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. 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 thus far 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.

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

48 00 N, 68 00 E

Asia

slightly less than four times the size of Texas

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)

none (landlocked)

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

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

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

35,560 sq km (2003)

109.6 cu km (1997)

earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty

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

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

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)

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

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

17,522,010 (July 2012 est.)

1.235% (2012 est.)

20.44 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

8.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Almaty 1.383 million; ASTANA (capital) 650,000 (2009)

51 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

2.41 children born/woman (2012 est.)

4.3% of GDP (2009)

3.877 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)

urban: 97% of population

rural: 98% of population

total: 97% of population

urban: 3% of population

rural: 2% of population

total: 3% of population

0.1% (2009 est.)

13,000 (2009 est.)

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

4.9% (2006)

2.8% of GDP (2007)

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

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)

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995, amended May 2007 and February 2011

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

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

18 years of age; universal

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)

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

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 and banned as extremist in November 2012); 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] (unregistered); 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]

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]; 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]

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

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

golden eagle

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. GDP increased 7.5% year-on-year in 2011, and 5.5% in 2012. 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 and is planning to accede to the World Trade Organization in 2013.

$232.3 billion (2012 est.)

$220.3 billion (2011 est.)

$204.9 billion (2010 est.)

$200.6 billion (2012 est.)

5.5% (2012 est.)

7.5% (2011 est.)

7.3% (2010 est.)

$13,900 (2012 est.)

$13,200 (2011 est.)

$12,500 (2010 est.)

8.973 million (2012 est.)

5.3% (2012 est.)

5.4% (2011 est.)

8.2% (2009 est.)

26.7 (2009)

31.5 (2003)

21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

21.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

-2.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

15.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

12.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

5.2% (2012 est.)

8.3% (2011 est.)

7.5% (31 December 2011 est.)

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)

6.3% (31 December 2012 est.)

6.71% (31 December 2011 est.)

$27.55 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$26 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$65.71 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$57.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$75.55 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$75.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$43.3 billion (31 December 2011)

$60.74 billion (31 December 2010)

$57.66 billion (31 December 2009)

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

3.4% (2011 est.)

$12.69 billion (2012 est.)

$14.11 billion (2011 est.)

$88.61 billion (2012 est.)

$88.47 billion (2011 est.)

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

China 21.7%, France 9.4%, Germany 8.3%, Russia 5.3%, Italy 5.2%, Canada 4.5%, Romania 4.5% (2011)

$42.82 billion (2012 est.)

$41.21 billion (2011 est.)

machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

China 30.1%, Russia 20%, Germany 7.4%, Ukraine 5% (2011)

$32.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$29.33 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$105.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$103.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$105.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$92.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$20.29 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$18.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

tenge (KZT) per US dollar -

148.6 (2012 est.)

146.62 (2011 est.)

147.36 (2010 est.)

147.5 (2009)

120.25 (2008)

calendar year

86.2 billion kWh (2011 est.)

88.11 billion kWh (2011 est.)

1.8 billion kWh (2011 est.)

3.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)

18.73 million kW (2009 est.)

88.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

11.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

1.635 million bbl/day (2011 est.)

1.078 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

122,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

30 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

301,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)

244,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)

92,880 bbl/day (2011 est.)

94,430 bbl/day (2008 est.)

20.2 billion cu m (2011 est.)

10.2 billion cu m (2011 est.)

8.1 billion cu m (2011 est.)

3.7 billion cu m (2011 est.)

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

184.5 million Mt (2010 est.)

4.266 million (2011)

25.24 million (2011)

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)

.kz

67,464 (2012)

5.299 million (2009)

97 (2012)

3 (2012)

condensate 658 km; gas 12,317 km; oil 11,201 km; refined products 1,095 km; water 1,465 km (2010)

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

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

Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2010)

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

1.1% of GDP (2010)

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

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