Statistical information Kazakhstan 1996

Kazakhstan in the World
top of pageBackground: As a republic within the USSR (1920-91), Kazakhstan suffered greatly from Stalinist purges, from environmental damage, and saw the ethnic Russian portion of its population rise to 37% while other non-Kazakhs made up almost 20%. Current issues include the pace of market reform and privatization; fair and free elections and democratic reform; ethnic differences between Russians and Kazakhs; environmental problems; and how to convert the country's abundant energy resources into a better standard of living.
top of pageLocation: Central Asia, northwest of
ChinaGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 2,717,300 km²
Land: 2,669,800 km²
Comparative: slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: Total 12,012 km, China 1,533 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km,
Russia 6,846 km,
Turkmenistan 379 km,
Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Note: Kazakstan borders the
Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the
Caspian Sea (1,894 km)
Maritime claims: None; landlocked
Climate: Continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Terrain: Extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oasis and desert in Central Asia
Lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
Highest point: Zhengis Shingy 7,439 m
ElevationNatural resources:
Major deposits of petroleum
Coal
Iron ore
Manganese
Chrome ore
Nickel
Cobalt
Copper
Molybdenum
Lead
Zinc
Bauxite
Gold
Uranium
Land useArable land: 15%
Permanent crops: NEGL%
Permanent pastures: 57%
Forests and woodland: 4%
Other: 24%
Irrigated land: 23,080 km² (1990)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
16,916,463 (July 1996 est.)
17,376,615 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:-0.15% (1996 est.)
0.62% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Kazakstani(s)
Adjective: Kazakstani
Ethnic groups:
Kazak (Qazaq) 41.9%
Russian 37%
Ukrainian 5.2%
German 4.7%
Uzbek 2.1%
Tatar 2%
Other 7.1% (1991 official data)
Languages: Kazakh (Qazaqz) official language spoken by over 40% of population,
Russian (language of interethnic communication) spoken by two-thirds of population and used in everyday business
Religions:
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years:30% (male 2,576,204; female 2,486,937) (July 1996 est.)
30% (male 2,664,952; female 2,589,509) (July 1995 est.)
15-64 years:63% (male 5,203,035; female 5,451,404) (July 1996 est.)
63% (male 5,371,563; female 5,531,519) (July 1995 est.)
65 years and over:7% (male 384,341; female 814,542) (July 1996 est.)
7% (male 398,172; female 820,900) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate:
-0.15% (1996 est.)
0.62% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
19.02 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
19.26 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
9.65 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
7.93 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
-10.88 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
-5.11 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salinization from faulty irrigation practices
Current issues Natural hazards: NA
International agreements: party to_
Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified_Desertification
International agreements note: Landlocked
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
All ages:0.93 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:63.2 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
40 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 64.09 years (1996 est.); 68.25 years (1995 est.)
Male: 58.56 years (1996 est.); 63.61 years (1995 est.)
Female: 69.9 years (1996 est.); 73.13 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.36 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1989)
Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 96%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Kazakstan
Conventional short form: Kazakstan
Local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
Local short form: Qazaqstan (
Pronunciation)
Former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type: Republic
Capital:
Astana, since december 1997 (until may 1998 this city was called Aqmala; the former capital was
AlmatyAdministrative divisions: 19 oblystar (singular_oblys) and 1 city (qalalar, singular_qala)*; Almaty Qalasy*, Almaty Oblysy, Aqmola Oblysy, Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Kokshetau Oblysy, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Pavlodar Oblysy, Semey Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavl), Taldyqorghan Oblysy, Torghay Oblysy, Zhambyl Oblysy, Zhezqazghan Oblysy
Note: Names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from oblys name
Dependent areasIndependence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Constitution: Adopted 28 January 1993; has been amended in April 1995 and August 1995
Legal system: Based on civil law system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (since 22 February 1990) was elected chairman of the Supreme Soviet 22 February 1990, and president by popular election 1 December 1991; was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 2000); results_Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed; note_President NAZARBAYEV's term was extended to the year 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995
Head of government: Prime Minister Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since 12 October 1994) and First Deputy Prime Ministers Nigmatzhan ISINGARIN (since 12 October 1994) were appointed by the president
Cabinet:Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
President NAZARBAYEV has expanded his presidential powers by decree:only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve parliament, call referenda at his discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
Legislative branch: Bicameral Parliament Senate:Elections (indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be held NA 1999; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(47 total) "independent" state officials 25, progovernment parties 11, other parties 2, vacant 9 (of which 7 are to be nominated by the president) Majilis:Elections last held 9 December and 23 December 1995 (next to be held NA; percent of vote by party NA; seats_(67 total) seats by party NA; note_172 candidates were forwarded by parties and social organizations and 113 candidates were independents
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representationFlag description
: Sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Kazakstan, the second largest of the former Soviet states in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil-fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production. Kazakstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a relatively large machine building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the collapse of demand for Kazakstan's traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since 1991, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. The government has pursued a moderate program of economic reform and privatization, resulting in a gradual lifting of state controls over economic activity and a shifting of assets into the private sector. Nevertheless, government control over key sectors of the economy remains strong. Moreover, continued lack of pipeline transportation for expanded oil exports has closed off a likely source of economic recovery.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate:
-8.9% (1995 est.)
-25% (1994 est.)
Real gdp per capita:
purchasing power parity_ $2,700 (1995 est.)
$3,200 (1994 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: Accounts for 20% of GDP; employs about 28.5% of the labor force; grain, mostly spring wheat; meat, cotton, wool
Industries:
Accounts for 41.5% of net national product
Extractive industries (oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur), iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate -8% (1995; -28% (1994)
Labor force: 7.356 million
By occupation Industry and construction: 31%
By occupation Agriculture and forestry: 26%
By occupation Other: 43% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 1.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers (September 1995 est.), 1.1% (1994)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: NA
Expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: Calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports:
total value. $5.1 billion (1995)
$3.1 billion (1994)
Commodities:Oil
Ferrous and nonferrous metals
Chemicals
Grain
Wool
Meat
Coal
Partners:ImportsTotal value:$3.9 billion (1995)
$3.5 billion (1994)
Commodities:Machinery and parts
Industrial materials
Oil and gas
Partners:Russia and other former Soviet republics
China
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $2.5 billion (of which $1.3 billion to Russia)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricityCapacity: 17,380,000 kW
Production: 65.7 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 3,700 kWh (1995 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 2.2 million telephones; telephone service is poor; Almaty has 184,000 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: land line and microwave radio relay
International: international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations_1 Intelsat and a new satellite earth station established at Almaty of unknown type
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 352
With paved runways over 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 23
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 11
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With paved runways under 914 m: 9
With paved runways With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 9
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 65
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 190
HeliportsPipelines: Crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural gas 3,480 km (1992)
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 4,002 km on the Syrdariya River and Ertis River
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: Illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Southwest Asia