Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

 
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
View Text Low Bandwidth Version Download Publication
Central Asia :: Kazakhstan
page last updated on October 4, 2012
Flag of Kazakhstan
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Kazakhstan
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Kazakhstan
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
Photos of Kazakhstan
 
Navigation Arrow view 6 photos Opens in New Window
of Kazakhstan
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Back to Top
Geography ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in eastern-most Europe
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
48 00 N, 68 00 E
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 2,724,900 sq km
country comparison to the world: 9
land: 2,699,700 sq km
water: 25,200 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 12,185 km
border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (landlocked)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 8.28%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 91.67% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
35,560 sq km (2003)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
109.6 cu km (1997)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 35 cu km/yr (2%/17%/82%)
per capita: 2,360 cu m/yr (2000)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Back to Top
People ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.1%, Russian 23.7%, Uzbek 2.8%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Uighur 1.4%, Tatar 1.3%, German 1.1%, other 4.5% (1999 census)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
17,522,010 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 24.4% (male 2,154,544/ female 2,126,508)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 5,846,991/ female 6,213,990)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 404,254/ female 775,723) (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 29.3 years
male: 27.9 years
female: 30.8 years (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.235% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
20.44 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
urban population: 59% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Almaty 1.383 million; ASTANA (capital) 650,000 (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
at birth: 0.94 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
51 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 106
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 23.06 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 85
male: 25.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: 69.63 years
country comparison to the world: 149
male: 64.34 years
female: 74.59 years (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.41 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3.877 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
13,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4.9% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 85
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.8% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 138
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.3% (1999 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 6.7%
country comparison to the world: 118
male: 6.8%
female: 8.2% (2008)
Back to Top
Government ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form: Kazakhstan
local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
local short form: Qazaqstan
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: Astana
geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Kazakhstan is divided into two time zones
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995, amended May 2007
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age; universal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Serik AKHMETOV (since 24 September 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October 2007), Kairat KELIMBETOV (since 20 January 2011), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 25 September 2012), Krymbek KUSHERBAYEV (since 27 September 2012)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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; changes will take effect after NAZARBAYEV's term ends; he, and only he, is allowed to run for president indefinitely
note: 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
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 95.5%, other 4.5%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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)
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)
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (seven members)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, 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) [Azat PERUASHEV]; 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]; note - currently suspended; 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]; Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) [Altynshash ZHAGANOVA]
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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, executive director]; 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]
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador Yerlan IDRISOV
chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth FAIRFAX
embassy: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00
FAX: [7] (7172) 34-08-90
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
golden eagle
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: "Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)
lyrics/music: Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV
note: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics
Back to Top
Economy ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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. Kazakhstan's economy has largely recovered from the global financial crisis of 2008, and GDP increased 7% year-on-year in 2011. Extractive industries have been and will continue to be the engine of this growth. 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 have been neglected. 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. 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. In response to the crisis, Kazakhstan's government devalued the tenge (Kazakhstan's currency) to stabilize market pressures and injected around $10 billion in economic stimulus. Rising commodity prices have helped revive Kazakhstan's economy, which registered roughly 7% growth in 2010-11. 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. The government expects to join the World Trade Organization in 2012, which should also help to develop the manufacturing and service sector base.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$219.6 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$204.2 billion (2010 est.)
$190.4 billion (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$178.3 billion (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7.5% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
7.3% (2010 est.)
1.2% (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$13,200 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$12,400 (2010 est.)
$11,800 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 37.9%
services: 56.9% (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.777 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 25.9%
industry: 11.9%
services: 62.2% (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
5.8% (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.2% (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 23.8% (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
26.7 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
31.5 (2003)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $36.64 billion
expenditures: $40.52 billion (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
20.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-2.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
12.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
15.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
7.1% (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7.5% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7.1% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
8.161% (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$31.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$21.14 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$65.71 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$66.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$72.76 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$67.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$43.3 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 51
$60.74 billion (31 December 2010)
$57.66 billion (31 December 2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$13.61 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$3.013 billion (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$88.89 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$60.84 billion (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals 5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
China 21.7%, France 9.4%, Germany 8.3%, Russia 5.3%, Italy 5.2%, Canada 4.5%, Romania 4.5% (2011)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$42.13 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$31.96 billion (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
China 30.2%, Russia 20%, Germany 7.4%, Ukraine 5% (2011)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$29.32 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$28.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$122.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$108.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$92.23 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$79.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$18.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$13.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
146.62 (2011 est.)
147.36 (2010 est.)
147.5 (2009)
120.25 (2008)
122.55 (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
calendar year
Back to Top
Energy ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
86.2 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
88.11 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.8 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18.73 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
88.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
11.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.635 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.078 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
122,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
30 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
301,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
244,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
92,880 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
94,430 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
20.2 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
10.2 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8.1 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3.7 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
184.5 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Back to Top
Communications ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4.237 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 41
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
23.103 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 43
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization
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 130 per 100 persons
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)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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 operating along with state-run radio stations; recent legislation requires all media outlets to register with the government and all TV poviders to broadcast in digital format by 2015 (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.kz
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
65,988 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5.299 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 44
Back to Top
Transportation ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
97 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 62
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 33
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 13 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
condensate 658 km; gas 12,317 km; oil 11,201 km; refined products 1,095 km; water 1,465 km (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 15,079 km
country comparison to the world: 19
broad gauge: 15,079 km 1.520-m gauge (4,000 km electrified) (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 93,612 km
country comparison to the world: 49
paved: 84,100 km
unpaved: 9,512 km (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4,000 km (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 11
country comparison to the world: 109
by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Austria 1, Ireland 1, Turkey 1) (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Back to Top
Military ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 4,163,629
females age 16-49: 4,179,051 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 2,909,999
females age 16-49: 3,528,169 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
male: 125,322
female: 119,541 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.1% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 121
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Kazakhstan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
refugees (country of origin): 3,700 (Russia); 508 (Afghanistan) (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All
  The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.