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

Ethnic Kazakhs derive from a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes that migrated to the region in the 15th century. The Kazakh steppe was conquered by the Russian Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. Repression and starvation caused by forced agricultural collectivization led to more than a million deaths in the early 1930s. During the 1950s and 1960s, the agricultural \"Virgin Lands\" program led to an influx of settlers (mostly ethnic Russians, but also other nationalities) and at the time of Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, ethnic Kazakhs were a minority. 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) back 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 January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "19,543,464 (2023 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Kazakhstani(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Kazakhstani" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Kazakh (Qazaq) 69.6%, Russian 17.9%, Uzbek 3.3%, Uyghur 1.5%, Ukrainian 1.3%,  Tatar 1%, other 5.3% (2022 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 83.1% (understand spoken language) and trilingual (Kazakh, Russian, English) 22.3% (2017 est.); Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the \"language of interethnic communication\") 94.4% (understand spoken language) (2009 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." } }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox), other 0.2%, atheist 2.8%, unspecified 0.5% (2009 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": "25.26% (male 2386022/female 2,551,575)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "65.29% (male 6,226,792/female 6,533,887)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "9.44% (2023 est.) (male 660,397/female 1,184,791)" } }, "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": "31.6 years" }, "male": { "text": "30.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "32.8 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.73% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "14.92 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "8.05 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 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": "0.94 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "0.94 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.95 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.56 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.9 male(s)/female (2023 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": "18.77 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "21.29 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "16.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "72.8 years" }, "male": { "text": "67.73 years" }, "female": { "text": "77.56 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "2.08 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "1.08 (2023 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)" }, "Physicians 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)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "3.7%" }, "male": { "text": "3.3%" }, "female": { "text": "4.3% (2021 est.)" } } }, "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": "11.32 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 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+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "time zone note": { "text": "Kazakhstan has two time zones" }, "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)" }, "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" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation" }, "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 Alikhan SMAILOV (since 11 January 2022); note - Prime Minister Askar MAMIN resigned on 5 January 2022 in the wake of massive protests of his government that began 2 January 2022 following a sudden, steep rise in gasoline prices" }, "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 7-year term (prior to September 2022, the president of Kazakhstan could serve up to two terms of five years each; the legislation was changed in September 2022, reducing the maximum number of terms to one term of seven years); 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": "
2022: Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV 81.3%, Zhiguli DAYRABAEV 3.4%, Karakat ABDEN 2.6%, Meyram KAZHYKEN 2.5%, Nurlan AUYESBAYEV 2.2%, Saltanat TURSYNBEKOVA 2.1%, other 5.8%

election results: 2019: Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (Nur Otan currently Amanat) 71%, Amirzhan KOSANOV (Ult Tagdyry) 16.2%, Daniya YESPAYEVA (Ak Zhol) 5.1%, other 7.7%" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "bicameral Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan consists of:
Senate (50 seats); 40 members indirectly elected by 2-round majority vote by the oblast-level assemblies and 10 members appointed by decree of the president; members serve 6-year terms, with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)
Mazhilis (98 seats; 69 members directly elected in a single national constituency by party list proportional representation vote (5% minimum threshold to gain seats) and 29 directly elected in single-seat constituencies to serve 5-year terms" }, "elections": { "text": "Senate - last held on 14 January 2023 (next to be held in August 2023)
Mazhilis - last held on 19 March 2023 (next to be held in 2026)" }, "election results": { "text": "
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition (as of April 2023) - men 39, women 11, percent of women 22%
Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Amanat (formerly Nur Otan) 53.9%, Auvl 10.9%, Respublica 8.6%, Ak Zhol 8.4%, QHP 6.8%, NSDP 5.2%, Baytak 2.3%, Against all 3.9%; percent of vote by party (single-mandate districts) Amanat (formerly Nur Otan) 75.9%, Independent 24%; seats by party Amanat (formerly Nur Qtan) 62, Auvl 8, Respublica 6, Ak Zhol 6, QHP 5, NSDP 4, Independents 7; composition (as of March 2023) - men 80, women 18, percent of women 18.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women 19.6%" } }, "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 and leaders": { "text": "Ak Zhol (Bright Path) Party or Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol [Azat PERUASHEV]
Amanat Party [Yerlan KOSHANOV] (formerly Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland))
Baytak (Boundless) Party [Azamatkhan AMIRTAY]
National Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Askhat RAKHIMZHANOV]
People's Democratic (Patriotic) Party or Auvl or AHDPP [Ali BEKTAYEV]
People's Party of Kazakhstan or QHP [Yermkhamet YERTYSBAYEV]
Respublica Party [Avdarbek KHODZHANAZAROV]" }, "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, 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" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Daniel N. ROSENBLUM (since 14 November 2022)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3, Nur-Sultan 010010" }, "mailing address": { "text": "2230 Nur-Sultan 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": "5 (3 cultural, 2 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)" } } }, "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) 2021": { "text": "$496.126 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$475.672 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$487.869 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "4.3% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "-2.5% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "4.5% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$26,100 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$25,400 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$26,400 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$181.194 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": { "text": "6.75% (2020 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "5.25% (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "6.02% (2018 est.)" } }, "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": "4.7% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "34.1% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "61.2% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "53.2% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "11.1% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "22.5% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "4.8% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "35.4% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-27.1% (2017 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "wheat, milk, potatoes, barley, watermelons, melons, linseed, onions, maize, sunflower seed" }, "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": "5.1% (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "9.248 million (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "18.1%" }, "industry": { "text": "20.4%" }, "services": { "text": "61.6% (2017 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "4.9% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "4.89% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "4.8% (2019 est.)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "3.7%" }, "male": { "text": "3.3%" }, "female": { "text": "4.3% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "4.3% (2018 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018": { "text": "27.8 (2018 est.)" } }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "44.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "1.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "4.2%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "23.3% (2016)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$29.955 billion (2020 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$41.994 billion (2020 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2020": { "text": "26.63% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Public debt 2019": { "text": "18.48% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "Public debt 2018": { "text": "21.99% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "8.32% (of GDP) (2020 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$7.862 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "-$7.59 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$8.282 billion (2019 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2021": { "text": "$66.132 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$52.355 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2019": { "text": "$65.919 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 13%, Italy 12%, Russia 10%, Netherlands 7%, France 6%, South Korea 5% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, gold, copper, iron alloys, natural gas (2021)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2021": { "text": "$49.196 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$46.218 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2019": { "text": "$52.539 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Russia 34%, China 24% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "packaged medicines, natural gas, cars, broadcasting equipment, aircraft (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": { "text": "$34.378 billion (31 December 2021 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": { "text": "$35.638 billion (31 December 2020 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$28.958 billion (31 December 2019 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2019": { "text": "$159.351 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Debt - external 2018": { "text": "$163.73 billion (2018 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "tenge (KZT) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "425.908 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "412.953 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "382.747 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "344.706 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "326.001 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2021)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "25.022 million kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "92,133,960,000 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "2.419 billion kWh (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "1.935 billion kWh (2019 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "9.689 billion kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "88.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "10.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Nuclear energy": { "Number of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "0" }, "Number of nuclear reactors under construction": { "text": "0" }, "Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "0GW" }, "Percent of total electricity production": { "text": "0%" }, "Percent of total energy produced": { "text": "0%" }, "Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down": { "text": "1" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "102.338 million metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "74.819 million metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "3.002 million metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "993,000 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "25.605 billion metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "1,864,900 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "320,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "1,531,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "500 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "30 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "290,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "105,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "39,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "25.786 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "14.557 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "16.418 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "7.714 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "2.407 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "263.689 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "195.926 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "39.205 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "28.557 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "180.726 million Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "2,997,400 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "16 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "24.323 million (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "127 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "Kazakhstan has one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in the Central Asian region; this is especially true of the mobile segment, where widespread network coverage has enabled very high penetration rates reaching 180% as far back as 2012; the mobile and fixed-line segments have both pared back their subscriber numbers to more modest levels; the telcos have still been successful in terms of improving their margins and revenues by growing value-added services along with exploiting the capabilities of their higher speed networks (4G LTE as well as fiber) to drive significant increases in data usage; Kazakhstan has enjoyed a  high fixed-line teledensity thanks to concerted efforts to invest in the fixed-line infrastructure as well as next-generation networks; demand for traditional voice services is on the wane as customers take a preference for the flexibility and ubiquity of the mobile platform for voice as well as data services; mobile clearly dominates the telecom sector in Kazakhstan, yet 2020 saw a sharp drop in subscriber numbers for both mobile voice and mobile broadband services as the Covid-19 crisis took hold; with the exception of fixed-line voice services, Kazakhstan’s telecom market is expected to return to moderate growth from 2022 onward; the extensive deployment of LTE networks across the country (along with the prospect of 5G services being added to the mix in 2023) points towards an even greater uptake of lucrative mobile broadband services, in particular (2021)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed telephone subscriptions are 16 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriber base 127 per 100 persons (2021)" }, "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": { "total": { "text": "17.29 million (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "91% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "2,620,400 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "14 (2020 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": "96 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "63" }, "civil airports": { "text": "18" }, "military airports": { "text": "5" }, "joint use (civil-military) airports": { "text": "2" }, "other airports": { "text": "38" }, "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "text": "33", "note": "note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control" }, "Heliports": { "text": "3 (2021)" }, "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 (2021)" }, "paved": { "text": "83,813 km (2021)" }, "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": "120" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 110 (2022)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Caspian Sea - Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev)" }, "river port(s)": { "text": "Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk) (Irtysh River)" } } }, "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 (2023)", "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 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 Expenditures 2018": { "text": "0.9% of GDP (2018 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) (2022)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Kazakh military's inventory is comprised of mostly older Russian and Soviet-era equipment, and Russia continues to be the leading supplier of arms (2023)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "all men 18-27 are required to serve in the military for 12-24 months (2023)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "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; 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

information on the military’s structure varies with the Land Forces reportedly having about 15 combat brigades, which include a mix of air assault and mechanized infantry, tank, artillery, and surface-to-surface missile forces; the Naval Forces include a naval infantry brigade and patrol craft for operating on the Caspian Sea; the Air Defense Forces have over 100 combat aircraft, largely of Soviet-origin, but also some more modern Russian-made fighter aircraft 

Kazakhstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes 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 (2023)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

Kazakhstan-China: in 1998, Kazakhstan and China agreed to split two disputed border areas nearly evenly; demarcation with China completed in 2002

Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan: in January 2019, Kyrgyzstan ratified the 2017 agreement on the demarcation of the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border

Kazakhstan-Russia: Russia boundary delimitation was ratified on November 2005; field demarcation commenced in 2007 and was expected to be completed by 2013

Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan: Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan signed a treaty on the delimitation and demarcation process in 2001; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005; Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan agreed to their border in the Caspian Sea in 2014

Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan: field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; disputed territory is held by Uzbekistan but the overwhelming majority of residents are ethnic Kazakhs; the two countries agreed on draft final demarcation documents in March 2022 and planned to hold another meeting in April 2022

" }, "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;

" } } }