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Kyrgyz and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Kyrgyz individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Kyrgyz. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Kyrgyz average. Your own DNA has its own story: Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people of Central Asian / Silk Road Turkic ancestry: ancient regional core (Botai, Andronovo, BMAC Bactria-Margiana, Saka/Scythian, Wusun, Kushan Empire, Xiongnu, Turkic Khaganate, Golden Horde) versus non-regional...
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Kyrgyz?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Kyrgyz average is about 49.6% Ancient Northeast Asians, 21.3% Steppe herders (Yamnaya) and 11.6% East Asian. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Kyrgyz?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Kyrgyz (Bishkek)), the closest modern populations to the Kyrgyz average are Kirghiz (China), Kirghiz and Kazakh (China). The closest ancient matches are Xinjiang IA Kalatasi, Ukraine Late Medieval Crimean Khanate Mamay-Gora (Nogai, Central Asian Turkic Profile) and Russia Samara Early Medieval Malaya Ryazan' Novinki (East Asian-Mixed Profile).
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Kyrgyz?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Kyrgyz average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Kyrgyz ancestry?
For the Kyrgyz average, the regional report to choose is Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.