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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program diffusion 6,082,000)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

2.2 million telephones; telephone service is poor; about 17 telephones/100 persons in urban areas and 7.6 telephones/100 persons in rural areas; Almaty has 184,000 telephones local: NA intercity: land line and microwave radio relay international: international traffic with other former USSR republics and China carried by landline and microwave, and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; INTELSAT earth station; new satellite earth station established at Almaty with Turkish financial help (December 1992) with 2500 channel band width

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: Orbita (TV receive only) earth station televisions: 4.75 million

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Republic National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

69.3 billion rubles, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results KENYA

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 4,513,089; males fit for military service 3,605,584; males reach military age (18) annually 154,280 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 20% of GDP; employs about 26% of the labor force; grain, mostly spring wheat; meat, cotton, wool

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

national currency the tenge introduced on 15 November 1993

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: approximately $1 billion in foreign loans and credits allocated in 1994; disbursements projected at $700 billion through 1995

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 17,380,000 kW production: 65.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,750 kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

tenges per US$1 - 54 (yearend 1994)

Exports [time series]

$3.1 billion (1994) commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

less than $1 billion debt to Russia

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Southwest Asia

Imports [time series]

$3.5 billion (1994) commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas partners: Russia and other former Soviet republics, China

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate -28% (1994)

Industries [time series]

accounts for 26% of net national product; extractive industries (oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur), iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

24% per month (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $55.2 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$3,200 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-25% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet states in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil-fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a relatively large machine building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the collapse of demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since 1991, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. The government has pursued a moderate program of economic reform and privatization which is gradually lifting state controls over economic activity and shifting assets into the private sector. Nevertheless, government control over key sectors of the economy remains strong. Sustained economic hardships and continued pressures from industrial elites will make it difficult for the government to sustain its policies of monetary and fiscal discipline which had brought down inflation by the end of 1994. Continued lack of pipeline transportation for expanded oil exports has closed off a likely source of economic recovery.

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.1% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers (1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 2,717,300 sq km land area: 2,669,800 sq km comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked) note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which 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 salinization from faulty irrigation practices natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined

Irrigated land [time series]

23,080 sq km (1990)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 12,012 km, China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 15% permanent crops: NEGL% meadows and pastures: 57% forest and woodland: 4% other: 24%

Location [time series]

Central Asia, northwest of China

Map references [time series]

Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

landlocked

Terrain [time series]

extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oasis and desert in Central Asia

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

19 oblystar (singular - oblys) and 1 city (qalalar, singular - qala)*; Almaty Qalasy*, Almaty Oblysy, Aqmola Oblysy, Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Kokshetau Oblysy, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Pavlodar Oblysy, Semey Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavl), Taldyqorghan Oblysy, Torghay Oblysy, Zhambyl Oblysy, Zhezqazghan Oblysy note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from oblys name

Capital [time series]

Almaty

Constitution [time series]

adopted 28 January 1993

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Tuleutai S. SULEYMENOV chancery: (temporary) 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-4504 through 4507

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV (since NA April 1990); Vice President Yerik ASANBAYEV (since 1 December 1991); election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed; note - NAZARBAYEV has extended his term to the year 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995 head of government: Prime Minister Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since 12 October 1994); First Deputy Prime Ministers Nigmatzhan ISINGARIN (since 12 October 1994) and Vitalia METTE (since March 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 333-4509

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[7] (3272) 63-38-83

Flag [time series]

sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow

Independence [time series]

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Independent Trade Union Center (Birlesu; an association of independent trade union and business associations), Leonid SOLOMIN, president

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's Unity Party (PUP; was Union of People's Unity), Kuanysh SULTANOV, chairman; People's Congress of Kazakhstan (PCK), Olzhas SULEYMENOV, chairman; Socialist Party of Kazakhstan (SPK; former Communist Party), Yermukhamet YERTYSHBAYEV, co-chairman; Republican Party (Azat), Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman; Democratic Progress (Russian) Party, Alexandra DOKUCHAYEVA, chairman; Confederation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakhstan (KPU); Social Movement LAD, V. MIKHAYLOV, chairman; Union of Youth of Kazakhstan; Democratic Committee for Human Rights; Association of Lawyers of Kazakhstan; International Public Committee "Aral-Asia-Kazakhstan"; Congress of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan; Deputies of the 12th Supreme Soviet; People's Cooperative Party, Umirzak SARSENOV, chairman; Organization of Veterans

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Legislative branch (Supreme Council) [time series]

elections last held 7 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total) Union Peoples' Unity of Kazakhstan 33, Confederation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan 11, Peoples' Congress of Kazakhstan Party 9, Socialist Party of Kazakhstan 8, Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakhstan 4, Social Movement LAD 4, Organization of Veterans 1, Union of Youth of Kazakhstan 1, Democratic Committee for Human Rights 1, Association of Lawyers of Kazakhstan 1, International Public Committee "Aral-Asia-Kazakhstan" 1, Congress of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan 1, Deputies of the 12th Supreme Soviet 40, independents 62 note: the Supreme Council disbanded 12 March 1995 following a Constitutional Court ruling that the March 1994 elections were invalid

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY embassy: 99/97 Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan 480012 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3272) 63-24-26

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30% (female 2,589,509; male 2,664,952) 15-64 years: 63% (female 5,531,519; male 5,371,563) 65 years and over: 7% (female 820,900; male 398,172) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.26 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Kazakh (Qazaq) 41.9%, Russian 37%, Ukrainian 5.2%, German 4.7%, Uzbek 2.1%, Tatar 2%, other 7.1% (1991 official data)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

40 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

7.356 million by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 26%, other 43% (1992)

Languages [time series]

Kazakh (Qazaqz) official language spoken by over 40% of population, Russian (language of interethnic communication) spoken by two-thirds of population and used in everyday business

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.25 years male: 63.61 years female: 73.13 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 96%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani

Net migration rate [time series]

-5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

17,376,615 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.62% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 352 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 7 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 9 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 9 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 25 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 65 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 190

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 189,000 km paved and graveled: 108,100 km unpaved: earth 80,900 km (1990)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

Syrdariya River, Ertis River

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural gas 3,480 km (1992)

Ports [time series]

Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 14,460 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 14,460 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)