Kazakhstan

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 2015 (2008)

Internet country code

.kz

Internet hosts

67,464 (2012) country comparison to the world: 90

Internet users

5.299 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 44

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general assessment: inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line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)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.34 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 40

Telephones - mobile cellular

28.731 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 37

Agriculture - products

grain (mostly spring wheat and barley), potatoes, vegetables, melons; livestock

Budget

revenues: $43.88 billion expenditures: $49 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Central bank discount rate

5.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 7.5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 6.6% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$1.965 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $640.5 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$131.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $133.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.9 (2011) country comparison to the world: 122 31.5 (2003)

Economy - overview

Kazakhstan, geographically the largest of the former Soviet republics, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves and plentiful supplies of 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 aggressively pursuing diversification strategies. Landlocked, with restricted access to the high seas, Kazakhstan relies on its neighbors to export its products, especially oil and grain. Although its Caspian Sea ports, pipelines, and rail lines carrying oil have been upgraded, civil aviation and roadways continue to need attention. Telecoms are improving, but require considerable investment, as does the information technology base. 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. At the end of 2007, global financial markets froze up and the loss of capital inflows to Kazakhstani banks caused a credit crunch. The subsequent and sharp fall of oil and commodity prices in 2008 aggravated the economic situation, and Kazakhstan plunged into recession. While the global financial crisis took a significant toll on Kazakhstan's economy, it has rebounded well, helped by prudent government measures. Rising commodity prices have helped the recovery. Despite solid macroeconomic indicators, the government realizes that its economy suffers from an overreliance on oil and extractive industries, the so-called "Dutch disease." In response, 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.

Exchange rates

tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 151.8 (2013 est.) 149.11 (2012 est.) 147.36 (2010 est.) 147.5 (2009) 120.25 (2008)

Exports

$87.23 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $86.93 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and oil products, natural gas, ferrous metals, chemicals, machinery, grain, wool, meat, coal

Exports - partners

China 19.3%, Italy 18.1%, Netherlands 8.8%, France 6.6%, Switzerland 5.8%, Austria 5.8% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$224.9 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$243.6 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $231.9 billion (2012 est.) $220.6 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 51% government consumption: 12.4% investment in fixed capital: 22.1% investment in inventories: 2.5% exports of goods and services: 44.6% imports of goods and services: -32.6% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.2% industry: 37.9% services: 56.9% (2011 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,100 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $13,700 (2012 est.) $13,200 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 5.1% (2012 est.) 7.5% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

28.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 23.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 28.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 23.7% (2011 est.)

Imports

$52.03 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $49.08 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 28%, Ukraine 10.9%, Germany 8.5%, US 7.9% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 5.1% (2012 est.)

Labor force

9.022 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 25.8% industry: 11.9% services: 62.3% (2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$23.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $43.3 billion (31 December 2011) $60.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

5.3% (2011 est.)

Public debt

15.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 13.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$29.34 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $28.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$70.36 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $65.71 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$26.53 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $25.53 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$123.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 $111.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$87.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $83.08 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$24.51 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $25.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Unemployment rate

5.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 5.3% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

195.4 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.406 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Crude oil - imports

119,600 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Crude oil - production

1.606 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Crude oil - proved reserves

30 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - consumption

88.11 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Electricity - exports

1.8 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

11.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity - imports

3.7 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - installed generating capacity

18.73 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Electricity - production

90.53 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas - consumption

10.2 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - exports

9.7 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Natural gas - imports

10.7 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Natural gas - production

20.2 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Refined petroleum products - consumption

244,200 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Refined petroleum products - exports

149,800 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Refined petroleum products - imports

94,430 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Refined petroleum products - production

288,600 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Area

total: 2,724,900 sq km country comparison to the world: 9 land: 2,699,700 sq km water: 25,200 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Climate

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

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)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 21.14 cu km/yr (4%/30%/66%) per capita: 1,304 cu m/yr (2010)

Geographic coordinates

48 00 N, 68 00 E

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

Irrigated land

20,660 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

total: 12,185 km border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

Land use

arable land: 8.82% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 91.15% (2011)

Location

Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in eastern-most Europe

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty

Natural resources

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

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

Total renewable water resources

107.5 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy [Baykonur]*, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy [South Kazakhstan] (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (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

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

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)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John ORDWAY 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

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

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 Ministers Gulshara ABDYKALIKOVA (since 28 November 2013), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 25 September 2012); Bakyt SULTANOV (since 6 November 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, with Mazhilis approval; note - constitutional amendments of May 2007 shortened the presidential term from seven years to five years and established a two-consecutive-term limit; NAZARBAYEV has official status as the "First President of Kazakhstan" and is allowed unlimited terms note: constitutional amendments of February 2011 moved election date from 2012 to April 2011 but kept five-year term; subsequent election to take place in 2016 election results: Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan Abishuly NAZARBAYEV 95.5%, other 4.5%

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

Government type

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Independence

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate 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, 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

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 ther epublic 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 one member for a 3-year term and each appoints one 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

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 15 members are appointed by the president; 32 members elected by local assemblies; members serve six-year terms, but elections are staggered with half of the members up for re-election every three years) and the Mazhilis (107 seats; 9 out of the 107 Mazhilis members elected by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a presidentially appointed advisory body designed to represent the country's ethnic minorities; non-appointed members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - (indirect) last held in August 2011 (next to be held in 2014); Mazhilis - last held on 15 January 2012 (next to be held in 2017) 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

National anthem

name: "Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

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 branches

Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2013)

Military expenditures

1.21% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 84 0.97% of GDP (2011) 1.21% of GDP (2010)

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.1% (male 2,247,628/female 2,254,744) 15-24 years: 16.1% (male 1,469,275/female 1,418,175) 25-54 years: 42.6% (male 3,720,498/female 3,927,626) 55-64 years: 9.2% (male 724,683/female 935,416) 65 years and over: 6.8% (male 429,565/female 821,206) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

19.61 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 59,254 percentage: 2 % (2006 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2011) country comparison to the world: 100

Contraceptive prevalence rate

51% (2011)

Death rate

8.31 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48.7 % youth dependency ratio: 38.7 % elderly dependency ratio: 10 % potential support ratio: 10 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.2% of population rural: 86% of population total: 93.1% of population unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population rural: 14% of population total: 6.9% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 138

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 165

Hospital bed density

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 21.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 83 male: 24.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.24 years country comparison to the world: 150 male: 64.98 years female: 75.17 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2009 est.)

Major urban areas - population

Almaty 1.426 million; ASTANA (capital) 664,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

51 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 107

Median age

total: 29.7 years male: 28.4 years female: 31.1 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

25 (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani

Net migration rate

0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 74

Physicians density

3.84 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

17,948,816 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Population growth rate

1.17% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Religions

Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox), other 0.2%, atheist 2.8%, unspecified 0.5% (2009 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 97% of population rural: 98% of population total: 97.5% of population unimproved: urban: 3% of population rural: 2% of population total: 2.5% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 0.94 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.34 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 3.9% country comparison to the world: 139 male: 2.9% female: 5.1% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 53.6% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 6,935 (2012)

Airports

96 (2013) country comparison to the world: 60

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)

Merchant marine

total: 11 country comparison to the world: 111 by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Austria 1, Ireland 1, Turkey 1) (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 658 km; gas 12,432 km; oil 11,313 km; refined products 1,095 km; water 1,465 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev) river port(s): Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk) (Irtysh River)

Railways

total: 15,333 km country comparison to the world: 18 broad gauge: 15,333 km 1.520-m gauge (4,000 km electrified) (2012)

Roadways

total: 97,418 km country comparison to the world: 46 paved: 87,140 km unpaved: 10,278 km (2012)

Waterways

4,000 km (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River) (2010) country comparison to the world: 27