Kazakhstan
sovereign state in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
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Kazakhstan is a country in Europe.[1] It was established in 1991. Its capital is Astana.
World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Oral) River in easternmost Europe
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
Natural resources
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
People & Society
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.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday
Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$739.385 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$35,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
4.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
4.8% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 16%, UK 15%, Russia 10%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 28%, Russia 24%, Gambia, The 4%, Turkey 4%, USA 4% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], Commonwealth of Independent States[4], Shanghai Cooperation Organisation[5], Central Asian Cooperation Organization[6], Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe[7], Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[8], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[9], International Development Association[10]
- Country: Kazakhstan[11]
- Head of government: Oljas Bektenov[12]
- Continent: Europe[13], Asia[14]
- Instance of: unitary state[15], landlocked country[16], country sometimes considered transcontinental[17], country[18]
- Head of state: Qasym-Jomart Toqaev[19]
- Capital: Astana[20]
- Official language: Kazakh[21], Russian[22]
- Currency: Kazakhstani tenge[23]
- Shares border with: Turkmenistan[24], People's Republic of China[25], Kyrgyzstan[26], Uzbekistan[27], Russia[28]
- Top-level Internet domain: .kz[29], .қаз[30]
- Anthem: Menıñ Qazaqstanym[31]
- Basic form of government: presidential system[32]
- Named after: Kazakhs[33]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Astana[34], Almaty[35], Akmola Region[36], Aktobe Region[37], Almaty Region[38], Atyrau Region[39], East Kazakhstan Region[40], Jambyl Region[41], Karaganda Region[42], Kostanay Region[43], Kyzylorda Region[44], Mangystau Region[45], North Kazakhstan Region[46], Pavlodar Region[47]
- Flag: flag of Kazakhstan[48]
- Legislative body: Parliament of Kazakhstan[49]
- Executive body: Government of Kazakhstan[50]
- Coat of arms: emblem of Kazakhstan[51]
- Commons category: Kazakhstan[52]
- Licence plate code: KZ[53]
- Located in time zone: UTC+05:00[54]
Why It Matters
Kazakhstan has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[55] Kazakhstan is known by 76 alternative names across languages and contexts.[56]