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Central Asia :: Kazakhstan

- ## Introduction :: KAZAKHSTAN

- 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.

- ## Geography :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Location:
  Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in easternmost Europe
  Geographic coordinates:
  48 00 N, 68 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 2,724,900 sq km
  land: 2,699,700 sq km
  water: 25,200 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Area - comparative:
  slightly less than four times the size of Texas
  Land boundaries:
  total: 13,364 km
  border countries (5): China 1,765 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,212 km, Russia 7,644 km, Turkmenistan 413 km, Uzbekistan 2,330 km
  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)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  Climate:
  continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
  highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
  Natural resources:
  major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 77.4%
  arable land 8.9%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 68.5%
  forest: 1.2%
  other: 21.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  20,660 sq km (2010)
  Total renewable water resources:
  107.5 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 21.14 cu km/yr (4%/30%/66%)
  per capita: 1,304 cu m/yr (2010)
  Natural hazards:
  earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty
  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:
  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
  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

- ## People and Society :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Nationality:
  noun: Kazakhstani(s)
  adjective: Kazakhstani
  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.)
  Languages:
  Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
  Religions:
  Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox), other 0.2%, atheist 2.8%, unspecified 0.5% (2009 est.)
  Population:
  18,157,122 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 25.41% (male 2,294,513/female 2,319,233)
  15-24 years: 15.33% (male 1,417,344/female 1,366,655)
  25-54 years: 42.59% (male 3,768,418/female 3,965,188)
  55-64 years: 9.49% (male 753,011/female 970,569)
  65 years and over: 7.17% (male 448,857/female 853,334) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 50.3%
  youth dependency ratio: 40.1%
  elderly dependency ratio: 10.1%
  potential support ratio: 9.9% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 29.7 years
  male: 28.4 years
  female: 31.1 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.14% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Birth rate:
  19.15 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Death rate:
  8.21 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Net migration rate:
  0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 53.2% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  Almaty 1.523 million; ASTANA (capital) 759,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 0.94 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 20.92 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 23.63 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 18.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 70.55 years
  male: 65.3 years
  female: 75.46 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Total fertility rate:
  2.31 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  51% (2010/11)
  Health expenditures:
  4.3% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Physicians density:
  3.62 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  7.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99.4% of population
  rural: 85.6% of population
  total: 92.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.6% of population
  rural: 14.4% of population
  total: 7.1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97% of population
  rural: 98.1% of population
  total: 97.5% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 3% of population
  rural: 1.9% of population
  total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  23.5% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  3.7% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Education expenditures:
  3.1% of GDP (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99.8%
  male: 99.8%
  female: 99.8% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years
  male: 15 years
  female: 15 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 59,254
  percentage: 2% (2006 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 3.9%
  male: 2.9%
  female: 5.1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128

- ## Government :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
  conventional short form: Kazakhstan
  local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
  local short form: Qazaqstan
  former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
  Government type:
  republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
  Capital:
  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 has two time zones
  Administrative divisions:
  14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty, Almaty*, Aqmola (Astana), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr [Baykonur]*, Mangghystau (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan [South Kazakhstan] (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl (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
  Independence:
  16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
  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)
  Legal system:
  civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 2 April 2014); First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan SAGINTAYEV (since 16 January 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek SAPARBAYEV (since November 2014)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 April 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the Mazhilis; note - constitutional amendments in May 2007 shortened the presidential term from 7 to 5 years and established a 2-consecutive-term limit; NAZARBAYEV has official status as the "First President of Kazakhstan" and is allowed unlimited terms
  election results: Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV (Nur Otan) 97.8%, other 2.2%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 32 members indirectly elected by majority two-round vote by the oblast-level assemblies and 15 members appointed by the president; members serve 6-year terms, with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) and the Mazhilis (107 seats; 98 members directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 9 indirectly elected by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, a 350-member, presidentially appointed advisory body designed to represent the country's ethnic minorities)
  elections: Senate - (indirect) last held in 2014 (next to be held in 2017); Mazhilis - last held on 15 January 2012 (next to be held by November 2016)
  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
  Judicial branch:
  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 the republic 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 1 member for a 3-year term and each appoints 1 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
  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]
  International organization participation:
  ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, 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, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kayrat UMAROV (since 14 January 2013)
  chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
  consulate(s) general: New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador George KROL (since 18 March 2015)
  embassy: Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Ave. No 3, Astana 010010
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00
  FAX: [7] (7172) 54-09-14
  Consulate(s) General: Almaty
  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; blue and yellow are the national colors
  National symbol(s):
  golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow
  National anthem:
  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

- ## Economy :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Economy - overview:
  Kazakhstan, geographically the largest of the former Soviet republics, excluding Russia, possesses substantial fossil fuel reserves and 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 seriously pursuing diversification strategies. Kazakhstan is landlocked, with restricted access to the high seas. Although its Caspian Sea ports, pipelines, and rail lines carrying oil have been upgraded, civil aviation and roadways continue to need attention. 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. The government realizes that its economy suffers from an overreliance on oil and extractive industries. 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 Customs Union evolved into the Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015. During 2014, Kazakhstan’s economy was hampered by Russia’s slowing economy, the weakening ruble, falling oil prices, and problems at its Kashagan oil field. Kazakhstan devalued its currency, the tenge, by 19% in February and in November the government announced a stimulus package to cope with the economic challenges.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $418.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $401.2 billion (2013 est.)
  $378.5 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 43
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $212.3 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  4.3% (2014 est.)
  6% (2013 est.)
  5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $24,000 (2014 est.)
  $23,000 (2013 est.)
  $21,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Gross national saving:
  27.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  27.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  26.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 47.7%
  government consumption: 10.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 24.3%
  investment in inventories: 3.7%
  exports of goods and services: 40.8%
  imports of goods and services: -27%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 4.9%
  industry: 29.5%
  services: 65.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  grain (mostly spring wheat and barley), potatoes, vegetables, melons; livestock
  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
  Industrial production growth rate:
  0.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Labor force:
  9.103 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 25.8%
  industry: 11.9%
  services: 62.3% (2012 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  5.2% (2014 est.)
  5.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Population below poverty line:
  5.3% (2011 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.9%
  highest 10%: 23.7% (2011 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  28.9 (2011)
  31.5 (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Budget:
  revenues: $42.02 billion
  expenditures: $45.7 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  18.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Public debt:
  12.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  13.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.7% (2014 est.)
  5.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Central bank discount rate:
  5.5% (31 December 2012)
  7.5% (31 December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  6.9% (31 December 2014 est.)
  6.3% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Stock of narrow money:
  $20.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $22.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Stock of broad money:
  $52.89 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $56.49 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $88.98 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $89.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  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.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Current account balance:
  $3.392 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.122 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Exports:
  $87.25 billion (2014 est.)
  $85.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Exports - commodities:
  oil and oil products, natural gas, ferrous metals, chemicals, machinery, grain, wool, meat, coal
  Exports - partners:
  China 22.7%, France 9.7%, Russia 8%, Germany 7.9%, Italy 6.9%, Ukraine 4.2% (2013)
  Imports:
  $47.56 billion (2014 est.)
  $50.8 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  China 30.6%, Russia 20.5%, Ukraine 6.8%, Germany 6.2% (2013)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $27.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $24.68 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Debt - external:
  $163.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $150.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $141.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $129.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $32.12 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $29.12 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Exchange rates:
  tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
  179.3 (2014 est.)
  152.13 (2013 est.)
  149.11 (2012 est.)
  146.62 (2011 est.)
  147.36 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Electricity - production:
  90.53 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Electricity - consumption:
  76.21 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Electricity - exports:
  1.809 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Electricity - imports:
  2.6 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  18.75 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  88.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  11.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Crude oil - production:
  1.655 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Crude oil - exports:
  1.406 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Crude oil - imports:
  119,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  30 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  288,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  258,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  149,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  94,430 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Natural gas - production:
  11.79 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Natural gas - consumption:
  10.95 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Natural gas - exports:
  11.37 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Natural gas - imports:
  10.53 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  224.2 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28

- ## Communications :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 4.34 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 28 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Telephone system:
  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 140 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)
  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 2018 (2015)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 60, FM 18, shortwave 9 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  12 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
  Internet country code:
  .kz
  Internet users:
  total: 10.6 million
  percent of population: 59.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45

- ## Transportation :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Airports:
  96 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 63
  over 3,047 m: 10
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 8 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  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 (2013)
  Heliports:
  3 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 658 km; gas 12,432 km; oil 11,313 km; refined products 1,095 km; water 1,465 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 14,184 km
  broad gauge: 14,184 km 1.520-m gauge (4,056 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Roadways:
  total: 97,418 km
  paved: 87,140 km
  unpaved: 10,278 km (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Waterways:
  4,000 km (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Merchant marine:
  total: 11
  by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
  foreign-owned: 3 (Austria 1, Ireland 1, Turkey 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Caspian Sea - Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev)
  river port(s): Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk) (Irtysh River)

- ## Military :: KAZAKHSTAN

- Military branches:
  Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2013)
  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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 4,163,629
  females age 16-49: 4,179,051 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,909,999
  females age 16-49: 3,528,169 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 125,322
  female: 119,541 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.21% of GDP (2012)
  0.97% of GDP (2011)
  1.21% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 81

- ## Transnational Issues :: KAZAKHSTAN

- 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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 7,038 (2014)
  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

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