Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
18 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
3.59 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
the state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; there are 96 TV channels, and 4 state-run radio stations; some former state-owned media outlets have been privatized; households with satellite dishes have access to foreign media; small number of commercial radio stations; all media outlets have to register with the government (2018)
Communications: Internet country code
.kz
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
93.39% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
13 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
2.574 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
127 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
26.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
wheat, milk, barley, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons, sunflower seeds, maize, onions, tomatoes (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
50.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$47.247 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$44.25 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$4.527 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$2.853 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$9.980 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$6.965 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$3.427 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.766 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$7.028 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$11.055 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$2.679 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$6.436 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$9.448 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$3.702 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$169.570 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$25.765 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
468.962 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
152.129 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
179.192 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
221.728 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
342.160 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
326.001 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
344.706 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
382.747 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
412.953 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
425.908 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
460.165 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
456.165 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
468.962 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, gold, radioactive chemicals, refined copper, copper ore (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$89.503 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$87.109 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$52.582 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$43.715 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$54.041 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$67.477 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$66.198 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$52.230 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$66.318 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$93.822 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$90.926 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$91.908 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
34.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
11.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
51.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-27.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
26.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
3.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
3.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
31.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
58.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$40,891 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$288.406 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$842.049 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
26.8 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
27.2 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
27.5 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
27.8 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
28.0 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
28.7 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
29.2 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
24.8% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
4.3% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, vehicle bodies, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$44.257 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$45.236 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$39.080 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$40.747 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$46.454 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$51.629 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$45.333 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$49.325 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$60.439 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$72.723 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$74.246 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
6.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
6.68% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
14.36% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
7.44% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
6.16% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
5.33% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
6.72% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
8.04% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
15.03% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
14.53% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
8.69% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
10.285 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
5.00% (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
10.84% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
12.65% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
16.77% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
16.93% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
21.99% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
18.48% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
23.72% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
22.41% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
21.35% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
20.89% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$426.845 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$406.611 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$422.787 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$447.144 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$551.108 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$565.757 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$650.470 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$671.285 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$705.52 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$739.385 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
1.20% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.10% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.10% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.10% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.50% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-2.50% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.30% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.20% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.10% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.00% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$23,958 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$22,484 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$23,023 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$23,973 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$28,689 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$29,040 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$32,946 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$35,895 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$38,515 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$341.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$401.4 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$294.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$374.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$309.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$27.855 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$29.603 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$30.747 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$30.977 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$28.958 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$35.638 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$34.378 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$35.076 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$35.965 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$45.808 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
11.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.80% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.89% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.57% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.86% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.83% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.83% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
4.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
3.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
86.349 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
34.043 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
114,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
120.279 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
25.605 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
87.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
106.201 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
2.243 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
3.694 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
27.624 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
9.439 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
172.936 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
22.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
7.071 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
408.952 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
28.769 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
2.407 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
1 (2025)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
30 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
1.955 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
175.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
43.596 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
50.387 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
269.83 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Environment: Environmental issues
radioactive or toxic chemical sites from former defense industries; severe industrial pollution in some cities; air and soil pollution (including dust storms) from chemical pesticides and natural salts left after two rivers were diverted; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals; salination from infrastructure and irrigation practices; water pollution; desertification
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
79.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
1.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
19.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
781.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
1,903.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
17.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
184.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
38.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
108.41 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
14.264 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
5.995 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
4.877 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
62.07% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
4.66 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
3.8% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Geography: Area: land
2,699,700 sq km
Geography: Area: water
25,200 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pik Khan-Tengri 7,010 m note - the northern most 7,000 meter peak in the World
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Qauyndy Oyysy -132 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
387 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
48 00 N, 68 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
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 (2,317 sq mi) of territory enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Geography: Irrigated land
17,794 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
China 1,765 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,212 km; Russia 7,644 km; Turkmenistan 413 km; Uzbekistan 2,330 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
13,364 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
79.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
1.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
19.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 sq km
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
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
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): 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)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty
Geography: Population distribution
most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country
Geography: Terrain
vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south
Government: Administrative divisions
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)
Government: Capital: etymology
the name means "capital city" in Kazakh
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
51 10 N, 71 25 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Capital: time zone note
On 1 March 2024, Kazakhstan moved from using two time zones to one
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Kazakhstan
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1937, 1978 (pre-independence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Kazakhstan
Government: Country name: etymology
the name may derive from the Turkic word kazak, meaning "nomad;" the Persian suffix - stan means "place of" or "country"
Government: Country name: former
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Government: Country name: local long form
Qazaqstan Respublikasy
Government: Country name: local short form
Qazaqstan
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Julie STUFFT; Chargé d'Affaires Deborah ROBINSON (since January 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Almaty
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
USAKZ@state.gov https://kz.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3, Astana 010010
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[7] (7172) 54-09-14
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2230 Astana Place, Washington DC 20521-2230
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[7] (7172) 70-21-00
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Magzhan ILYASSOV (since 16 December 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington@mfa.kz https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington?lang=en
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 232-5845
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 232-5488
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
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
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019)
Government: Executive branch: election results
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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
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 reduced it to one 7-year term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Mazhilis
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
20 November 2022
Government: Flag
description: a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky-blue background; the left side displays a national pattern called koshkar-muiz (the horns of the ram) in gold meaning: the blue color has religious significance for the Turkic peoples and symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity, as well as sky and water; the sun stands for wealth and plenitude, with rays shaped like grain; the eagle has appeared on Kazakh tribal flags for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the future
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of the chairperson and 6 members)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges proposed by the president of the republic on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council and confirmed by the Senate; judges normally serve until age 65 but can be extended to age 70; Constitutional Council - the president of the republic, the Senate chairperson, and the 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
regional and local courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives (Mazhilis)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
March 2028
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
3/19/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
98 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
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)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
18.4%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
January 2026
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
1/14/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
50 (40 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
20%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
partial renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
6 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Parlament)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV
Government: National coat of arms
winning design from a competition held in 1992; the design uses the national colors of yellow and blue, with blue standing for the hope for unity, peace, and friendship with all people and gold for a clear future for the country’s population; a shanyrak (the upper dome-like portion of a yurt) represents familial well-being, peace, and calmness, with the circular shape standing for life and eternity; the winged horses, or tulpars , protect the shanyrak and symbolize bravery, prosperity, and inspiration
Government: National color(s)
blue, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Government: National symbol(s)
golden eagle
Government: Political parties
Ak Zhol Democratic Party or Ak Zhol Amanat formerly Nur Otan Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party or Auyl Green Party of Kazakhstan orBaytaq Nationwide Social Democratic Party or NSDP People's Party of Kazakhstan or PPK Respublica
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
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.
Military and Security: Military - note
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 if required; the military also participates in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, as well as regional exercises; in recent years, Kazakhstan has placed greater emphasis on regional military partnerships and equipment modernization and diversification in order to reduce reliance on Russia, its traditional security partner; other efforts to enhance the country’s security sector have included boosting the capabilities of the National Guard and improving military professionalism 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 had a relationship with NATO since 1992 focused on democratic, institutional, and defense reforms (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Land Forces (Army of Kazakhstan), Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police, National Guard Committee for National Security (KNB): Border Guard Service (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
available information varies widely; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 30,000 National Guard (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Kazakh military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has sought to diversify to suppliers such as China, France, Israel, South Korea, and Türkiye; Kazakhstan has a defense industry capable of assembling or producing such items as naval vessels, combat vehicles, helicopters, and radar systems (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.11% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.93% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.83% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.84% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.02% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.91% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.82% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
men 18-27 are subject to conscription for 12-24 months; conscripts may be assigned to the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Border Service, the State Security Service, or the Ministry of Emergency Situations; women may volunteer (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
27.6% (male 2,883,200/female 2,712,772)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62.8% (male 6,233,881/female 6,486,019)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
9.6% (2024 est.) (male 700,091/female 1,244,043)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
16.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0.2% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
7% (2015)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.77% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.8% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
15.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
6.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
59.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
43.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
22% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.86% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.24 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
10.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
6.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
8.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 80.1%, Russian 83.7%, English 35.1% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
78.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
70.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.987 million Almaty, 1.291 million NUR-SULTAN (capital), 1.155 million Shimkent (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
10 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
33.8 years
People and Society: Median age: male
30 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
28.9 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Kazakhstani
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
3.75 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
20,592,571 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.83% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
10,530,359
People and Society: Population: male
9,902,303
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
14 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
14 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.56 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
6.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
35.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
20.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.98 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
62.07% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
1991 - first Kazakh in space on the last Soviet Soyuz mission 2006 - first communications satellite (KazSat-1) built jointly with Italy and launched by Russia 2014 - first remote sensing satellite (KazEOSat-1) built by France and launched on European rocket 2024 - joined China-led lunar base project
Space: Space agency/agencies
Aerospace Committee of the Kazakh Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Ministry (aka National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan or KazCosmos; established 2007) (2025)
Space: Space launch site(s)
Baikonur Cosmodrome/Space Center (Baikonur) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
space program originated with the former Soviet Union; focuses on satellite acquisition and operation; 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; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; has state-owned and private companies that assist with the country’s space program and work closely with foreign commercial entities (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
0 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
66,152 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
7,865 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
132 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
UP
Transportation: Heliports
32 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
122 (2023)
Transportation: Railways: broad gauge
16,636 km (2021) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified)
Transportation: Railways: total
16,636 km (2021)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.