Ethnic Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated to the region by the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. Soviet policies reduced the number of ethnic Kazakhs in the 1930s and enabled non-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) further skewed the ethnic mixture. Non-Muslim ethnic minorities departed Kazakhstan in large numbers from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s and a national program has repatriated about a million ethnic Kazakhs back to Kazakhstan. These trends have allowed Kazakhs to become the titular majority again. This dramatic demographic shift has also undermined the previous religious diversity and made the country more than 70% Muslim. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states largely due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity, expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets, diversifying the economy, enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness, and strengthening relations with neighboring states and foreign powers.

Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in easternmost Europe

48 00 N, 68 00 E

Asia

slightly less than four times the size of Texas

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)

none (landlocked)

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

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

highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

arable land 8.9%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 68.5%

20,660 sq km (2012)

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

earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty

radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers that flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices

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 Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050

18,556,698 (July 2017 est.)

Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.1%, Russian 23.7%, Uzbek 2.9%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Uighur 1.4%, Tatar 1.3%, German 1.1%, other 4.4% (2009 est.)

Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 74% (understand spoken language), Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 94.4% (understand spoken language) (2009 est.)

Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox), other 0.2%, atheist 2.8%, unspecified 0.5% (2009 est.)

1.04% (2017 est.)

18.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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

Almaty 1.523 million; ASTANA (capital) 759,000 (2015)

25 years (2014 est.)

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.25 children born/woman (2017 est.)

55.7% (2015)

4.4% of GDP (2014)

3.27 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

7.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 99.4% of population

rural: 85.6% of population

total: 92.9% of population

urban: 0.6% of population

rural: 14.4% of population

total: 7.1% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 97% of population

rural: 98.1% of population

total: 97.5% of population

urban: 3% of population

rural: 1.9% of population

total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)

0.2% (2016 est.)

26,000 (2016 est.)

<1000 (2016 est.)

21% (2016)

2% (2015)

3.1% of GDP (2009)

presidential republic

14 provinces (oblyslar, singular - oblys) and 2 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty (Taldyqorghan), Almaty*, Aqmola (Kokshetau), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Mangghystau (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan [South Kazakhstan] (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl), Zhambyl (Taraz)

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Ak Zhol (Bright Path) Party or Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol [Azat PERUASHEV]

Auyl National Patriotic Party [Ali BEKTAYEV] (a merger of the Patriots’ Party and the Auyl Social Democratic Party)

Birlik (Unity) [Serik SULTANGALI] (a merger of Adilet (Justice; formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan) and Rukhaniyat (Spirituality))

Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]

National Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]

Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland) Democratic People's Party [Nursultan NAZARBAYEV] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan)

Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]

Chairman of Bureau's Council [Roza AKYLBEKOVA]

Foundation for Support of Civil Initiatives [Nurul RAKHIMBEK]

International Legal Initiative [Aina SHORMANBAYEVA]

Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law or KIBHR [Rosa AKYLBEKOVA]

Legal Media Centre (sometimes known as the North Kazakhstan Legal Media Centre) [Diana OKREMOVA]

Public Foundation for Parliamentary Development [Zauresh BATTALOVA]

Republican Network of International Monitors or RNIM [Daniyar LIVAZOV]

Transparency International [Natalya KOVALEVA]

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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

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

golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow

Kazakhstan, geographically the largest of the former Soviet republics, excluding Russia, possesses substantial fossil fuel reserves and other minerals and metals, such as uranium, copper, and zinc. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. The government realizes that its economy suffers from an overreliance on oil and extractive industries and has made initial attempts to diversify its economy by targeting sectors like transport, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, petrochemicals and food processing for greater development and investment.

Kazakhstan's vast hydrocarbon and mineral reserves form the backbone of its economy. Chevron-led Tengizchevroil announced a $36.8 billion expansion of Kazakhstan’s premiere Tengiz oil field in July 2016. Meanwhile, the super-giant Kashagan field finally launched production in October 2016 after years of delay and an estimated $55 billion in development costs.

Kazakhstan is landlocked and depends on Russia to export its oil to Europe. It also exports oil directly to China. In 2010, Kazakhstan joined Russia and Belarus to establish a Customs Union in an effort to boost foreign investment and improve trade. The Customs Union evolved into a Single Economic Space in 2012 and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in January 2015. In part due to weak commodity prices, Kazakhstan’s exports to EAEU countries declined 23.5% in 2016. Imports from EAEU countries to Kazakhstan declined 13.7%.

The economic downturn of its EAEU partner, Russia, and the decline in global commodity prices from 2014 to 2015 contributed to an economic slowdown in Kazakhstan, which continues to experience its slowest economic growth since the financial crises of 2008-09. In 2014, Kazakhstan devalued its currency, the tenge, and announced a stimulus package to cope with its economic challenges. In the face of further decline in the ruble, oil prices, and the regional economy, Kazakhstan announced in 2015 it would replace its currency band with a floating exchange rate, leading to a sharp fall in the value of the tenge. Since reaching a low of 391 to the dollar in January 2016, the tenge has modestly appreciated, helped by somewhat higher oil prices.

Despite some positive institutional and legislative changes in the last several years, investors remain concerned about corruption, bureaucracy, and arbitrary law enforcement, especially at the regional and municipal levels. An additional concern is the condition of the country’s banking sector, which suffers from low liquidity, poor asset quality, and a lack of transparency. Investors also question the potentially negative effects on the economy of a contested presidential succession as Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, who turns 77 in 2017, has not announced whether he will seek reelection in 2019.

$451.2 billion (2016 est.)

$440.7 billion (2015 est.)

$430.8 billion (2014 est.)

$133.7 billion (2016 est.)

1.1% (2016 est.)

1.2% (2015 est.)

4.3% (2014 est.)

$25,200 (2016 est.)

$25,300 (2015 est.)

$25,300 (2014 est.)

22.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

26.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

28.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

grain (mostly spring wheat and barley), potatoes, vegetables, melons; livestock

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

1.3% (2016 est.)

8.999 million (2016 est.)

5% (2016 est.)

5% (2015 est.)

2.7% (2015 est.)

26.3 (2013)

31.5 (2003)

20.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

-0.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

26.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

23.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

14.6% (2016 est.)

6.7% (2015 est.)

11% (10 April 2017)

12% (9 January 2017)

15.33% (31 December 2016 est.)

13.18% (31 December 2015 est.)

$13.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$8.934 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$37.78 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$25.34 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$55.53 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$51.85 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$744 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.737 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$26.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$-8.518 billion (2016 est.)

$-5.142 billion (2015 est.)

$37.3 billion (2016 est.)

$46.52 billion (2015 est.)

oil and oil products, natural gas, ferrous metals, chemicals, machinery, grain, wool, meat, coal

Italy 20.3%, China 11.5%, Russia 9.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, Switzerland 7.3%, France 4.9% (2016)

$27.87 billion (2016 est.)

$33.84 billion (2015 est.)

machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

Russia 36.2%, China 14.5%, Germany 5.7%, US 5.1% (2016)

$29.53 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$27.87 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$163.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$154.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$143.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$125.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$32.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$29.53 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

tenge (KZT) per US dollar -

342.13 (2016 est.)

342.13 (2015 est.)

221.73 (2014 est.)

179.19 (2013 est.)

149.11 (2012 est.)

100.4 billion kWh (2015 est.)

95.26 billion kWh (2015 est.)

1.614 billion kWh (2015 est.)

1.618 billion kWh (2015 est.)

22.06 million kW (2016 est.)

86.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

13.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

1.595 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

1.292 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

145,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)

30 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

228,600 bbl/day (2016 est.)

186,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)

846 bbl/day (2015 est.)

44,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)

21.38 billion cu m (2016 est.)

13.1 billion cu m (2016 est.)

13.7 billion cu m (2016 est.)

4.7 billion cu m (2015 est.)

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

257.8 million Mt (2014 est.)

state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; there are 3 TV channels: Kazakhstan, KAZsport, Balapan; and 4 radio stations: Kazakh Radiosy, Shalkar, Astana, and Classic; 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 98.63% of the population as well as neighboring countries (2017)

.kz

UP (2016)

96 (2013)

3 (2013)

condensate 658 km; gas 12,432 km; oil 11,313 km; refined products 1,095 km; water 1,465 km (2013)

4,000 km (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River) (2010)

0.82% of GDP (2016)

3.45% of GDP (2015)

1.04% of GDP (2014)

1.08% of GDP (2013)

1.05% of GDP (2012)

Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Defense Forces (2017)

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 2 years, but Kazakhstan is transitioning to a largely contract force; military cadets in intermediate (ages 15-17) and higher (ages 17-21) education institutes are classified as military service personnel (2017)