Kazakhstan Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 26, 2020

Kazakhstan, a state located between the Caspian Sea and the Altai Mountains; 2.7 million km², 18.3 million residents (2019).Kazakhstan borders in the north to the Russian Federation, in the east to China and in the south to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Following a declaration of sovereignty on October 25, 1990, Kazakhstan proclaimed itself an independent state under the name of the Republic of Kazakhstan on December 16, 1991. In the same year, Kazakhstan joined the CIS. The capital is Nur-Sultan (1 million residents, 2018).

Country facts

Qazaqstan Republic / Kazakhstan Republic
Country abbreviation: KZ
Area: 2.7 million km²
Population (2019): 18.3 million residents
Capital: Nur-Sultan
Main languages: Kazakh, Russian
State: Republic
Head of State: Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev (President)
Head of Government: Askar Mamin
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 9,331
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 7,830
Coin unit: 1 tenge = 100 dice
Currency code: KZT
Country number (telephony): 7
Internet domain name: kz
Time difference compared to Sweden: +3 to +5
National Day: October 25 (Republic Day, 1990)
Independence Day: December 16, 1991

Nature

Land use: forest (4%), agricultural land (12%), other (84%)
Highest mountain: Talgar (4,951 m above sea level)
Longest river: Syr-Darja (2,580 km)

Population

Population density (2019): 7 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 1.6%; birth rate 23 ‰, death rate 7 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (25%), 15-64 (68%), 65- (7%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 68 years, women 77 years
Infant mortality (2019): 9 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 25 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.800 (place 58 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 58%
Most populous cities (2018): Alma-Ata (1.8 million residents), Nur-Sultan (1 million), Tjimkent (951,600)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (5%), industry (34%), service (61%)
Exports (2017): US $ 49 290 million
Main export products: oil, metal, chemicals
Main exporting countries: Italy, China, Netherlands
Import (2017). US $ 31 850 million
Main import products: machinery, chemicals, food
Main importing countries: Russian Federation, China, Germany
Railway network (2017): 16,600 km

Kazakhstan is dominated by large plains in the south. Like the Turan lowlands with Lake Aral in the center, these plains are old seabed. The eastern part of Lake Balchasj is a highland, and the border regions in the southeast to Kyrgyzstan and in the east to China are mountainous. Most of Kazakhstan has a pronounced continental climate.

The current constitution provides for a parliament with two chambers: the Senate and the Assembly. The latter is elected in general elections for five years. According to the constitution, the president is elected for five years, but Nazarbayev has, through legislative changes, succeeded in extending his term of office.

During the Soviet period, Kazakhstan’s business was governed by the Soviet Union’s central planning, and by virtue of its rich natural resources, the country was primarily a commodity producer. Kazakhstan has abundant deposits of fossil fuels and minerals. large oil and gas assets, while the country’s industry is outdated and poorly developed. Animal breeding, which is the traditional industry, still has some significance, but the oil and gas industry is now the basis of the economy. More recently, the country has also attracted many foreign investments.