Aim. To study the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) in the population of Kyrgyz small towns and countryside and to analyse ethnic features of AH.Material and methods. This cross-sectional epidemiologic study was performed as a part of the international study INTEREPID. A random sample of small town and countryside residents included 1774 people. The examination included a questionnaire survey, measurement of blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference, and laboratory tests. AH prevalence was age-standardised.Results. In Kyrgyz small town and countryside residents aged 18–65 years, the prevalence of AH was 44% (33,2% in men and 46,7% in women). Among Kyrgyz participants, AH prevalence was significantly lower than in their Russian peers (36,8% vs. 46,2%, respectively). This difference was observed in women, while men did not demonstrate any marked ethnic differences in AH prevalence.Conclusion. The results obtained suggest that AH prevalence in the Kyrgyz Republic is high (with a 40–50% increase over the past 20 years) and is characterised by marked gender and ethnic differences. Further research is required to identify whether race/ethnic group could be a risk factor for AH development.