2014 Edition

Background

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. 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. 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 percent 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; managing Islamic revivalism; 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.

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. During

developing a cohesive national identity; managing Islamic revivalism; 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

2,724,900 sq km 2,699,700 sq km 25,200 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

Vpadina Kaundy -132 m Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

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

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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)

21.14 cu km/yr (4%/30%/66%) 1,304 cu m/yr (2010)

per capita

1,304 cu m/yr (2010)

total

21.14 cu km/yr (4%/30%/66%)

Geographic coordinates

48 00 N, 68 00 E

Geography - note

world's largest landlocked country; 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

20,660 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

12,185 km China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

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

8.82% 0.03% 91.15% (2011)

arable land

8.82%

other

91.15% (2011)

permanent crops

0.03%

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

107.5 cu km (2011)

Age structure

25.1% (male 2,247,628/female 2,254,744) 16.1% (male 1,469,275/female 1,418,175) 42.6% (male 3,720,498/female 3,927,626) 9.2% (male 724,683/female 935,416) 6.8% (male 429,565/female 821,206) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

25.1% (male 2,247,628/female 2,254,744)

15-24 years

16.1% (male 1,469,275/female 1,418,175)

25-54 years

42.6% (male 3,720,498/female 3,927,626)

55-64 years

9.2% (male 724,683/female 935,416)

65 years and over

6.8% (male 429,565/female 821,206) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

19.61 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

59,254 2 % (2006 est.)

percentage

2 % (2006 est.)

total number

59,254

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

51% (2011)

Death rate

8.31 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

48.7 % 38.7 % 10 % 10 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10 %

potential support ratio

10 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

48.7 %

youth dependency ratio

38.7 %

Drinking water source

urban: 99.2% of population rural: 86% of population total: 93.1% of population urban: 0.8% of population rural: 14% of population total: 6.9% of population (2012 est.)

rural

14% of population

total

6.9% of population (2012 est.)

urban

0.8% of population

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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.)

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

21.61 deaths/1,000 live births 24.34 deaths/1,000 live births 19.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

19.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

21.61 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

70.24 years 64.98 years 75.17 years (2014 est.)

female

75.17 years (2014 est.)

total population

70.24 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99.7% 99.8% 99.7% (2009 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2009 est.)

male

99.8%

total population

99.7%

Major urban areas - population

Almaty 1.426 million; ASTANA (capital) 664,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

51 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

29.7 years 28.4 years 31.1 years (2014 est.)

female

31.1 years (2014 est.)

male

28.4 years

total

29.7 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

25 (2011 est.)

Nationality

Kazakhstani(s) Kazakhstani

adjective

Kazakhstani

noun

Kazakhstani(s)

Net migration rate

0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.7% (2008)

Physicians density

3.84 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

17,948,816 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

1.17% (2014 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97% of population rural: 98% of population total: 97.5% of population urban: 3% of population rural: 2% of population total: 2.5% of population (2012 est.)

rural

2% of population

total

2.5% of population (2012 est.)

urban

3% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

15 years 15 years 15 years (2012)

female

15 years (2012)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0.94 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.52 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.52 male(s)/female

at birth

0.94 male(s)/female

total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.34 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

3.9% 2.9% 5.1% (2012)

female

5.1% (2012)

total

3.9%

Urbanization

53.6% of total population (2011) 0.87% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.87% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

53.6% of total population (2011)

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 [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz) 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

Astana 51 10 N, 71 25 E UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Kazakhstan has two time zones

geographic coordinates

51 10 N, 71 25 E

name

Astana

time difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1937, 1978 (preindependence ); latest adopted 28 January 1993, approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995; amended 1998, 2007, 2011 (2012)

Country name

Republic of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Qazaqstan Respublikasy Qazaqstan Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

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

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John ORDWAY Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Ave. No 3, Astana 010010 use embassy street address [7] (7172) 70-21-00 [7] (7172) 54-09-14

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John ORDWAY

embassy

Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Ave. No 3, Astana 010010

FAX

[7] (7172) 54-09-14

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[7] (7172) 70-21-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Kayrat UMAROV (since 14 January 2013) 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 232-5488 [1] (202) 232-5845 New York

chancery

1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Kayrat UMAROV (since 14 January 2013)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 232-5845

telephone

[1] (202) 232-5488

Executive branch

President Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991) Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 2 April 2014); First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan SAGINTAYEV (since 16 January 2013); Deputy Prime Ministers Gulshara ABDYKALIKOVA (since 28 November 2013), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 25 September 2012); Bakyt SULTANOV (since 6 November 2013) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016); 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; NAZARBAYEV has official status as the "First President of Kazakhstan" and is allowed unlimited terms constitutional amendments of February 2011 moved election date from 2012 to April 2011 but kept five-year term; subsequent election to take place in 2016 Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV 95.5%, other 4.5%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

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

election results

Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV 95.5%, other 4.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016); 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; NAZARBAYEV has official status as the "First President of Kazakhstan" and is allowed unlimited terms

head of government

Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 2 April 2014); First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan SAGINTAYEV (since 16 January 2013); Deputy Prime Ministers Gulshara ABDYKALIKOVA (since 28 November 2013), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 25 September 2012); Bakyt SULTANOV (since 6 November 2013)

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 law organization participation

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

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate 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, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 members) Supreme Court judges proposed by the president of ther epublic on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council - the president of the republic, the Senate chairperson, the Majilis chairperson each appoints one member for a 3-year term and each appoints one member for a 6-year term; chairperson of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president of the republic for a 6-year term regional and local courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges proposed by the president of ther epublic on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council - the president of the republic, the Senate chairperson, the Majilis chairperson each appoints one member for a 3-year term and each appoints one member for a 6-year term; chairperson of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president of the republic for a 6-year term

subordinate courts

regional and local courts

Legal system

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

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) Senate - (indirect) last held in August 2011 (next to be held in 2014); Mazhilis - last held on 15 January 2012 (next to be held in 2017) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nur Otan 16; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur-Otan 81%, Ak Zhol 7.5%, Communist People's Party 7.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - Nur-Otan 83, Ak Zhol 8, Communist People's Party 7

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nur Otan 16; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur-Otan 81%, Ak Zhol 7.5%, Communist People's Party 7.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - Nur-Otan 83, Ak Zhol 8, Communist People's Party 7

elections

Senate - (indirect) last held in August 2011 (next to be held in 2014); Mazhilis - last held on 15 January 2012 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

"Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan) Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics

lyrics/music

Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV

name

"Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

Political parties and leaders

Ak Zhol Party (Bright Path) [Azat PERUASHEV] Alga [Vladimir KOZLOV] (unregistered and banned as extremist in November 2012) Auyl (Village) [Gani KALIYEV] Azat (Freedom) Party [Bolat ABILOV] (formerly True Ak Zhol Party) Birlik (Unity) [Seril SULTANGALI] (Birlik is an April 2013 merger of Adilet (Justice; formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan) and Rukhaniyat (Spirituality)) NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY] Communist Party of Kazakhstan or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN] (suspended by court decision) Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV] National Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY] Nur Otan (Fatherland's Ray of Light) [Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, Nurlan NIGMATULIN] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan) Patriots' Party [Gani KASYMOV]

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, Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV] Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, Chairman of Bureau's Council, Roza AKYLBEKOVA, director] Khalyk Maidany (Peoples' Front) - an informal union between the unregistered Alga Party, the unregistered Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and several opposition-oriented civil society groups, banned in November 2012 [no formal leader] Pan-National Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY] Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman] Republican Network of International Monitors [Daniyar LIVAZOV] Transparency International [Sergey ZLOTNIKOV]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$43.88 billion $49 billion (2013 est.)

expenditures

$49 billion (2013 est.)

revenues

$43.88 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.5% (31 December 2012 est.) 7.5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2013 est.) 6.6% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$1.965 billion (2013 est.) $640.5 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$131.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $133.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.9 (2011) 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. In 2002 Kazakhstan became the first country in the former Soviet Union to receive an investment-grade credit rating. Extractive industries have been and will continue to be the engine of Kazakhstan's growth, although the country is aggressively pursuing diversification strategies. Landlocked, with restricted access to the high seas, Kazakhstan relies on its neighbors to export its products, especially oil and grain. Although its Caspian Sea ports, pipelines, and rail lines carrying oil have been upgraded, civil aviation and roadways continue to need attention. Telecoms are improving, but require considerable investment, as does the information technology base. Supply and distribution of electricity can be erratic because of regional dependencies, but the country is moving forward with plans to improve reliability of electricity and gas supply to its population. At the end of 2007, global financial markets froze up and the loss of capital inflows to Kazakhstani banks caused a credit crunch. The subsequent and sharp fall of oil and commodity prices in 2008 aggravated the economic situation, and Kazakhstan plunged into recession. While the global financial crisis took a significant toll on Kazakhstan's economy, it has rebounded well, helped by prudent government measures. Rising commodity prices have helped the recovery. Despite solid macroeconomic indicators, the government realizes that its economy suffers from an overreliance on oil and extractive industries, the so-called "Dutch disease." In response, Kazakhstan has embarked on an ambitious diversification program, aimed at developing targeted sectors like transport, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, petrochemicals and food processing. In 2010 Kazakhstan joined the Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia Customs Union in an effort to boost foreign investment and improve trade relationships.

Exchange rates

tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 151.8 (2013 est.) 149.11 (2012 est.) 147.36 (2010 est.) 147.5 (2009) 120.25 (2008)

Exports

$87.23 billion (2013 est.) $86.93 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 19.3%, Italy 18.1%, Netherlands 8.8%, France 6.6%, Switzerland 5.8%, Austria 5.8% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

51% 12.4% 22.1% 2.5% 44.6% -32.6% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

44.6%

government consumption

12.4%

household consumption

51%

imports of goods and services

-32.6%

investment in fixed capital

22.1%

investment in inventories

2.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

5.2% 37.9% 56.9% (2011 est.)

agriculture

5.2%

industry

37.9%

services

56.9% (2011 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,100 (2013 est.) $13,700 (2012 est.) $13,200 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2013 est.) 5.1% (2012 est.) 7.5% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$224.9 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$243.6 billion (2013 est.) $231.9 billion (2012 est.) $220.6 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving

28.8% of GDP (2013 est.) 23.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 28.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.9% 23.7% (2011 est.)

highest 10%

23.7% (2011 est.)

lowest 10%

3.9%

Imports

$52.03 billion (2013 est.) $49.08 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 28%, Ukraine 10.9%, Germany 8.5%, US 7.9% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2013 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.8% (2013 est.) 5.1% (2012 est.)

Labor force

9.022 million (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

25.8% 11.9% 62.3% (2012)

agriculture

25.8%

industry

11.9%

services

62.3% (2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$23.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $43.3 billion (31 December 2011) $60.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

5.3% (2011 est.)

Public debt

15.6% of GDP (2013 est.) 13.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$29.34 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $28.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$70.36 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $65.71 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$26.53 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $25.53 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$123.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $111.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$87.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $83.08 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$24.51 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $25.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.3% (2013 est.) 5.3% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

195.4 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.406 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

119,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

1.606 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

30 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

88.11 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.8 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

11.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

18.73 million kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

90.53 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

10.2 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - exports

9.7 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

10.7 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

20.2 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

244,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

149,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

94,430 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

288,600 bbl/day (2010 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; 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 2015 (2008)

Internet country code

.kz

Internet hosts

67,464 (2012)

Internet users

5.299 million (2009)

Telephone system

inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization 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 has increased rapidly and the subscriber base now exceeds 140 per 100 persons 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)

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 has increased rapidly and the subscriber base now exceeds 140 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

4.34 million (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

28.731 million (2012)

Airports

96 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

8 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

15

2,438 to 3,047 m

25

914 to 1,523 m

5

over 3,047 m

10

total

63

under 914 m

8 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

13 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

7

914 to 1,523 m

5

over 3,047 m

5

total

33

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 3 (Austria 1, Ireland 1, Turkey 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

3 (Austria 1, Ireland 1, Turkey 1) (2010)

total

11

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

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

major seaport(s)

Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev)

river port(s)

Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk) (Irtysh River)

Railways

15,333 km 15,333 km 1.520-m gauge (4,000 km electrified) (2012)

total

15,333 km

Roadways

97,418 km 87,140 km 10,278 km (2012)

total

97,418 km

unpaved

10,278 km (2012)

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

4,163,629 4,179,051 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

4,179,051 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

4,163,629

Manpower fit for military service

2,909,999 3,528,169 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

3,528,169 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,909,999

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

125,322 119,541 (2010 est.)

female

119,541 (2010 est.)

male

125,322

Military branches

Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2013)

Kazakhstan Armed Forces

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2013)

Military expenditures

1.21% of GDP (2012) 0.97% of GDP (2011) 1.21% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 2 years, but Kazakhstan may be transitioning to a contract force; 19 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; military cadets in intermediate (ages 15-17) and higher (ages 17-21) education institutes are classified as military service personnel (2012)

Disputes - international

Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; field demarcation of the boundaries commenced with Uzbekistan in 2004 and with Turkmenistan in 2005; ongoing demarcation with Russia began in 2007; demarcation with China was completed in 2002; creation of a seabed boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under discussion; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

6,935 (2012)

stateless persons

6,935 (2012)