Introduction
Background
Ethnic Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes with additional Persian cultural influences, migrated to the region in the 15th century. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. The country gained independence in 1991.
Geography
Area
total: 2,724,900 sq km
land: 2,699,700 sq km
water: 25,200 sq km
Climate
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Natural resources
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
People and Society
Population
19,543,464 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Kazakh (Qazaq) 69.6%, Russian 17.9%, Uzbek 3.3%, Uyghur 1.5%, Ukrainian 1.3%, Tatar 1%, other 5.3% (2022 est.)
Languages
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.)
Religions
Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox), other 0.2%, atheist 2.8%, unspecified 0.5% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate
0.9% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Astana
Executive branch
chief of state: President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019)
head of government: 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
Legislative branch
description: 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
Economy
Economic overview
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)
$496.126 billion (2021 est.)
$475.672 billion (2020 est.)
$487.869 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$26,100 (2021 est.)
$25,400 (2020 est.)
$26,400 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, milk, potatoes, barley, watermelons, melons, linseed, onions, maize, sunflower seed
Industries
oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, uranium, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials
Remittances
0.16% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.22% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.28% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$66.132 billion (2021 est.)
$52.355 billion (2020 est.)
$65.919 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
China 13%, Italy 12%, Russia 10%, Netherlands 7%, France 6%, South Korea 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, gold, copper, iron alloys, natural gas (2021)
Imports
$49.196 billion (2021 est.)
$46.218 billion (2020 est.)
$52.539 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
Russia 34%, China 24% (2019)
Imports - commodities
packaged medicines, natural gas, cars, broadcasting equipment, aircraft (2019)
Exchange rates
tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
425.908 (2021 est.)
412.953 (2020 est.)
382.747 (2019 est.)
344.706 (2018 est.)
326.001 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
