Osh City (Kyrgyzstan )

Osh is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country and often referred to as the "capital of the south".  It is the oldest city in the country (estimated to be more than 3,000 years old) and has served as the administrative center of Osh Region since 1939. The city has an ethnically mixed population of about 281,900 in 2017, comprising Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Russians, Tajiks, and other smaller ethnic groups. It is about 5 km from the Uzbekistan border.

Osh has an important outdoor bazaar that has been taking place on the same spot for the past 2000 years, and was a major market along the Silk Road. The city's industrial base, established during the Soviet period, largely collapsed after the break-up of the Soviet Union and has recently only started to revive.

Osh is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan after the capital city of Bishkek. At the census of 2009 the city population amounted to 258,111, of which 25,295 resided in the 11 villages that are administered by the City of Osh. Of the total population, 57.9% were Uzbeks, 34.2% Kyrgyz, 2.5% Russians, 2.2% Turks, 1.1% Tatars and 2.1% other nationalities.  As of 1.01.2021, its population was estimated at 322 164 inhabitants whom 29 358 lived in the 11 villages.  The population of the built-up (or metro) area in the surrounding Kara-Suu District and in neighbouring Uzbékistan is estimated at about 400,000 inhabitants.

The city is among the oldest settlements in Central Asia. Osh was known as early as the 8th century as a center for silk production along the Silk Road. The famous trading route crossed Alay Mountains to reach Kashgar to the east.