Administrative-territorial division of the Kyrgyz SSR as of January 1, 1972.
The Kyrgyz SSR covered an area of 198.5 thousand km². Location — northeast Central Asia, mainly within the western and central parts of the Tien Shan. Kyrgyzstan, like modern Kyrgyzstan, borders Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest, and China to the southeast and east. Initially, three regions and eight districts of republican subordination were formed, along with 15 cities (there were three in 1913) and 35 urban-type settlements.
The beginning of socialist transformations in Kyrgyzstan was accompanied by changes in social relations, traditions, and the way of life of the Kyrgyz: nomads began to settle down, the state provided them with material assistance, pre-revolutionary laws that placed Kyrgyz women in a position of servitude were abolished, legal equality between men and women was established (1917), and polygamy and kalym were prohibited (1921). The work of the Councils was being established. In 1921-1922, in Kyrgyzstan, except for certain areas, the transition from revolutionary committees to elected authorities — executive committees — was carried out.
On November 21, 1939, five regions were established in the territory of Kyrgyzstan: Osh, Issyk-Kul, Tien Shan (Naryn), Jalal-Abad, and Frunze.