Factbook dossier
Background
Ethnic Kazakhs derive from a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes that migrated to the region in the 15th century. The Russian Empire conquered the Kazakh steppe in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. Forced agricultural collectivization led to repression and starvation, resulting in more than a million deaths in the early 1930s. During the 1950s and 1960s, the agricultural "Virgin Lands" program generated an influx of settlers -- mostly ethnic Russians, but also other nationalities -- and by the time of Kazakhstan s independence in 1991, ethnic Kazakhs were a minority. However, 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 (from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and the Xinjiang region of China) to Kazakhstan. As a result of this shift, the ethnic Kazakh share of the population now exceeds two-thirds. Kazakhstan's economy is the largest in Central Asia, mainly due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include diversifying the economy, attracting foreign direct investment, enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness, and strengthening economic relations with neighboring states and foreign powers.
Location
Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Oral) River in easternmost Europe
Area
total : 2,724,900 sq km land: 2,699,700 sq km water: 25,200 sq km
Natural resources
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Natural hazards
earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty
Population
total: 20,432,662 (2025 est.) male: 9,902,303 female: 10,530,359
Ethnic groups
Kazakh 71%, Russian 14.9%, Uzbek 3.3%, Ukrainian 1.9%, Uyghurs 1.5%, German 1.1%, Tatar 1.1%, other 4.9%, unspecified 0.3% (2023 est.)
Languages
Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 80.1%, Russian 83.7%, English 35.1% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Әлемдік деректер кітабы, негізгі ақпараттың таптырмайтын көзі. (Kazakh) Книга фактов о мире незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: percentages are based on population that understands the spoken language
Religions
Muslim 69.3%, Christian 17.2% (Orthodox 17%, other 0.2%), Buddhism 0.1%, other 0.1%, non-believers 2.3%, unspecified 11% (2021 est.)
Environmental issues
radioactive or toxic chemical sites from former defense industries; severe industrial pollution in some cities; air and soil pollution (including dust storms) from chemical pesticides and natural salts left after two rivers were diverted; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals; salination from infrastructure and irrigation practices; water pollution; desertification
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Astana geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: On 1 March 2024, Kazakhstan moved from using two time zones to one etymology: the name means "capital city" in Kazakh note: founded in 1830 as Akmoly, the capital city became Akmolinsk in 1832, Tselinograd in 1961, Akmola (Aqmola) in 1992, Astana in 1998, and Nur-Sultan in 2019; the latest name change back to Astana in 2022 occurred just three and a half years after the city was renamed to honor a former president, who subsequently fell out of favor
Executive branch
chief of state: President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024) cabinet: the president appoints ministers based on the prime minister's recommendations; the president has veto power over all appointments and independently appoints the ministers of defense, internal affairs, and foreign affairs election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 7-year term (prior to September 2022, the president of Kazakhstan could serve up to two 5-year terms; legislation reduced it to one 7-year term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Mazhilis most recent election date: 20 November 2022 election results: 2024: Olzhas BEKTENOV elected as prime minister; 69-0 in parliament 2022 : Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 81.3%, Zhiguli DAYRABAEV (Auyl) 3.4%, Qaraqat or Karakat BDEN (K QŪA) 2.6%, Meyram KAZHYKEN (Amanat) 2.5%, Nurlan AUYESBAYEV (NSDP) 2.2%, Saltanat TURSYNBEKOVA (QA-DJ) 2.1%, other 5.8% 2019 : Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 71%, Amirzhan KOSANOV (Ult Tagdyry) 16.2%, Daniya YESPAYEVA (Ak Zhol) 5.1%, other 7.7% expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Parlament) legislative structure: bicameral
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$739.385 billion (2024 est.) $705.52 billion (2023 est.) $671.285 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$35,900 (2024 est.) $34,700 (2023 est.) $33,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8.8% (2024 est.) 14.7% (2023 est.) 15% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
China 16%, UK 15%, Russia 10%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 28%, Russia 24%, Gambia, The 4%, Turkey 4%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Land Forces (Army of Kazakhstan), Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police, National Guard Committee for National Security (KNB): Border Guard Service (2025) note: the National Guard is a gendarmerie type force administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also serves the Ministry of Defense; it is responsible for fighting crime, maintaining public order, and ensuring public safety; other duties include anti-terrorism operations, guarding prisons, riot control, and territorial defense in time of war
Military expenditures
0.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)