2020 Edition

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.  

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)

Elevation

highest point

Pik Khan-Tengri 7,010 m note - the northern most 7,000 meter peak in the World

lowest point

Qauyndy Oyysy -132 m

mean elevation

387 m

Geographic coordinates

48 00 N, 68 00 E

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

Irrigated land

17,794 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 1,765 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,212 km; Russia 7,644 km; Turkmenistan 413 km; Uzbekistan 2,330 km

total

13,364 km

Land use

agricultural land

79.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.)

forest

1.3% (2023 est.)

other

19.3% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 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

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

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)

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

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

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

Age structure

0-14 years

27.6% (male 2,883,200/female 2,712,772)

15-64 years

62.8% (male 6,233,881/female 6,486,019)

65 years and over

9.6% (2024 est.) (male 700,091/female 1,244,043)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

16.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0.2% (2015)

women married by age 18

7% (2015)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

63.8% (2021 est.)

Death rate

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

15.8 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

6.3 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

59.4 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

43.6 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

22% national budget (2024 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.24 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

8.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 80.1%, Russian 83.7%, English 35.1% (2021 est.)

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.9 years

male

69 years

total population

73.3 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.987 million Almaty, 1.291 million NUR-SULTAN (capital), 1.155 million Shimkent (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

33.8 years

male

30 years

total

32.1 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.9 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Kazakhstani

noun

Kazakhstani(s)

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21% (2016)

Physician density

3.75 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

10,530,359

male

9,902,303

total

20,432,662 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.83% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 69.3%, Christian 17.2% (Orthodox 17%, other 0.2%), Buddhism 0.1%, other 0.1%, non-believers 2.3%, unspecified 11% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2024 est.)

male

14 years (2024 est.)

total

14 years (2024 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.56 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

6.3% (2025 est.)

male

35.7% (2025 est.)

total

20.1% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.57 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

58.2% of total population (2023)

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)

Capital

etymology

the name means "capital city" in Kazakh

geographic coordinates

51 10 N, 71 25 E

name

Astana

time difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

On 1 March 2024, Kazakhstan moved from using two time zones to one

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Kazakhstan

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

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

history

previous 1937, 1978 (pre-independence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Kazakhstan

conventional short form

Kazakhstan

etymology

the name may derive from the Turkic word kazak, meaning "nomad;" the Persian suffix -stan means "place of" or "country"

former

Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Qazaqstan Respublikasy

local short form

Qazaqstan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador-designate Julie STUFFT; Chargé d'Affaires Deborah ROBINSON (since January 2025)

consulate(s) general

Almaty

email address and website

USAKZ@state.gov https://kz.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3, Astana 010010

FAX

[7] (7172) 54-09-14

mailing address

2230 Astana Place, Washington DC 20521-2230

telephone

[7] (7172) 70-21-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Magzhan ILYASSOV (since 16 December 2025)

consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

email address and website

washington@mfa.kz https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington?lang=en

FAX

[1] (202) 232-5845

telephone

[1] (202) 232-5488

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

chief of state

President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019)

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%

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

expected date of next election

2029

head of government

Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024)

most recent election date

20 November 2022

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 type

presidential republic

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, 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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of the chairperson and 6 members)

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

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

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Parlament)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives (Mazhilis)

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

March 2028

most recent election date

3/19/2023

number of seats

98 (all directly elected)

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)

percentage of women in chamber

18.4%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate

expected date of next election

January 2026

most recent election date

1/14/2023

number of seats

50 (40 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)

percentage of women in chamber

20%

scope of elections

partial renewal

term in office

6 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics

lyrics/music

Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV

title

"Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)

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

National color(s)

blue, yellow

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)

total World Heritage Sites

6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, barley, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons, sunflower seeds, maize, onions, tomatoes (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

50.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$47.247 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$44.25 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

$6.436 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$9.448 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$3.702 billion (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$25.765 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

upper-middle-income Central Asian economy; robust growth due to rising oil production, expansion in manufacturing and services, rising domestic demand, and infrastructure investments; however, rapid growth contributing to high inflation rate; declining unemployment and poverty rates

Exchange rates

Currency

tenge (KZT) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

412.953 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

425.908 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

460.165 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

456.165 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

468.962 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$93.822 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$90.926 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$91.908 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, gold, radioactive chemicals, refined copper, copper ore (2023)

Exports - partners

China 16%, UK 15%, Russia 10%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

34.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption

11.1% (2023 est.)

household consumption

51.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-27.5% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

3.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.9% (2024 est.)

industry

31.4% (2024 est.)

services

58.2% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$288.406 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

29.2 (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.8% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

4.3% (2021 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$60.439 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$72.723 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$74.246 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, vehicle bodies, packaged medicine (2023)

Imports - partners

China 28%, Russia 24%, Gambia, The 4%, Turkey 4%, USA 4% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

6.6% (2024 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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

15% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

14.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

8.8% (2024 est.)

Labor force

10.285 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

5.2% (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

20.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$671.285 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$705.52 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$739.385 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$33,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$34,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$35,900 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$35.076 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$35.965 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$45.808 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

11.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

4.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4.9% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

4.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

4.8% (2024 est.)

male

3% (2024 est.)

total

3.8% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

86.349 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

34.043 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

114,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

production

120.279 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

25.605 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

106.201 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

2.243 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

3.694 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

27.624 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

9.439 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

87.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

172.936 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

22.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

7.071 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

408.952 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

28.769 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

2.407 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

1 (2025)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

30 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

1.955 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2023 est.)

total

3.59 million (2023 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.kz

Internet users

percent of population

93% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

2.574 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

127 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

26.2 million (2024 est.)

Airports

132 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

UP

Heliports

32 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112

total

122 (2023)

Railways

broad gauge

16,636 km (2021) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified)

total

16,636 km (2021)

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 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 service personnel strengths

available information varies widely; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 30,000 National Guard (2025)

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 expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

0 (2024 est.)

refugees

66,152 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

7,865 (2024 est.)

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 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 launch site(s)

Baikonur Cosmodrome/Space Center (Baikonur) (2025)

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)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

175.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

43.596 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

50.387 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

269.83 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

781.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

1,903.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

17.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

184.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

38.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

108.41 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

14.264 billion cubic meters (2022)

industrial

5.995 billion cubic meters (2022)

municipal

4.877 billion cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

4.66 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

3.8% (2022 est.)