{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

Ethnic Kazakhs derive from a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes that migrated to the region in the 15th century. The Russian Empire conquered the Kazakh steppe in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. Forced agricultural collectivization led to repression and starvation, resulting in more than a million deaths in the early 1930s. During the 1950s and 1960s, the agricultural \"Virgin Lands\" program generated an influx of settlers -- mostly ethnic Russians, but also other nationalities -- and by the time of Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, ethnic Kazakhs were a minority. However, 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 (from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and the Xinjiang region of China) to Kazakhstan. As a result of this shift, the ethnic Kazakh share of the population now exceeds two-thirds.

Kazakhstan's economy is the largest in Central Asia, mainly due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include diversifying the economy, attracting foreign direct investment, enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness, and strengthening economic relations with neighboring states and foreign powers.

 

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Oral) River in easternmost Europe" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "48 00 N, 68 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Asia" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "2,724,900 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "2,699,700 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "25,200 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly less than four times the size of Texas" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "13,364 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "China 1,765 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,212 km; Russia 7,644 km; Turkmenistan 413 km; Uzbekistan 2,330 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)" }, "Maritime claims": { "text": "none (landlocked)" }, "Climate": { "text": "continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid" }, "Terrain": { "text": "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" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Pik Khan-Tengri 7,010 m
note - the northern most 7,000 meter peak in the World" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Qauyndy Oyysy -132 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "387 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "77.4% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 8.9% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 68.5% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "1.2% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "21.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "18,099 sq km (2020)" }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 sq km" }, "salt water lake(s)": { "text": "Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Russia) - 374,000 sq km; Aral Sea (north) - 3,300 sq km; Ozero Alakol - 2,650 sq km; Ozero Teniz 1,590 sq km; Ozero Seletytenzi - 780 sq km; Ozero Sasykkol - 740 sq km" } }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "Syr Darya river mouth (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) - 3,078 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "world's largest landlocked country and one of only two landlocked countries in the world that extends into two continents (the other is Azerbaijan); Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome; in 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "20,260,006" }, "male": { "text": "9,817,172" }, "female": { "text": "10,442,834 (2024 est.)" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Kazakhstani(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Kazakhstani" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Kazakh 71%, Russian 14.9%, Uzbek 3.3%, Ukrainian 1.9%, Uyghurs 1.5%, German 1.1%, Tatar 1.1%, other 4.9%, unspecified 0.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 80.1%, Russian 83.7%, English 35.1% (2021 est.)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
Әлемдік деректер кітабы, негізгі ақпараттың таптырмайтын көзі. (Kazakh)

Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information." }, "note": "note:  percentages are based on population that understands the spoken language" }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 69.3%, Christian 17.2% (Orthodox 17%, other 0.2%), Buddhism 0.1%, other 0.1%, non-believers 2.3%, unspecified 11% (2021 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Nearly 40% of Kazakhstan’s population is under the age of 25.  Like many former Soviet states, Kazakhstan’s total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – decreased after independence amidst economic problems and fell below replacement level, 2.1.  However, in the late 2000s, as the economy improved and incomes rose, Kazakhstan experienced a small baby boom and TFR reached 2.5.  TFR has since fallen and is now just over 2.1.  Mortality rates are also decreasing and life expectancy is rising, signs that Kazakhstan’s demographic transition is progressing. 

Kazakhstan has a diverse population consisting of Asian ethnic groups (predominantly Kazakhs, as well as Uzbeks, Uighurs, and Tatars) and ethnic Europeans (mainly Russians but also Ukrainians and Germans).  Approximately two thirds of Kazakhstan’s population today is Kazakh.  During the mid-20th century, as Kazakhstan industrialized, waves of ethnic Russians and deportees from other parts of the Soviet Union arrived.  Eventually, the ethnic Russian population outnumbered the Kazakhs.  In the 1990s, following Kazakhstan’s independence, Russian and other ethnic Europeans began emigrating, while some ethnic Kazakhs (referred to as Oralmans) returned to their homeland from neighboring countries, China, and Mongolia.  As a result, the country’s ethnic make-up changed, and a Kazakh majority was reestablished.

In recent years, Kazakhstan has shifted from being mainly a migrant-sending country to a migrant-receiving country.  Due to its oil-driven economic boom, Kazakhstan has become a more popular destination.  The country needs highly skilled workers in the industrial, business, and education sectors and low-skilled labor in agriculture, markets, services, and construction.  Kazakhstan is increasingly reliant on migrant workers, primarily from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, to fill its labor shortage.  At the same time, highly skilled Kazakhs continue to emigrate, mostly to Russia, seeking higher salaries or further education.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "27.6% (male 2,883,200/female 2,712,772)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "62.8% (male 6,233,881/female 6,486,019)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "9.6% (2024 est.) (male 700,091/female 1,244,043)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "60" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "47.2" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "12.7" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "7.9 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "31.9 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "30 years" }, "female": { "text": "33.8 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.86% (2024 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "17.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "58.2% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "1.987 million Almaty, 1.291 million NUR-SULTAN (capital), 1.155 million Shimkent (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.07 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.96 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.56 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "28.9 years (2019 est.)" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "13 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "8.9 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "7 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "73.3 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "69 years" }, "female": { "text": "77.9 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "2.58 children born/woman (2024 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "1.25 (2024 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "53% (2018)", "note": "note: percent of women aged 18-49" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 93.8% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 97.4% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 6.2% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 2.6% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "3.8% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physician density": { "text": "3.98 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "6.1 beds/1,000 population (2014)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 99.9% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 99.9% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 99.9% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0.1% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0.1% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "21% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "1.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "23.2% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "39.6% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "6.7% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "2% (2015)" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "61.8% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "99.8%" }, "male": { "text": "99.8%" }, "female": { "text": "99.7% (2018)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "16 years" }, "male": { "text": "15 years" }, "female": { "text": "16 years (2020)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "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; desertification; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Climate": { "text": "continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "77.4% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 8.9% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 68.5% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "1.2% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "21.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "58.2% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0.99% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "247.21 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "45.03 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "4,659,740 tons (2012 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "136,064 tons (2012 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "2.9% (2012 est.)" } }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 sq km" }, "salt water lake(s)": { "text": "Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Russia) - 374,000 sq km; Aral Sea (north) - 3,300 sq km; Ozero Alakol - 2,650 sq km; Ozero Teniz 1,590 sq km; Ozero Seletytenzi - 780 sq km; Ozero Sasykkol - 740 sq km" } }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "Syr Darya river mouth (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) - 3,078 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "4.62 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "4.54 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "15.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "108.41 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Kazakhstan" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Kazakhstan" }, "local long form": { "text": "Qazaqstan Respublikasy" }, "local short form": { "text": "Qazaqstan" }, "former": { "text": "Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name \"Kazakh\" may derive from the Turkic word \"kaz\" meaning \"to wander,\" recalling the Kazakh's nomadic lifestyle; the Persian suffix \"-stan\" means \"place of\" or \"country,\" so the word Kazakhstan literally means \"Land of the Wanderers\"" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Astana" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "51 10 N, 71 25 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "time zone note": { "text": "On 1 March 2024, Kazakhstan moved from two time zones to using one time zone" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name means \"capital city\" in Kazakh" }, "note": "note: on 17 September 2022, Kazakhstan changed the name of its capital city from Nur-Sultan back to Astana; this was not the first time the city had its name changed; founded in 1830 as Akmoly, it became Akmolinsk in 1832, Tselinograd in 1961, Akmola (Aqmola) in 1992, Astana in 1998, and Nur-Sultan in 2019; the latest name change occurred just three and a half years after the city was renamed to honor a long-serving (28-year) former president, who subsequently fell out of favor" }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "17 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 4 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Abay (Semey), Almaty (Qonaev), Almaty*, Aqmola (Kokshetau), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Shymkent*, Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl), Turkistan, Ulytau (Zhezqazghan), Zhambyl (Taraz), Zhetisu (Taldyqorghan)", "note": "note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); 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 sq km enclosing the Baikonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baikonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the lease to 2050" }, "Independence": { "text": "16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Independence Day, 16 December (1991)" }, "Legal system": { "text": "civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "previous 1937, 1978 (preindependence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995" }, "amendments": { "text": "introduced by a referendum initiated by the president of the republic, on the recommendation of Parliament, or by the government; the president has the option of submitting draft amendments to Parliament or directly to a referendum; passage of amendments by Parliament requires four-fifths majority vote of both houses and the signature of the president; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote by more than one half of the voters in at least two thirds of the oblasts, major cities, and the capital, followed by the signature of the president; amended several times, last in 2022" } }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Kazakhstan" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "the president appoints ministers based on the prime minister's recommendations; the president has veto power over all appointments and independently appoints the ministers of defense, internal affairs, and foreign affairs" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 7-year term (prior to September 2022, the president of Kazakhstan could serve up to two 5-year terms; legislation passed in September 2022 reduced the maximum number of terms to one 7-year term); election last held on 20 November 2022 (next to be held in 2029); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Mazhilis" }, "election results": { "text": "
2024: Olzhas BEKTENOV elected as prime minister; 69-0 in parliament

2022: Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 81.3%, Zhiguli DAYRABAEV (Auyl) 3.4%, Qaraqat or Karakat ÄBDEN (KÄQŪA) 2.6%, Meyram KAZHYKEN (Amanat) 2.5%, Nurlan AUYESBAYEV (NSDP) 2.2%, Saltanat TURSYNBEKOVA (QA-DJ) 2.1%, other 5.8%

2019: Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 71%, Amirzhan KOSANOV (Ult Tagdyry) 16.2%, Daniya YESPAYEVA (Ak Zhol) 5.1%, other 7.7%" }, "note": "note: Prime Minister Alikhan SMAILOV resigned on 5 February 2024" }, "Legislative branch": { "legislature name": { "text": "Parliament (Parlament)" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "bicameral" } }, "Legislative branch - lower chamber": { "chamber name": { "text": "House of Representatives (Mazhilis)" }, "number of seats": { "text": "98 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "mixed system" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "5 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "3/19/2023" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "Amanat party (62); Auyl party (8); Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (6); Respublica (6); People's Party of Kazakhstan (5); Independents (7); Other (4)" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "18.4%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "March 2028" } }, "Legislative branch - upper chamber": { "chamber name": { "text": "Senate" }, "number of seats": { "text": "50 (40 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "partial renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "6 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "1/14/2023" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "20%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "January 2026" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of the chairperson and 6 members)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "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 Mazhilis chairperson each appoints 2 members for a 6-year term; chairperson of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president for a 6-year term" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "regional and local courts" } }, "Political parties": { "text": "Ak Zhol Democratic Party or Ak Zhol
Amanat Party (formerly Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland))
Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party or Auyl
Baytak (Boundless) Party
National Social Democratic Party or NSDP
People's Democratic (Patriotic) Party or Auyl or AHDPP
People's Party of Kazakhstan or PPK
Respublica" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Yerzhan ASHIKBAYEV (since 7 July 2021)" }, "chancery": { "text": "1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 232-5488" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 232-5845" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
washington@mfa.kz

https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington?lang=en" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York, San Francisco" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Deborah ROBINSON (since January 2025)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3, Astana 010010" }, "mailing address": { "text": "2230 Astana Place, Washington DC  20521-2230" }, "telephone": { "text": "[7] (7172) 70-21-00" }, "FAX": { "text": "[7] (7172) 54-09-14" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
USAKZ@state.gov

https://kz.usembassy.gov/" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Almaty" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Menin Qazaqstanim\" (My Kazakhstan)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV" }, "note": "note: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (c); Petroglyphs at Tanbaly (c); Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (n); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien-Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n)" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "oil and gas giant, with growing international investment; domestic economy hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions; reforming civil society and improving business confidence; legacy state controls and Russian influence inhibit growth and autonomy" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$705.52 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$671.285 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$650.47 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "5.1% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "3.2% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "4.3% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$34,700 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$33,500 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$32,900 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$262.642 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "14.72% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "15.03% (2022 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "8.04% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "BBB (2016)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Baa3 (2016)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "BBB- (2016)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "3.9% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "32.3% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "56.3% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "51.3% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "11.1% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "26.4% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "3.3% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "34.4% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-27.4% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "wheat, milk, potatoes, barley, watermelons, sunflower seeds, cantaloupes/melons, onions, maize, linseed (2022)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "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" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "8.11% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "9.808 million (2023 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "4.85% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "4.86% (2022 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "5.56% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "3.8% (2023 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "2.9% (2023 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "5% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "5.2% (2022 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021": { "text": "29.2 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "50.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "4.3% (2021 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "24.8% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.12% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.21% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.16% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$39.879 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$36.451 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2023": { "text": "20.82% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government debt as a % of GDP" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "11.86% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "-$9.02 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "$6.435 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$2.679 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2023": { "text": "$90.531 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$93.623 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$71.726 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 14%, Italy 13%, Russia 9%, UK 8%, Netherlands 6% (2022)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, gold, refined copper, iron alloys, radioactive chemicals (2022)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2023": { "text": "$72.367 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$60.202 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$49.597 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Russia 29%, China 28%, Germany 5%, South Korea 4%, Turkey 3% (2022)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, plastic products, packaged medicine (2022)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$35.965 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$35.076 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": { "text": "$34.378 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$26.441 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "tenge (KZT) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "456.165 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "460.165 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "425.908 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "412.953 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "382.747 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "26.033 million kW (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "108.34 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "2.726 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "1.902 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "9.758 billion kWh (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "89% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "1.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "1.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" } }, "Nuclear energy": { "Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down": { "text": "1 (2023)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "118.195 million metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "84.852 million metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "37.309 million metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "31,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "25.605 billion metric tons (2022 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "1.955 million bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "288,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "30 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "27.011 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "22.623 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "7.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "2.181 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "2.407 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "265.46 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "185.014 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "36.066 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "44.38 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": { "text": "176.085 million Btu/person (2022 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "2.574 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "13 (2023 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "25.8 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "130 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "

Kazakhstan has one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in the region; this is especially true of the mobile segment, where the country has the second fastest average mobile data rates in Central Asia after Azerbaijan; the competing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have built extensive Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks: about 76% of mobile subscribers were on LTE as of March 2024, while the company’s LTE network provided 89% geographic coverage; this widespread network coverage, as well as the development of 5G networks, has been encouraged by the government with the second stage of its Digital Kazakhstan program, by which most settlements across the country will be furnished with mobile internet connectivity; the remaining rural villages will be covered by satellite services; at the turn of the century, Kazakhstan had a relatively high fixed-line tele density thanks to efforts to invest in the fixed-line infrastructure and in next-generation networks; the gobal demand for traditional voice services are decreasing as customers are increasingly attracted to the flexibility of the mobile platform for voice as well as data services

(2024)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed telephone subscriptions are 15 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriber base 130 per 100 persons (2022)" }, "international": { "text": "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 TAE fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "the state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; there are 96 TV channels, many of which are owned by the government, and 4 state-run radio stations; 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; broadcasts reach some 99% of the population as well as neighboring countries (2018)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".kz" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "93% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "3.59 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "18 (2023 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "12 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "84" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "7,143,797 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "50.22 million (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "UP" }, "Airports": { "text": "132 (2024)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "30 (2024)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "658 km condensate, 15,429 km gas (2020), 8,020 km oil (2020), 1,095 km refined products, 1,975 km water (2017) (2020)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "16,636 km (2021)" }, "broad gauge": { "text": "16,636 km (2021) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified)" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "96,167 km" }, "paved": { "text": "83,813 km" }, "unpaved": { "text": "12,354 km (2021)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "43,983 km (2020) (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "122 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces

Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police, National Guard

Committee for National Security (KNB): Border Guard Service (2024)", "note": "note: the National Guard is a gendarmerie type force administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also serves the Ministry of Defense; it is responsible for fighting crime, maintaining public order, and ensuring public safety; other duties include anti-terrorism operations, guarding prisons, riot control, and territorial defense in time of war" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.1% of GDP (2019 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "information varies; approximately 40,000 active-duty personnel (25,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Naval Forces; 12,000 Air and Air Defense Forces); approximately 30,000 National Guard (2023)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Kazakh military's inventory is comprised of mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, other suppliers have included China, France, Israel, South Korea, and Turkey; Kazakhstan has a defense industry capable of assembling or producing such items as naval vessels, combat vehicles, helicopters, and radar systems  (2024)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "all men 18-27 are required to serve in the military for 12-24 months; women may volunteer (2023)", "note": "note: as of 2022, more than 10,000 women served in the Armed Forces and the National Guard" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the military’s principal responsibilities are territorial defense while the National Police, National Guard, Committee for National Security, and Border Service have primary responsibility for internal security, although the military may provide assistance as required; the military also participates in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations; in 2008, Kazakhstan opened up Central Asia’s first peacekeeper training center for military personnel of Kazakhstan, NATO, and other partners 

in 2022, Kazakhstan initiated a wide-ranging effort to enhance the country’s security sector, including organizational changes such as establishing new National Guard units, enhancing existing ones, and forming a special operations force, spending increases for equipment acquisitions, a new doctrine with renewed emphasis on defense of the border, and reforms to improve professionalism in the military

Kazakhstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has obligated troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; it also has a relationship with NATO focused on democratic, institutional, and defense reforms; relations with NATO started in 1992, and Kazakhstan joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1995; Kazakhstan’s armed forces were formed in 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union and the disbandment of the Soviet Turkestan Military District whose forces formed the core of the new Kazakh military (2023)" } }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { "text": "National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazCosmos; established 2007) (2024)" }, "Space launch site(s)": { "text": "Baikonur Cosmodrome/Space Center (Baikonur) (2024)", "note": "note 1: the Baikonur cosmodrome and the surrounding area are leased and administered by Russia until 2050 for approximately $115 million/year; the cosmodrome was originally built by the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s and is the site of the World's first successful satellite launch (Sputnik) in 1957; it is also the largest space launch facility in the World, comprising 15 launch pads for space launch vehicles, four launch pads for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles, more than 10 assembly and test facilities, and other infrastructure 

note 2: in 2018, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed that Kazakhstan would build, maintain, and operate a new space launch facility (Baiterek) at the Baikonur space center (estimated to be ready for operations in 2025)" }, "Space program overview": { "text": "has an active and ambitious space program that originated with the former Soviet Union; focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites; builds (with foreign assistance) and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; building space infrastructure, such as launch and testing facilities, ground stations, and rocket manufacturing; has an astronaut (cosmonaut) program; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, and the UK; has state-owned and private companies that assist in the development and building of the country’s space program, including satellites, satellite payloads, and associated capabilities; they also work closely with foreign commercial entities (2024)", "note": "note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { "text": "7,558 (2022)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

part of the \"Northern Route,\" land drug trafficking route from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe; domestic manufacturing of synthetics increasing and domestic drug use trends to synthetic drugs outpacing heroin and cannabis;

" } } }