Contents
Country Overview
Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country, occupying a vast steppe and desert territory in Central Asia, with a smaller portion west of the Ural River commonly described as geographically European. Since independence in 1991 it has developed major oil, gas, uranium, minerals and grain sectors. A new constitution approved in March 2026 took effect July 1, replacing the bicameral parliament with a 145-seat elected Kurultai. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev remained head of state, and Olzhas Bektenov was reappointed prime minister in August 2026.
CapitalAstanaNational capital and government seat [1]
Population20.84 millionWorld Bank 2025 estimate [2]
Nominal GDPUS$306.24 billionWorld Bank 2025 [2]
PresidentKassym-Jomart TokayevServing November 2026 [7]
Legislature145-seat KurultaiFirst elected August 23, 2026 [5]
UNESCO World Heritage7 properties4 cultural and 3 natural; 2026 [13]
Data and status note: The World Bank 2025 population estimate is 20,843,754; Kazakhstan’s own statistical series use different compilation dates and methodology. The March 2026 constitution was effective July 1, 2026, and the August 2026 Kurultai election superseded the former Senate and Mazhilis. The WTO trade profile displays 2024 merchandise figures, not 2025 GDP series. UNESCO’s 2026 Mangystau inscription raised Kazakhstan’s World Heritage inventory from six to seven.
Identity & State Formation
- Official name
- Republic of Kazakhstan (Qazaqstan Respublikasy). [1][3]
- Short name
- Kazakhstan; Qazaqstan in Kazakh usage. [3]
- Capital
- Astana, seat of national presidency and central government. [1][8]
- UN region
- Central Asia in the UN M49 statistical system. [1]
- State form
- Unitary republic with a presidential executive system. [3]
- Current constitution
- Approved by referendum March 15, 2026 and in force July 1, 2026. [3][4]
- President
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in office since 2019. [7]
- Prime minister
- Olzhas Bektenov, reappointed after the August 2026 legislative election. [7]
- Vice president
- Erlan (Yerlan) Karin, appointed August 31, 2026. [7]
- State language
- Kazakh, as specified in Article 9 of the 2026 constitution. [3]
- Official Russian use
- Russian is officially used alongside Kazakh in state and local self-government bodies. [3]
- National currency
- Kazakhstani tenge (KZT), subdivided into 100 tiyn. [18]
- National independence
- December 16, 1991 from the Soviet Union. [8]
- Independence Day
- December 16 is observed as a major national holiday. [8]
- Constitution Day
- March 15 is designated under the 2026 constitutional order. [3]
- Pre-2026 basic law
- The 1995 constitution was replaced when the new constitution took effect July 1, 2026. [4][3]
- Parliamentary transition
- Former Senate and Mazhilis replaced by unicameral Kurultai. [3][5]
- Legislature
- Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 145 members. [3][5]
- Administrative divisions
- 17 regions plus three cities of republican significance. [9]
- Three major cities
- Astana, Almaty and Shymkent have republican-significance status. [9]
- ISO codes
- KZ, KAZ and numeric identifier 398. [1]
- Telephone country code
- +7, also used in numbering arrangements shared historically with Russia. [1]
- National flag
- Sky-blue field with golden sun, eagle and national ornamental stripe. [8]
- Pre-Soviet history
- Steppe polities, Turkic khanates and the Kazakh Khanate shaped state formation. [22]
- Soviet era
- Kazakhstan was a Soviet republic before 1991 independence. [22]
- Secular legal framework
- Constitution establishes a secular state. [3]
Geography & Population
- Position
- Central Asian territory from the Caspian lowlands to the Altai and Tian Shan ranges. [1][17]
- Land area
- Approximately 2.725 million square kilometres; the world’s largest landlocked state. [1]
- Landlocked status
- No open-ocean coastline; Caspian shore is on an inland sea. [1]
- Caspian Sea coast
- Western Kazakhstan borders the Caspian Sea. [17]
- Russia border
- Long northern and northwestern international border. [1]
- China border
- Eastern border links Central Asia with western China. [1]
- Kyrgyzstan border
- Southeastern border through Tian Shan regions. [1]
- Uzbekistan border
- Southern border near the Syr Darya basin. [1]
- Turkmenistan border
- Southwestern border in arid lowland regions. [1]
- Ural River
- Geographical conventions place a small western portion within Europe. [17]
- Highest mountain zones
- Southeastern mountains contain high Tian Shan elevations. [17]
- Altai Mountains
- Eastern uplands connect to Siberian and Mongolian mountain systems. [17]
- Kazakh steppe
- Extensive temperate grassland and semi-arid landscapes dominate central/northern regions. [17]
- Kyzylkum region
- Desert extends into southern Kazakhstan and neighboring Central Asian states. [17]
- Betpak-Dala
- Semi-desert plateau occupies parts of central Kazakhstan. [17]
- Balkhash Lake
- Large eastern inland lake with distinct hydrological conditions. [17]
- Aral Sea
- Shrinkage of the shared Aral basin is a major historical environmental issue. [17]
- Ili River
- Feeds Lake Balkhash and crosses the China–Kazakhstan watershed. [17]
- Syr Darya
- Transboundary river serves irrigation and flows toward the Aral basin. [17]
- Irtysh River
- Eastern/northern river with links to China and Russia. [17]
- Climate
- Highly continental, with cold winters and hot summers. [17]
- Rainfall pattern
- Generally more precipitation in mountains and northern zones than southwestern deserts. [17]
- Drought risk
- Steppe ecosystems and farming face periodic drought and heat stress. [17]
- Population estimate
- 20,843,754 people in the World Bank 2025 series. [2]
- Population growth, 2025
- About 1.2 percent in the World Bank series. [2]
- National census
- Most recent nationwide population census was held in 2021. [10]
- Population distribution
- Almaty, Astana, Shymkent and southern settlements are important population centers. [9][10]
- Largest urban area
- Almaty is a principal commercial and cultural metropolis. [9]
- Capital city
- Astana is located in north-central Kazakhstan. [9]
- Economic geography
- Western fields supply oil and gas; northern grain regions and eastern minerals diversify terrain use. [23][11]
- National divisions
- 17 regions recorded by the Bureau of National Statistics in July 2026. [9]
- Cities of republican significance
- Three cities recorded separately from the regional tier. [9]
- Caspian ecology
- Water-level changes and industrial pressures affect shore settlements and habitats. [17]
- Cold-desert ecology
- Kazakhstan’s transboundary Cold Winter Deserts of Turan property protects arid ecosystems. [13]
Demographic and administrative indicators
| Measure | Value | Date / source |
|---|---|---|
| Resident population | 20,843,754 | World Bank 2025 estimate |
| Annual population growth | 1.2% | World Bank 2025 |
| Regions | 17 | Official July 2026 division |
| Cities of republican significance | 3 | Astana, Almaty, Shymkent |
Economy & International Trade
The World Bank 2025 national accounts and WTO 2024 customs goods tables are different statistical years; energy prices can distort current-dollar comparisons.
- Economic model
- Market economy with large natural-resource, public-enterprise and services roles. [2][12]
- Nominal GDP, 2025
- US$306.24 billion in the World Bank current-dollar series. [2]
- GDP per capita, 2025
- US$14,692.1 in World Bank current dollars. [2]
- Real GDP growth, 2025
- 6.5 percent in the World Bank series. [2]
- Consumer inflation, 2025
- 11.4 percent in the World Bank series. [2]
- Modeled unemployment, 2025
- 4.8 percent in the World Bank/ILO modeled series. [2]
- Currency
- Tenge (KZT), with exchange-rate and monetary policy administered by the National Bank. [18]
- Central bank
- National Bank of Kazakhstan. [18]
- Oil production
- Petroleum from large western fields underpins state revenues and exports. [11][23]
- Natural gas
- Gas is produced and transported along regional energy networks. [11]
- Uranium industry
- Uranium mining is a significant export and strategic materials sector. [11][19]
- Copper
- Refined copper and ore are important mineral exports. [11]
- Ferroalloys
- Ferrochrome and related industrial metals are exported. [11]
- Wheat
- Wheat and grain products are produced in northern agricultural regions. [11]
- Livestock
- Steppe livestock production contributes to agriculture and rural livelihoods. [23]
- Transport corridors
- Railways, roads, pipelines and Caspian shipping link Eurasian markets. [23][20]
- Caspian transit
- Ports and rail connections support the Trans-Caspian transport corridor. [20]
- Pipeline geography
- Export routes cross or connect to neighboring countries. [23]
- Industrial diversification
- Policy seeks higher-value production and reduced reliance on raw materials. [23][12]
- Services
- Retail, finance, communications, transport and public services support output. [2]
- Digitalization
- Financial technology and digital public services are expanding. [8]
- Agriculture climate exposure
- Crop yields vary with rainfall and drought in steppe farming zones. [17]
- Electricity generation
- Fossil fuels remain important alongside low-carbon diversification discussions. [17][12]
- Renewables
- Wind and solar potential is substantial in open steppe and desert terrain. [17]
- Climate transition
- Emissions, methane and energy efficiency are important policy challenges. [17]
- Merchandise exports, 2024
- US$81.613 billion in the WTO profile. [11]
- Merchandise imports, 2024
- US$60.398 billion in the WTO profile. [11]
- Merchandise surplus, 2024
- Approximately US$21.215 billion from WTO goods totals. [11]
- Crude petroleum share, 2024
- Crude oil accounted for 52.5 percent of merchandise exports. [11]
- Natural uranium share, 2024
- Natural uranium and compounds represented 5.6 percent of exports. [11]
- Refined copper share, 2024
- Copper cathodes represented approximately 4.5 percent of exports. [11]
- Largest export direction, 2024
- European Union received 46.7 percent of reported merchandise exports. [11]
- China exports, 2024
- China received 18.3 percent of merchandise exports. [11]
- Russia exports, 2024
- Russia received 11.7 percent of merchandise exports. [11]
- Largest goods import supplier, 2024
- Russia accounted for 30.8 percent of recorded imports. [11]
- China goods import supplier
- China accounted for 25.3 percent of 2024 imports. [11]
- European Union imports
- EU accounted for 17.7 percent of 2024 goods imports. [11]
- Fiscal vulnerability
- Energy prices and commodity cycles strongly affect external and government balances. [12][23]
- Measurement note
- Merchandise goods totals omit services and financial flows; values reflect reported 2024 series. [11]
Kazakhstan 2025 economic indicators
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | US$306.24 billion | World Bank |
| GDP per capita | US$14,692.1 | World Bank |
| Real GDP growth | 6.5% | World Bank |
| Inflation | 11.4% | World Bank |
| Modeled unemployment | 4.8% | World Bank/ILO |
2024 merchandise trade
| Direction | US$ billion | WTO basis |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | 81.613 | Reported merchandise |
| Imports | 60.398 | Reported merchandise |
| Surplus | 21.215 | Exports minus imports |
Main trade partners, 2024
| Trade direction | Share | US$ billion |
|---|---|---|
| Exports to European Union | 46.7% | 38.142 |
| Exports to China | 18.3% | 14.898 |
| Imports from Russia | 30.8% | 18.584 |
| Imports from China | 25.3% | 15.266 |
Selected goods exports, 2024
| Product | Share of total | US$ billion |
|---|---|---|
| Crude petroleum | 52.5% | 42.879 |
| Natural uranium and compounds | 5.6% | 4.541 |
| Refined copper cathodes | 4.5% | 3.663 |
| Copper ores/concentrates | 3.9% | 3.160 |
People & Society
- State language
- Kazakh, a Turkic language, under Article 9 of the 2026 constitution. [3]
- Russian language
- Russian has expressly recognized official use in state and local government institutions. [3]
- Other community languages
- Uzbek, Ukrainian, Uyghur, Tatar and others are present among diverse communities. [22]
- Linguistic policy
- Constitution requires conditions for development of the people’s languages. [3]
- Major religious traditions
- Islam is widely practiced; Russian Orthodox Christianity is a significant tradition. [22]
- Secular state
- Public institutions have constitutional secular character. [3]
- Ethnic diversity
- Kazakhstan includes Kazakhs and multiple other long-established communities. [10][22]
- Cultural history
- Nomadic pastoral traditions shaped material and oral heritage. [15]
- Traditional dwellings
- The yurt is a recognizable portable pastoral dwelling. [15]
- Hospitality practices
- Community celebrations and shared food are important cultural traditions. [15]
- Traditional music
- Dombra performance and epic recitation form part of cultural inheritance. [15]
- Poetic heritage
- Abai Qunanbaiuly is a major figure in modern Kazakh literary culture. [22]
- Food culture
- Meat dishes, dairy products, wheat-based foods and regional cooking traditions are widespread. [15]
- Performing arts
- Music, oral storytelling and festive activities are preserved in living heritage systems. [15]
- Urban growth
- Almaty, Astana and Shymkent support higher education, services and migration. [10][9]
- Education system
- General secondary, technical and higher education institutions serve diverse populations. [22]
- Higher education
- Universities in major cities participate in international academic networks. [22]
- Science sector
- Research institutions address materials, geology, agriculture and other fields. [22]
- Healthcare
- National and regional health services coexist with private provision. [16]
- Life expectancy
- Approximately 75 years in the World Bank’s rounded 2024 series. [2][16]
- Women and politics
- Gender representation is a subject of electoral lists and governance reforms. [6]
- 2026 female Kurultai MPs
- 49 of 145 seats held by women after the 2026 election, according to official results. [6]
- Population age structure
- Young and working-age population groups remain important to labor planning. [10]
- Migration
- Internal urban migration and cross-border movements affect demographic patterns. [10]
- Rural society
- Agricultural and pastoral employment remains relevant outside major cities. [17]
- National sports
- Wrestling, boxing and equestrian sports are culturally prominent. [22]
- Heritage tourism
- Turkestan, Tamgaly and Mangystau sacred sites attract visitors. [13]
- Environmental awareness
- Aral basin change and urban air quality are important public issues. [17]
- Cultural preservation
- Museums, archives and heritage programs maintain archaeological and historical collections. [22]
Government & Institutions
This section uses the constitution effective July 1, 2026 and the final August 2026 Kurultai vote, not the superseded Senate/Mazhilis system.
- Constitutional order
- Constitution approved March 2026 and effective July 1, 2026. [3][4]
- Referendum
- March 15, 2026 vote approved new constitutional text. [4]
- Referendum support
- Official results reported approximately 87.15 percent approval among participating voters. [6]
- President
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, head of state since 2019. [7]
- Presidential framework
- Constitution defines executive, legislative and judicial powers. [3]
- Prime minister
- Olzhas Bektenov, reappointed August 31, 2026. [7]
- Vice president
- Erlan (Yerlan) Karin, appointed August 31, 2026. [7]
- Vice-presidency
- Newly created constitutional office, appointed by president with Kurultai consent. [3][7]
- Succession rule
- Vice president is first in constitutional line for early presidential vacancy. [3]
- Legislature
- Unicameral Kurultai replaced the former Senate and Mazhilis. [3][4]
- Kurultai size
- 145 elected deputies under the 2026 constitution. [3][5]
- Kurultai term
- Deputies are elected for five-year terms. [6]
- First Kurultai election
- Held August 23, 2026. [5]
- Election system
- Nationwide closed-list proportional representation. [6]
- Electoral threshold
- Parties require at least five percent to enter seat allocation. [6]
- Participating lists
- Seven registered parties contested the August 2026 vote. [6]
- Qualified parties
- Five parties won seats in the new chamber. [5]
- Leading party
- Adilet won 110 of 145 seats. [5]
- Adilet vote share
- 71.17 percent of ballots used in the official result table. [6]
- Auyl seats
- Auyl won 10 seats. [5]
- Respublica seats
- Respublica won 9 seats. [5]
- Ak Zhol seats
- Ak Zhol won 8 seats. [5]
- Social Democrats seats
- Nationwide Social Democratic Party won 8 seats. [5]
- Election turnout
- Official turnout was 74.08 percent. [6]
- Former parliament
- Bicameral Senate and Mazhilis ceased under the July 2026 transition. [4][3]
- Kurultai oversight
- Parliament legislates, controls budget approval and exercises oversight. [3]
- Prime-minister appointment
- Kurultai consent is part of the prime minister appointment procedure. [3]
- Constitutional Court
- Judicial-constitutional review is provided within the new framework. [3]
- People’s Council
- New constitutional institutional design provides a Kazakhstan People’s Council. [3]
- Regional governance
- Akim-led administrative structures exist in regions and major cities. [9]
- Local representatives
- Maslikhats are subnational representative bodies. [9][3]
- Official language rules
- Constitution distinguishes state Kazakh from Russian’s official institutional use. [3]
- Constitutional secularism
- Religious freedom operates within the secular constitutional framework. [3]
- Political competition
- Multiparty ballot exists, while political power remains heavily concentrated in the presidential system. [5][7]
- Term transition
- Current institutional comparisons must use the post-July 2026 framework. [4][3]
August 2026 Kurultai election
| Party | Seats | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| Adilet | 110 | 71.17% |
| Auyl | 10 | 6.26% |
| Respublica | 9 | 5.56% |
| Ak Zhol | 8 | 5.21% |
| Nationwide Social Democratic Party | 8 | 5.11% |
| Total elected | 145 | 74.08% turnout |
International Profile
UNESCO recognizes transnational natural and cultural properties; inventory totals attribute each qualifying property to Kazakhstan without implying exclusive national ownership.
- UN membership
- Kazakhstan entered the United Nations in March 1992. [20]
- UN statistical region
- Central Asia; historical and geographic links also extend across the Eurasian steppe. [1]
- OSCE
- Kazakhstan participates in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. [21]
- WTO membership
- Joined the World Trade Organization in 2015. [11]
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization
- Founding participant in regional security and economic cooperation. [20]
- Eurasian Economic Union
- Member of the EAEU common-market grouping. [20]
- Collective Security Treaty Organization
- Participates in CSTO regional security arrangements. [20]
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation
- Member of the OIC. [20]
- Multivector diplomacy
- Foreign policy maintains relations with Russia, China, Europe, the United States and others. [20]
- Russia relationship
- Geography, transit, energy and trade create major bilateral linkages. [20][11]
- China relationship
- Cross-border trade and overland logistics connect Kazakhstan with China. [20][11]
- Central Asian neighbors
- Regional issues include borders, water systems, labor and transit. [20][17]
- Caspian neighbors
- Coastal governance and maritime transit connect Kazakhstan to other Caspian states. [20]
- European Union
- EU is a major recorded export market, especially for petroleum. [11]
- US relations
- Bilateral ties include investment, diplomacy and security dialogue. [20]
- Trans-Caspian route
- Middle Corridor projects seek diversified Europe–Asia transport links. [20]
- Nuclear nonproliferation
- Kazakhstan relinquished Soviet-era inherited nuclear weapons after independence. [19][20]
- IAEA cooperation
- Participates in safeguards, safety and nuclear-material cooperation. [19]
- Baikonur
- Space launch complex on Kazakh territory used under long-term Russia arrangements. [20]
- UNESCO World Heritage total
- Seven inscribed properties as of the 2026 session. [13]
- Cultural heritage count
- Four World Heritage properties classed cultural. [13]
- Natural heritage count
- Three World Heritage properties classed natural. [13]
- Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
- Mausoleum in Turkestan inscribed in 2003. [13]
- Tamgaly petroglyphs
- Archaeological rock-art landscape inscribed in 2004. [13]
- Saryarka
- Steppe and lakes of Northern Kazakhstan inscribed in 2008. [13]
- Silk Roads corridor
- Chang’an–Tianshan network transnational site inscribed in 2014. [13]
- Western Tien-Shan
- Transnational natural property inscribed in 2016. [13]
- Cold Winter Deserts of Turan
- Transnational natural property inscribed in 2023. [13]
- Mangystau Rock Mosques
- Cultural property inscribed July 2026. [13][14]
- Mangystau components
- Five rock-cut mosque sites include Beket Ata, Shopan Ata, Qaraman Ata, Shaqpaq Ata and Sultan Epe. [14]
- Transnational sites
- Some UNESCO properties are shared with neighboring countries rather than solely national. [13]
- Intangible cultural heritage
- Dombra and other traditions are recognized by a separate UNESCO program. [15]
- Climate cooperation
- Transboundary water and desertification problems need regional coordination. [17][20]
- November 2026 diplomacy
- Jordan’s King Abdullah II visited Kazakhstan for talks with Tokayev and Aqaba Process meetings. [24]
- Heritage count caution
- Mangystau’s 2026 inscription means pre-2026 lists of six properties are outdated. [14][13]
Kazakhstan World Heritage properties
| Property | Category | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi | Cultural | 2003 |
| Petroglyphs of Tanbaly | Cultural | 2004 |
| Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes | Natural | 2008 |
| Silk Roads: Chang’an–Tianshan Corridor | Cultural | 2014 |
| Western Tien-Shan | Natural | 2016 |
| Cold Winter Deserts of Turan | Natural | 2023 |
| Rock Mosques of Mangystau | Cultural | 2026 |
Sources and Methodology
Kazakhstan’s 2026 constitutional transition requires treating prior bicameral-parliament descriptions as historical. Election results are from the national Central Election Commission and the government’s official explanatory factsheet, not polling forecasts. World Bank population and GDP are harmonized 2025 series, whereas WTO product and partner merchandise statistics refer to 2024. UNESCO’s 2026 inscription in Mangystau adds a seventh World Heritage property, and shared transnational properties are counted once in the country total.
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). Official data and international series have different observation dates, definitions, and publication lags. Historical, provisional, and projected values are identified; refresh the page after new elections, statistical revisions, or legal changes.
- United Nations Statistics — M49 country classification — Central Asia statistical region and identifiers.
- World Bank — Kazakhstan country data — 2025 population, GDP, growth, inflation and employment.
- Government of Kazakhstan — Constitution of 2026 — new constitutional text effective July 1, Kurultai and official languages.
- US Library of Congress — Kazakhstan 2026 constitution — March referendum and constitutional institutional reform.
- Kazakhstan Central Election Commission — 2026 Kurultai final results — certified August 23 election, seat allocation and party results.
- Kazakhstan MFA — 2026 Kurultai election results factsheet — 110 Adilet seats and full 145-seat chamber distribution.
- Reuters — Vice president and prime minister appointed, August 31, 2026 — Erlan Karin vice presidency and Bektenov reappointment.
- Government of Kazakhstan — National portal — state administration and government services.
- Bureau of National Statistics — Administrative divisions July 2026 — 17 regions and three cities of republican significance.
- Kazakhstan Bureau of National Statistics — Main portal — national censuses, population and economic statistics.
- WTO Tariff & Trade Data — Kazakhstan — 2024 merchandise imports, exports, product breakdown and partners.
- IMF — Kazakhstan country information — macroeconomic surveillance and policy context.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Kazakhstan — seven properties including 2026 Mangystau.
- Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry — Mangystau UNESCO inscription July 2026 — five rock-cut mosques and 2026 inscription.
- UNESCO — Kazakhstan intangible cultural heritage — living heritage and cross-border cultural practices.
- WHO — Kazakhstan country profile — health and life-expectancy indicators.
- World Bank Climate Knowledge Portal — Kazakhstan — continental climate, drought and warming risks.
- National Bank of Kazakhstan — tenge, monetary policy, financial statistics.
- International Atomic Energy Agency — Kazakhstan — nuclear and uranium sector safeguards cooperation.
- Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — multivector diplomacy and treaties.
- OSCE — Kazakhstan — security and governance cooperation.
- UNESCO — Kazakhstan — education, science and heritage engagement.
- World Bank — Kazakhstan overview — resource-dependent development and diversification.
- Royal Hashemite Court — King Abdullah visit November 5, 2026 — November 2026 diplomatic engagement with President Tokayev.