Kazakhstan

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Ethnic Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes, migrated to the region in the 15th century. Russia conquered the area in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. The country gained independence in 1991.

Geography

Area
total : 2,724,900 sq km
land: 2,699,700 sq km
water: 25,200 sq km

Climate
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

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

People and Society

Population
total: 20,260,006 (2024 est.)

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.)

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.)

Population growth rate
0.86% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Astana

Executive branch
chief of state: President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Yerzhan ASHIKBAYEV (since 7 July 2021)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Deborah ROBINSON (since January 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
oil and gas giant, with growing international investment; domestic economy hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions; reforming civil society and improving business confidence; legacy state controls and Russian influence inhibit growth and autonomy

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$739.385 billion (2024 est.)
$705.52 billion (2023 est.)
$671.285 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$35,900 (2024 est.)
$34,700 (2023 est.)
$33,500 (2022 est.)

Exports
$91.908 billion (2024 est.)
$90.926 billion (2023 est.)
$93.822 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
China 16%, UK 15%, Russia 10%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, gold, radioactive chemicals, refined copper, copper ore (2023)

Imports
$74.246 billion (2024 est.)
$72.723 billion (2023 est.)
$60.439 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
China 28%, Russia 24%, Gambia, The 4%, Turkey 4%, USA 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities
garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, vehicle bodies, packaged medicine (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.837, ranking it 60th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 72th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.841. (more information)