Kazakhstan

presidential republic

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

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

legislature name: Parliament (Parlament) legislative structure: bicameral

highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of the chairperson and 6 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the president of the republic on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council and confirmed by the Senate; judges normally serve until age 65 but can be extended to age 70; Constitutional Council - the president of the republic, the Senate chairperson, and the Mazhilis chairperson each appoints 2 members for a 6-year term; chairperson of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president for a 6-year term subordinate courts: regional and local courts

history: previous 1937, 1978 (pre-independence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995 amendment process: introduced by a referendum initiated by the president of the republic, on the recommendation of Parliament, or by the government; the president has the option of submitting draft amendments to Parliament or directly to a referendum; passage of amendments by Parliament requires four-fifths majority vote of both houses and the signature of the president; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote by more than one half of the voters in at least two thirds of the oblasts, major cities, and the capital, followed by the signature of the president

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant 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, MINURSO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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.)

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

men 18-27 are subject to conscription for 12-24 months; conscripts may be assigned to the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Border Service, the State Security Service, or the Ministry of Emergency Situations; women may volunteer (2025)

the military s principal responsibilities are territorial defense while the National Police, National Guard, Committee for National Security, and Border Service have primary responsibility for internal security, although the military may provide assistance if required; the military also participates in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, as well as regional exercises; in recent years, Kazakhstan has placed greater emphasis on regional military partnerships and equipment modernization and diversification in order to reduce reliance on Russia, its traditional security partner; other efforts to enhance the country s security sector have included boosting the capabilities of the National Guard and improving military professionalism Kazakhstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has obligated troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; it also has had a relationship with NATO since 1992 focused on democratic, institutional, and defense reforms (2025)

$739.385 billion (2024 est.) $705.52 billion (2023 est.) $671.285 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$35,900 (2024 est.) $34,700 (2023 est.) $33,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

4.8% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

8.8% (2024 est.) 14.7% (2023 est.) 15% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

20.9% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$91.908 billion (2024 est.) $90.926 billion (2023 est.) $93.822 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$74.246 billion (2024 est.) $72.723 billion (2023 est.) $60.439 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

4.8% (2024 est.) 4.9% (2023 est.) 4.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

revenues: $44.25 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $47.247 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

wheat, milk, barley, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons, sunflower seeds, maize, onions, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 20,432,662 (2025 est.) male: 9,902,303 female: 10,530,359

0.83% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 27.6% (male 2,883,200/female 2,712,772) 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 6,233,881/female 6,486,019) 65 years and over: 9.6% (2024 est.) (male 700,091/female 1,244,043)

16.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 73.3 years (2024 est.) male: 69 years female: 77.9 years

urban population: 58.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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.)

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

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.)

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

refugees: 66,152 (2024 est.) IDPs: 0 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 7,865 (2024 est.)

132 (2025)

total: 16,636 km (2021) broad gauge: 16,636 km (2021) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified)

total: 122 (2023) by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112

total subscriptions: 26.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.)

percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)