top of pageBackground: Ethnic Kazakhs a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated to the region by the 13th century were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural 'Virgin Lands' program Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Non-Muslim ethnic minorities departed Kazakhstan in large numbers from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s and a national program has repatriated about a million ethnic Kazakhs back to Kazakhstan. These trends have allowed Kazakhs to become the titular majority again. This dramatic demographic shift has also undermined the previous religious diversity and made the country more than 70 percent Muslim. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states largely due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; managing Islamic revivalism; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; diversifying the economy outside the oil gas and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness; developing a multiparty parliament and advancing political and social reform; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea now split into two bodies of water (1070 km) and the Caspian Sea (1894 km)
Climate: continental cold winters and hot summers arid and semiarid
Terrain: vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south
Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum natural gas coal iron ore manganese chrome ore nickel cobalt copper molybdenum lead zinc bauxite gold uranium
GeographyNote: world's largest landlocked country; Russia leases approximately 6,000 km² of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004 Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2,050
top of pageEthnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.1% Russian 23.7% Uzbek 2.9% Ukrainian 2.1% Uighur 1.4% Tatar 1.3% German 1.1% other 4.4% (2009 est.)
Languages: Kazakh (official Qazaq) 74% (understand spoken language) Russian (official used in everyday business designated the 'language of interethnic communication') 94.4% (understand spoken language) (2009 est.)
Religions: Muslim 70.2% Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox) other 0.2% atheist 2.8% unspecified 0.5% (2009 est.)
Population distribution: most of the country displays a low population density particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country
EnvironmentCurrent issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers that 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 salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices
International agreements party to: Air Pollution Biodiversity Climate Change Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Drinking water source:
urban: 99.4% of population
rural: 85.6% of population
total: 92.9% of population
urban: 0.6% of population
rural: 14.4% of population
total: 7.1% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 98.1% of population
total: 97.5% of population
urban: 3% of population
rural: 1.9% of population
total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)
top of pageAdministrative divisions: 14 provinces (oblystar singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar singular - qala); Almaty (Taldyqorghan) Almaty* Aqmola (Kokshetau) Aqtobe Astana* Atyrau Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral) Bayqongyr [Baykonur]* Mangghystau (Aqtau) Ongtustik Qazaqstan [South Kazakhstan] (Shymkent) Pavlodar Qaraghandy Qostanay Qyzylorda Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen) Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl) Zhambyl (Taraz)
Note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers ; in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 km² enclosing the Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baykonur formerly Leninsk); in 2004 a new agreement extended the lease to 2,050
Constitution: previous 1937 1978 (preindependence); latest adopted 28 January 1993 approved by referendum 30 August 1995 effective 5 September 1995; amended several times last in 2011 (2016)
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
Executive branchChief of state: President Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV
Head of government: Prime Minister Bakytzhan SAGINTAYEV ; Deputy Prime Minister Dariga NAZARBAYEVA (since 11 September 2015)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term ; election last held on 26 April 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president approved by the Mazhilis; note - constitutional amendments in May 2007 shortened the presidential term from 7 to 5 years and established a 2-consecutive-term limit; NAZARBAYEV has official status as the 'First President of Kazakhstan' and is allowed unlimited terms
Election results: Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV 97.8% other 2.2%
Legislative branchDescription: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the Mazhilis (107 seats; 98 members directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 9 indirectly elected by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan a 350-member presidentially appointed advisory body designed to represent the country's ethnic minorities)
Elections: Senate - last held on 1 October 2014 ; Mazhilis - last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held by 2021)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nur Otan 16; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur Otan 82.2% Ak Zhol 7.2% Communist People's Party 7.1% other 3.5%; seats by party - Nur Otan 84 Ak Zhol 7 Communist People's Party 7
Judicial branchHighest court: Supreme Court of the Republic ; Constitutional Council (consists of 7 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the president of the republic on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council and confirmed by the Senate; judges normally serve until age 65 but can be extended to age 70; Constitutional Council - the president of the republic the Senate chairperson and the Majilis chairperson each appoints 1 member for a 3-year term and each appoints 1 member for a 6-year term; chairperson of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president of the republic for a 6-year term
Subordinate courts: regional and local courts
Political parties and leaders:
Ak Zhol (Bright Path) Party or Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol [Azat PERUASHEV]
Auyl National Patriotic Party [Ali BEKTAYEV] (Auyl is a September 2015 merger of the Patriots’ Party and the Auyl Social Democratic Party)
Birlik (Unity) [Seril SULTANGALI] (Birlik is an April 2013 merger of Adilet (Justice; formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan) and Rukhaniyat (Spirituality))
Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]
National Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]
Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland) Democratic People's Party [Nursultan NAZARBAYEV] (the Agrarian Asar and Civic parties merged with Otan)
International organization participation: ADB CICA CIS CSTO EAEC EAEU EAPC EBRD ECO EITI (compliant country) FAO GCTU IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (NGOs) ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU MIGA MINURSO NAM (observer) NSG OAS (observer) OIC OPCW OSCE PFP SCO UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO (observer) ZC
Flag description: a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle both centered on a sky blue background; the hoist side displays a national ornamental pattern 'koshkar-muiz' (the horns of the ram) in gold; the blue color is of religious significance to the Turkic peoples of the country and so symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity; it also represents the endless sky as well as water; the sun a source of life and energy exemplifies wealth and plenitude; the sun's rays are shaped like grain which is the basis of abundance and prosperity; the eagle has appeared on the flags of Kazakh tribes for centuries and represents freedom power and the flight to the future; blue and yellow are the national colors
National anthemName: 'Menin Qazaqstanim'
Lyrics and music: Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV
Note: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics
top of pageEconomy overview:
Kazakhstan geographically the largest of the former Soviet republics excluding Russia possesses substantial fossil fuel reserves and other minerals and metals such as uranium copper and zinc. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. The government realizes that its economy suffers from an overreliance on oil and extractive industries and has embarked on an ambitious diversification program aimed at developing targeted sectors like transport pharmaceuticals telecommunications petrochemicals and food processing.
Kazakhstan's vast hydrocarbon and mineral reserves form the backbone of its economy. Kazakhstan is landlocked and depends on Russia to export its oil to Europe. In 2010 Kazakhstan joined Russia and Belarus to establish a Customs Union in an effort to boost foreign investment and improve trade. The Customs Union evolved into a Single Economic Space in 2012 and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in January 2015.
The economic downturn of its EEU partner Russia and the decline in global commodity prices have contributed to an economic slowdown in Kazakhstan which is experiencing its slowest economic growth since the financial crises of 2008-09. Kazakhstan devalued its currency the tenge by 19% in February 2014 and in November 2014 the government announced a stimulus package to cope with its economic challenges. In spring 2015 Kazakhstan embarked on an ambitious reform agenda to modernize its economy and improve its institutions. In the face of further decline in the ruble oil prices and the regional economic slowdown Kazakhstan announced in August 2015 that it would cancel its currency band in favor of a floating exchange rate that sparked further devaluation of the tenge. In 2015 Kazakhstan's president signed into law a new Entrepreneurial Code and a new Labor Code both aimed at improving the business environment. Despite some positive institutional and legislative changes investors remain concerned about corruption bureaucracy and arbitrary law enforcement especially at the regional and municipal levels.
Industries: oil coal iron ore manganese chromite lead zinc copper titanium bauxite gold silver phosphates sulfur uranium iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery electric motors construction materials
Exports:
$46.29 billion (2015 est.)
$80.24 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 51
Commodities: oil and oil products natural gas ferrous metals chemicals machinery grain wool meat coal
Partners: China 15.1% Russia 12.3% France 9.2% Germany 7.9% Italy 6.7% Greece 4.1% (2015)
Imports:
$33.65 billion (2015 est.)
$43.55 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 61
Commodities: machinery and equipment metal products foodstuffs
Partners: Russia 32.9% China 25.9% Germany 4.2% (2015)
Debt external:
$153.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$157.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 39
Exchange rates:
tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
221.73 (2015 est.)
179.19 (2014 est.)
179.19 (2013 est.)
149.11 (2012 est.)
146.62 (2011 est.)
top of pagetop of pageTelephone systemGeneral assessment: inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization
Domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is inadequate; mobile-cellular usage has increased rapidly and the subscriber base now exceeds 170 per 100 persons
International: country code - 7; international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (2015)
Broadcast media: state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; nearly all nationwide TV networks are wholly or partly owned by the government; some former state-owned media outlets have been privatized; households with satellite dishes have access to foreign media; a small number of commercial radio stations operate along with state-run radio stations; recent legislation requires all media outlets to register with the government and all TV providers to broadcast in digital format by 2018 (2015)
top of pageMilitary service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 2 years but Kazakhstan may be transitioning to a contract force; 19 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; military cadets in intermediate (ages 15-17) and higher (ages 17-21) education institutes are classified as military service personnel (2012)
top of pagePipelines: condensate 658 km; gas 12,432 km; oil 11,313 km; refined products 1095 km; water 1465 km (2013)
Waterways: 4,000 km (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River) (2010)
Rank: 25
top of pageDisputes international: Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; field demarcation of the boundaries commenced with Uzbekistan in 2004 and with Turkmenistan in 2005; ongoing demarcation with Russia began in 2007; demarcation with China was completed in 2002; creation of a seabed boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under discussion; Azerbaijan Kazakhstan and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea
Illicit drugs: significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; significant consumer of opiates
🅶🅷🅴🅾🆂.🅲🅾🅼