2010 Edition

Background

Ethnic Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in 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. 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) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 drove many of these newcomers to emigrate. 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 outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness; developing a multiparty parliament and advancing political and social reform; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.

Area

land

2,699,700 sq km

total

2,724,900 sq km

water

25,200 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Climate

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

Coastline

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)

Elevation extremes

highest point

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

lowest point

Vpadina Kaundy -132 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

2,360 cu m/yr (2000)

total

35 cu km/yr (2%/17%/82%)

Geographic coordinates

48 00 N, 68 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050

Irrigated land

35,560 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

total

12,185 km

Land use

arable land

8.28%

other

91.67% (2005)

permanent crops

0.05%

Location

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

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty

Natural resources

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

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

Total renewable water resources

109.6 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.8% (male 1,717,469/female 1,643,920) 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 5,279,292/female 5,534,607) 65 years and over: 7.9% (male 426,494/female 797,655) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

16.66 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

9.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uighur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

20.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

29.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

24.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.78 years (2010 est.)

male

62.91 years

total population

68.19 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.3% (1999 est.)

male

99.8%

total population

99.5%

Median age

female

31.6 years (2010 est.)

male

28.4 years

total

29.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Kazakhstani

noun

Kazakhstani(s)

Net migration rate

-3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

15,460,484 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.399% (2010 est.)

Religions

Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2009)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.058 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

58% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy [Baykonur]*, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy [South Kazakhstan] (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz) 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 Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baykonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the lease to 2050

Capital

geographic coordinates

51 10 N, 71 25 E

name

Astana

time difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Kazakhstan is divided into two time zones

Constitution

first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Kazakhstan

conventional short form

Kazakhstan

former

Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Qazaqstan Respublikasy

local short form

Qazaqstan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND

embassy

Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010

FAX

[7] (7172) 34-08-90

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[7] (7172) 70-21-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Yerlan IDRISSOV

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 232-5845

telephone

[1] (202) 232-5488

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991)

election results

Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A. TUYAKBAY 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAYMENOV 1.6%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, with Mazhilis approval; note - constitutional amendments of May 2007 shortened the presidential term from seven years to five years and established a two-consecutive-term limit; changes will take effect after NAZARBAYEV's term ends; he, and only he, is allowed to run for president indefinitely

head of government

Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak SHUKEYEV (since 3 March 2009), Deputy Prime Ministers Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October 2007), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 12 March 2010)

Flag description

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

Government type

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Independence

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (seven members)

Legal system

based on Islamic law and Roman law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 15 members are appointed by the president; 32 members elected by local assemblies; members serve six-year terms, but elections are staggered with half of the members up for re-election every three years) and the Mazhilis (107 seats; 9 out of the 107 Mazhilis members elected by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a presidentially appointed advisory body designed to represent the country's ethnic minorities; non-appointed members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nur Otan 16; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur-Otan 88.1%, NSDP 4.6%, Ak Zhol 3.3%, Auyl 1.6%, Communist People's Party 1.3%, Patriots Party 0.8% Ruhaniyat 0.4%; seats by party - Nur-Otan 98; note - parties had to achieve a threshold of 7% of the electorate to qualify for seats in the Mazhilis; changes to electoral legislation enacted since the 2007 election now ensure that the second-placed party will enter the Majilis at the next parliamentary election, even if it does not clear the 7% threshold

elections

Senate - (indirect) last held in October 2008 (next to be held in 2011); Mazhilis - last held on 18 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV note: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics

name

"Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, Zeynulla ALSHIMBAYEV, Serik ABDRAHMANOV, Bakhytbek AKHMETZHAN, Yerkin ONGARBAYEV, Tolegan SYDYKOV] (formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan); Agrarian and Industrial Union of Workers Block or AIST (Agrarian Party and Civic Party); Ak Zhol Party (Bright Path) [Alikhan BAYMENOV]; Alga [Vladimir KOZLOV] (unregistered); Auyl (Village) [Gani KALIYEV]; Azat (Freedom) Party [Bolat ABILOV] (formerly True Ak Zhol Party); Azat NSDP [co-chaired by Bolat ABILOV and Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Azat and NSDP united in 2009, but the authorities have refused to register Azat NSDP as a single party; Communist Party of Kazakhstan or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN]; Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]; National Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Nur-Otan [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan); Patriots' Party [Gani KASYMOV]; Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) [Altynshash ZHAGANOVA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Committee [Ninel FOKINA]; Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; For Fair Elections [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS (jailed), Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV]; Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Pan-National Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors [Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergey ZLOTNIKOV]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2009) 10.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance

$6.993 billion (2010 est.) -$3.405 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$94.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $106.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.8 (2008) 31.5 (2003)

Economy - overview

Kazakhstan, geographically the largest of the former Soviet republics, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves and plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals, such as uranium, copper, and zinc. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. Kazakhstan's industrial sector is primarily focused on the extraction and processing of these natural resources. Kazakhstan enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 and 8% or more per year in 2002-07 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector but also to economic reform, good harvests, and increased foreign investment; GDP growth slowed dramatically following the near-collapse of the banking sector in late 2007 and the declines in oil and metals prices associated with the global economic downturn in 2008-09. Kazakhstan has embarked upon an industrial policy designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the oil sector as well expanding export markets away from its historical reliance on Russia. Nevertheless, growth is still driven by oil. The government has engaged in several disputes with Western oil companies over the terms of production agreements, most recently, with regard to the Kashagan project in 2007-08 and the Karachaganak project in 2009.

Electricity - consumption

77.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.94 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

78.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 147.28 (2010), 147.5 (2009), 120.25 (2008), 122.55 (2007), 126.09 (2006)

Exports

$59.23 billion (2010 est.) $43.84 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals 5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal

Exports - partners

China 16.34%, France 9.23%, Germany 8.32%, Russia 6.9%, Ukraine 5.52%, Romania 5.25%, Italy 5.12%, US 4.34% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6%

industry

42.8%

services

51.2% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,500 (2010 est.) $12,000 (2009 est.) $11,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2010 est.) 1.2% (2009 est.) 3.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$129.8 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$193.8 billion (2010 est.) $184.8 billion (2009 est.) $182.6 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 26.5% (2004 est.)

Imports

$30.11 billion (2010 est.) $28.77 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Russia 28.5%, China 26.72%, Germany 6.59%, Italy 5.58%, Ukraine 4.8% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

7.3% (2010 est.)

Industries

oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.7% (2010 est.) 7.3% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

8.718 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

31.5%

industry

18.4%

services

50% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$57.66 billion (31 December 2009) $31.08 billion (31 December 2008) $41.38 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

33.68 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

17.66 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.72 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

35.61 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

241,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

1.345 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

164,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

1.54 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

30 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.1% (2008)

Public debt

15.9% of GDP (2010 est.) 14.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$32.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $23.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$65.55 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $52.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.208 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.708 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$83.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $69.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$44.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $39.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$20.91 billion (31 December 2010 est) $16.66 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

5.5% (2010 est.) 6.3% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; nearly all nationwide TV networks are wholly or partly owned by the government; some former state-owned media outlets have been privatized and are controlled by the president's daughter, who heads the Khabar Agency that runs multiple TV and radio stations; a number of privately-owned TV stations; households with satellite dishes have access to foreign media; a small number of commercial radio stations operating along with state-run radio stations (2008)

Internet country code

.kz

Internet hosts

53,984 (2010)

Internet users

5.299 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is gradually increasing and fixed-line teledensity now roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is increasing and the subscriber base now is roughly 100 per 100 persons

general assessment

inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization

international

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 Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.763 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14.995 million (2009)

Airports

97 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

65 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

32 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 13 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

1 (Ireland 1) (2010)

total

8

Pipelines

condensate 658 km; gas 11,146 km; oil 10,376 km; refined products 1,095 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Railways

broad gauge

15,082 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2008)

total

15,082 km

Roadways

paved

84,100 km

total

93,612 km

unpaved

9,512 km (2008)

Waterways

4,000 km; on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 4,176,999 females age 16-49: 4,202,422 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,902,859 females age 16-49: 3,543,467 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

127,415 (2010 est.)

male

133,884

Military branches

Kazakhstani Armed Forces

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2010)

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004)

Disputes - international

Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; field demarcation of the boundaries with Turkmenistan commenced in 2005, and with Uzbekistan in 2004; demarcation is scheduled to get underway with Russia in 2007; demarcation with China was completed in 2002; creation of a seabed boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under discussion; equidistant seabed treaties have been ratified with Azerbaijan and Russia in the Caspian Sea, but no resolution has been made on dividing the water column among any of the littoral states

Illicit drugs

significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; significant consumer of opiates page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

3,700 (Russia); 508 (Afghanistan) (2007)