Kemin (Kyrgyz: Кемин району, romanized: Kemin rayonu) is the northeast panhandle district of Chüy Region in northern Kyrgyzstan. Its area is 3,533 square kilometres (1,364 sq mi), making it the largest district of Chüy Region, and its resident population was 48,360 in 2021. Its administrative headquarters is at Kemin. The district is located in the Chong-Kemin Valley, the Kichi-Kemin Valley and the eastern part of the Chüy Valley. It borders with Kazakhstan in the north, Chüy District in the west, and Issyk-Kul Region in the south and east.

Topography

The western part of the district is flat with altitudes 1000–1600 msl, and the eastern part is mountainous.

Climate

The climate is sharply continental with cold winters and cool summers; January temperatures averaging −5 °C to −10 °C, July +17 °C to +18 °C. Average precipitation is from 200 mm in flatlands, and up to 600–700 mm in mountains.

Hydrology

Large rivers in the district include the Chu, Chong-Kemin, Kichi-Kemin and others. There are also several small lakes: Chong-Kelter, Chelek and Kosh-Kel

Demographics

The population of Kemin District, according to the Population and Housing Census of 2009, was 44,118 which is second lowest among districts of the Chüy Region. Average density is 12 people per square kilometer. Some 36% of population lives in urban areas, and 64% in rural ones.

Historical populations in Kemin District

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1970	54,196	—
1979	56,917	+0.55%
1989	61,906	+0.84%
1999	53,144	−1.51%
2009	44,118	−1.84%
2021	48,360	+0.77%
Note: resident population; Sources:

Ethnic composition

According to the 2009 Census, the ethnic composition (de jure population) of the Kemin District was:

Ethnic group	Population	Proportion of Kemin District population
Kyrgyzs	37,724	85.5%
Russians	4,785	10.8%
Kazakhs	550	1.2%
Dungans	170	0.4%
Ukrainians	170	0.4%
Tatars	157	0.4%
Uzbeks	133	0.3%
other groups	429	1%

Populated places

In total, Kemin District include 2 towns, 1 urban-type settlement and 34 settlements in 11 rural communities (ayyl aymagy). Each rural community can consist of one or several villages. The towns, urban-type settlements, rural communities and villages in the Kemin District are:

1. town Orlovka
2. town Kemin
3. urban-type settlement Bordu
4. Ak-Tüz (seat: Ak-Tüz)
5. Almaluu (seat: Kyzyl-Suu; incl. Almaluu and Bordu)
6. Boroldoy (seat: Boroldoy)
7. Chong-Kemin (seat: Shabdan; incl. Kalmak-Ashuu, Kyzyl-Bayrak, Tar-Suu and Törtkül)
8. Chym-Korgon (seat: Chym-Korgon; incl. Novomikhaylovka and Samansur)
9. Duysheev (seat: Kichi-Kemin)
10. Ilyich (seat: Ilyich; incl. Jangy-Jol and Jol-Bulak (Sovetskoye))
11. Jangy-Alysh (seat: Jangy-Alysh)
12. Kara-Bulak (seat: Kara-Bulak; incl. Altymysh, Beysheke and Chüy)
13. Kök-Oyrok (seat: Kayyngdy; incl. Korool-Döbö and Tegirmenti)
14. Kyzyl-Oktyabr (seat: Kyzyl-Oktyabr; incl. Ak-Beket, Jel-Aryk, Dorozhnoye, Kashkeleng, Kyz-Kyya, Sasyk-Bulak, Udarnik and Cholok)