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. Soviet policies reduced the number of ethnic Kazakhs in the 1930s and enabled non-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. 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) further skewed the ethnic mixture. 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% 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, expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets, diversifying the economy, enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness, and strengthening relations with neighboring states and foreign powers. Astana successfully hosted an internationally recognized exposition in 2017. The three-month Expo 2017, themed Future Energy, was the first such exhibition by a former Soviet country.

- 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: 10
  Area - comparative:
  slightly less than four times the size of Texas
  Land boundaries:
  total: 13,364 km
  border countries (5): China 1765 km, Kyrgyzstan 1212 km, Russia 7644 km, Turkmenistan 413 km, Uzbekistan 2330 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:
  mean elevation: 387 m
  elevation extremes: -132 m lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy
  6995 highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri)
  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% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 8.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 68.5% (2011 est.)
  forest: 1.2% (2011 est.)
  other: 21.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  20,660 sq km (2012)
  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
  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; desertification; 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 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 of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050
- People and Society :: Kazakhstan
- Population:
  18,744,548 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  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) 74% (understand spoken language), Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 94.4% (understand spoken language) (2009 est.)
  Religions:
  Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox), other 0.2%, atheist 2.8%, unspecified 0.5% (2009 est.)
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26.09% (male 2,406,397 /female 2,483,562)
  15-24 years: 13.55% (male 1,295,882 /female 1,244,540)
  25-54 years: 42.32% (male 3,884,454 /female 4,049,072)
  55-64 years: 10.14% (male 831,872 /female 1,068,651)
  65 years and over: 7.9% (male 517,471 /female 962,647) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Central Asia :: Kazakhstan Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Kazakhstan. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 40.3 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 10.2 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 9.8 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 30.9 years
  male: 29.7 years
  female: 32.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Population growth rate:
  0.98% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Birth rate:
  17.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Death rate:
  8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Net migration rate:
  0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  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
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 57.4% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  1.829 million Almaty, 1.068 million ASTANA (capital), 982,000 Shimkent (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  25 years (2014 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  12 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 71.4 years (2018 est.)
  male: 66.2 years (2018 est.)
  female: 76.3 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Total fertility rate:
  2.22 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  55.7% (2015)
  Health expenditures:
  4.4% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Physicians density:
  3.27 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
  Hospital bed density:
  6.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)
  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 (2015 est.)
  rural: 98.1% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 97.5% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 3% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.2% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  27,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  <1000 (2017 est.)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  21% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  2% (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Education expenditures:
  3% of GDP (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 99.8% (2015 est.)
  male: 99.8% (2015 est.)
  female: 99.8% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years (2016)
  male: 15 years (2016)
  female: 15 years (2016)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 3.9% (2013 est.)
  male: 3.6% (2013 est.)
  female: 4.3% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
- 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
  etymology: the name "Kazakh" derives from the Turkic word "kaz" meaning "to wander," recalling the Kazakh's nomadic lifestyle; the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Kazakhstan literally means "Land of the Wanderers"
  Government type:
  presidential republic
  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 (oblyslar, singular - oblys) and 4 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty (Taldyqorghan), Almaty*, Aqmola (Kokshetau), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau), Turkistan, Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Shymkent*, Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl), 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:
  history: previous 1937, 1978 (preindependence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995 (2017)
  amendments: proposed 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; amended several times, last in 2017 (2017)
  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
  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
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of the chairman 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 Majilis chairperson each appoints 2 members for a 6-year term; chairman of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president for a 6-year term
  subordinate courts: regional and local courts
  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 Bakytzhan SAGINTAYEV (since 9 September 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Askar MAMIN (since 13 September 2016)
  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 consecutive term); election last held on 26 April 2015 (next scheduled for 2020); prime minister and deputy prime ministers 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:
  Senate (47 seats; 32 members indirectly elected by majority 2-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)
  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 - last held on 28 June 2017 (next to be held in 2020)
  Mazhilis - last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held by 2021)
  election results:
  Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nur Otan 16; composition - men 42, women 5, percent of women 10.6%
  Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur Otan 82.2%, Ak Zhol 7.2%, Communist People's Party 7.1%, other 3.5%; seats by party - Nur Otan 84, Ak Zhol 7, Communist People's Party 7; composition - men 78, women 29, percent of women 27.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 22.1%
  Political parties and leaders:
  Ak Zhol (Bright Path) Party or Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol [Azat PERUASHEV]
  Auyl National Patriotic Party [Ali BEKTAYEV] (a merger of the Patriots’ Party and the Auyl Social Democratic Party)
  Birlik (Unity) [Serik SULTANGALI] (a merger of Adilet (Justice; formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan) and Rukhaniyat (Spirituality))
  Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]
  National Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]
  Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland) Democratic People's Party [Nursultan NAZARBAYEV] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan)
  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, UNIDO, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Erzhar KAZYKHANOV (since 24 April 2017)
  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
  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's vast hydrocarbon and mineral reserves form the backbone of its economy. Geographically the largest of the former Soviet republics, excluding Russia, Kazakhstan, g 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. The government realizes that its economy suffers from an overreliance on oil and extractive industries and has made initial attempts to diversify its economy by targeting sectors like transport, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, petrochemicals and food processing for greater development and investment. It also adopted a Subsoil Code in December 2017 with the aim of increasing exploration and investment in the hydrocarbon, and particularly mining, sectors.

  Kazakhstan's oil production and potential is expanding rapidly. A $36.8 billion expansion of Kazakhstan’s premiere Tengiz oil field by Chevron-led Tengizchevroil should be complete in 2022. Meanwhile, the super-giant Kashagan field finally launched production in October 2016 after years of delay and an estimated $55 billion in development costs. Kazakhstan’s total oil production in 2017 climbed 10.5%.

  Kazakhstan is landlocked and depends on Russia to export its oil to Europe. It also exports oil directly to China. In 2010, Kazakhstan joined Russia and Belarus to establish a Customs Union in an effort to boost foreign investment and improve trade. The Customs Union evolved into a Single Economic Space in 2012 and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in January 2015. Supported by rising commodity prices, Kazakhstan’s exports to EAEU countries increased 30.2% in 2017. Imports from EAEU countries grew by 24.1%.

  The economic downturn of its EAEU partner, Russia, and the decline in global commodity prices from 2014 to 2016 contributed to an economic slowdown in Kazakhstan. In 2014, Kazakhstan devalued its currency, the tenge, and announced a stimulus package to cope with its economic challenges. In the face of further decline in the ruble, oil prices, and the regional economy, Kazakhstan announced in 2015 it would replace its currency band with a floating exchange rate, leading to a sharp fall in the value of the tenge. Since reaching a low of 391 to the dollar in January 2016, the tenge has modestly appreciated, helped by somewhat higher oil prices. While growth slowed to about 1% in both 2015 and 2016, a moderate recovery in oil prices, relatively stable inflation and foreign exchange rates, and the start of production at Kashagan helped push 2017 GDP growth to 4%.

  Despite some positive institutional and legislative changes in the last several years, investors remain concerned about corruption, bureaucracy, and arbitrary law enforcement, especially at the regional and municipal levels. An additional concern is the condition of the country’s banking sector, which suffers from poor asset quality and a lack of transparency. Investors also question the potentially negative effects on the economy of a contested presidential succession as Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, turned 77 in 2017.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $478.6 billion (2017 est.)
  $460.3 billion (2016 est.)
  $455.3 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 42
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $159.4 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  4% (2017 est.)
  1.1% (2016 est.)
  1.2% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $26,300 (2017 est.)
  $25,700 (2016 est.)
  $25,800 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 79
  Gross national saving:
  23.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
  21.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
  25.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 53.2% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 11.1% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 22.5% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 4.8% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 35.4% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -27.1% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 4.7% (2017 est.)
  industry: 34.1% (2017 est.)
  services: 61.2% (2017 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:
  5.8% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Labor force:
  8.97 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 18.1%
  industry: 20.4%
  services: 61.6% (2017 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  5% (2017 est.)
  5% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Population below poverty line:
  2.6% (2016 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 23.3% (2016)
  highest 10%: 23.3% (2016)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  26.3 (2013)
  31.5 (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Budget:
  revenues: 35.48 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 38.3 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  22.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Public debt:
  20.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
  19.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.4% (2017 est.)
  14.6% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Central bank discount rate:
  11% (10 April 2017)
  12% (9 January 2017)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  14.17% (31 December 2017 est.)
  15.34% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Stock of narrow money:
  $14.99 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $13.77 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Stock of broad money:
  $14.99 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $13.77 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $54.92 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $55.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $741.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
  $4.737 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $26.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Current account balance:
  -$5.353 billion (2017 est.)
  -$8.874 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Exports:
  $49.29 billion (2017 est.)
  $37.26 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Exports - partners:
  Italy 17.9%, China 11.9%, Netherlands 9.8%, Russia 9.3%, Switzerland 6.4%, France 5.9% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  oil and oil products, natural gas, ferrous metals, chemicals, machinery, grain, wool, meat, coal
  Imports:
  $31.85 billion (2017 est.)
  $28.07 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  Russia 38.9%, China 16.1%, Germany 5.1%, US 4.3% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $30.75 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $29.53 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Debt - external:
  $167.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $163.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $161.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $143.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $35.04 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $32.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Exchange rates:
  tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
  326.3 (2017 est.)
  342.13 (2016 est.)
  342.13 (2015 est.)
  221.73 (2014 est.)
  179.19 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Kazakhstan
- Electricity access:
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production:
  100.8 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Electricity - consumption:
  94.23 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Electricity - exports:
  5.1 billion kWh (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Electricity - imports:
  1.318 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  20.15 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  86% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Crude oil - production:
  1.777 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Crude oil - exports:
  1.409 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Crude oil - imports:
  1,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  30 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  290,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  274,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  105,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  39,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Natural gas - production:
  22.41 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Natural gas - consumption:
  15.37 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Natural gas - exports:
  12.8 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Natural gas - imports:
  5.748 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  304.6 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
- Communications :: Kazakhstan
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 3,697,300 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 26.473 million (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 143 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: one of the most progressive telecoms sectors in Central Asia; vast 4G network; low fixed-line and fixed-broadband penetration, moderate mobile broadband penetration and high mobile penetration (2017)
  domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage increased rapidly and the subscriber base approaches 143 per 100 persons (2017)
  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 (2017)
  Broadcast media:
  the state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; there are 96 TV channels, many of which are owned by the government, and 4 state-run radio stations; 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; broadcasts reach some 99% of the population as well as neighboring countries (2018)
  Internet country code:
  .kz
  Internet users:
  total: 14,100,751 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 76.8% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 2,573,500 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
- Transportation :: Kazakhstan
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 10 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 71 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,081,631 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 37,669,008 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  UP (2016)
  Airports:
  96 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 63 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 10 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2017)
  under 914 m: 8 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 33 (2013)
  over 3,047 m: 5 (2013)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2013)
  under 914 m: 13 (2013)
  Heliports:
  3 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  658 km condensate, 15256 km gas, 11313 km oil, 1095 km refined products, 1975 km water (2016)
  Railways:
  total: 16,104 km (2016)
  broad gauge: 16,104 km 1.520-m gauge (4,200 km electrified) (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Roadways:
  total: 97,418 km (2012)
  paved: 87,140 km (2012)
  unpaved: 10,278 km (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  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: 119 (2017)
  by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 10, other 105 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  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 and Security :: Kazakhstan
- Military expenditures:
  0.82% of GDP (2016)
  3.45% of GDP (2015)
  1.04% of GDP (2014)
  1.08% of GDP (2013)
  1.05% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Military branches:
  Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Defense Forces (2017)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 2 years, but Kazakhstan is transitioning to a largely contract force; military cadets in intermediate (ages 15-17) and higher (ages 17-21) education institutes are classified as military service personnel (2017)
- Transnational Issues :: Kazakhstan
- Disputes - international:
  Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstanfield demarcation of the boundaries commenced with Uzbekistan in 2004 and with Turkmenistan in 2005ongoing demarcation with Russia began in 2007demarcation with China was completed in 2002creation of a seabed boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under discussionAzerbaijan, 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: 8,138 (2017)
  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