Discover Fascinating Kazakhstan Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan
Background
Kazakhstan is a fascinating country with a rich history! ๐ Did you know that ethnic Kazakhs, who come from a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes, started moving to this region way back in the 15th century? ๐๏ธ Later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, Russia conquered the area. Then, in 1925, it became a part of the Soviet Republic. Finally, Kazakhstan celebrated its independence in 1991! ๐
Year Kazakhstan Gained Independence
1991
Exports - commodities
Kazakhstan is rich in a variety of natural resources, and its exports reflect the wealth of its underground treasures! ๐ In 2022, the top commodities that Kazakhstan exported include:
- Crude Petroleum: An essential energy resource for many countries.
- Gold: Shiny and sought-after, this precious metal is always in demand!
- Refined Copper: A key player in electrical wiring and many other industries.
- Iron Alloys: Important materials for construction and manufacturing.
- Radioactive Chemicals: Used in nuclear energy and various scientific applications.
Each of these commodities plays a vital role in the global market and in Kazakhstan's economy. ๐
Top Export Commodities in 2022
Crude petroleum, Gold, Refined copper, Iron alloys, Radioactive chemicals
Exports - partners
Kazakhstan has exciting trade partners! ๐ In 2022, hereโs how their exports were divided among the top partners:
- China: 14% ๐ฎ
- Italy: 13% ๐
- Russia: 9% ๐ฅ
- UK: 8% ๐ฌ๐ง
- Netherlands: 6% ๐ท
These partners make up 50% of Kazakhstan's total exports, showing strong trade connections with these countries.
Total percentage of top 5 partners
50%
Export Partners of Kazakhstan (2022)
Capital
Kazakhstan's capital city is Astana! ๐๏ธ This vibrant city is famous for its modern architecture and rapid growth. Astana, which replaced Almaty as the capital in 1997, showcases a mix of traditional Kazakh culture and contemporary style. It's a place where east meets west and tradition meets technology! ๐โจ
Imports - commodities
Kazakhstan imports a variety of goods that are essential for its economy and everyday life! ๐ Hereโs a fun look at some of the main imports: garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, plastic products, and packaged medicine. These items are vital for not just keeping the markets running, but also for enhancing the quality of life. ๐๏ธ๐ค Whether it's the latest car model zooming down the street or essential medicines keeping citizens healthy, imports play a crucial role in the nation's growth!
Climate
Kazakhstan has a unique climate that can be described as continental! ๐ This means that it has big temperature differences between the seasons. In winter, the country gets really cold, while in summer, it can be quite hot. ๐ก๏ธ This climate type also includes arid and semiarid areas, which means that some parts of Kazakhstan can be quite dry with limited rainfall. This diverse climate affects everything from the types of plants that grow to the activities people can do throughout the year. ๐ฟโ๏ธโ๏ธ
Executive branch
In Kazakhstan, the chief of state is President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, who has been in office since 20 March 2019. The head of government is Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, who took office on 6 February 2024. ๐๏ธ๐ฐ๐ฟ This marks an exciting period in the leadership of Kazakhstan with these key figures steering the nation's policies and governance!
President in office since
20 March 2019
Prime Minister in office since
6 February 2024
Legislative branch
Kazakhstan has a super cool bicameral Parliament! ๐ This means it has two separate chambers: the Senate and the Mazhilis. ๐๏ธ Here's how the seats are divided:
- Senate: 50 seats
- Mazhilis: 98 seats
Together, they make important decisions for the country! ๐ณ๏ธ
Total number of seats in Parliament
148
Seats in Kazakhstan's Parliament
Natural resources
Kazakhstan is a treasure trove of natural resources! ๐โจ Here are some of the major deposits found in the country:
- Petroleum ๐ข๏ธ
- Natural Gas ๐จ
- Coal โ๏ธ
- Iron Ore ๐ชจ
- Manganese ๐งช
- Chrome Ore ๐
- Nickel ๐
- Cobalt โก
- Copper ๐ช
- Molybdenum ๐ฉ
- Lead ๐๏ธ
- Zinc โ๏ธ
- Bauxite โ๏ธ
- Gold ๐ฐ
- Uranium โข๏ธ
With such a wide variety of resources, Kazakhstan plays a crucial role in the global market! ๐๐ผ
Economic overview
Kazakhstan is known as an oil and gas giant! ๐๐ฐ Their economy is growing thanks to international investment, which sounds super promising! However, like many places, they faced a tough time from the COVID-19 pandemic, which really hit hard. ๐ท But there's hope! The country is working on reforms to improve civil society and boost business confidence. ๐ผโจ Still, they face some challenges like legacy state controls and influence from Russia that can slow down growth and autonomy. Let's keep an eye on how they tackle these issues!
Influence of Oil and Gas
Significant
COVID-19 Impact
Severe
International Investment Trend
Growing
Challenges to Growth
State Controls and Russian Influence
Government type
Kazakhstan is a presidential republic! ๐๏ธ This means that the President is the head of state and thereโs a clear separation between the executive and legislative branches of government. It's an important aspect of the country's political landscape, defining how decisions are made and how power is distributed. Understanding the government type helps us learn more about how Kazakhstan functions and how it interacts with its citizens and the world! ๐โจ
Ethnic groups
Kazakhstan is a colorful country with a mix of different ethnic groups! ๐ Hereโs how the big family of ethnicities looks:
- 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%
Itโs fascinating to see how diverse this country is! Each ethnic group contributes to the rich culture and heritage of Kazakhstan. ๐
Percentage of Kazakh Ethnic Group
71%
Percentage of Russian Ethnic Group
14.9%
Percentage of Uzbek Ethnic Group
3.3%
Percentage of Ukrainian Ethnic Group
1.9%
Percentage of Uyghurs Ethnic Group
1.5%
Percentage of German Ethnic Group
1.1%
Percentage of Tatar Ethnic Group
1.1%
Percentage of Other Ethnic Groups
4.9%
Percentage of Unspecified Ethnic Groups
0.3%
Ethnic Groups in Kazakhstan
Religions
Kazakhstan is a fascinating country with a kaleidoscope of beliefs! ๐ Here's a breakdown of the major religions practiced in Kazakhstan as of 2021:
- Muslims: 69.3% ๐
- Christians: 17.2% โช
- Orthodox: 17%
- Other: 0.2%
- Buddhism: 0.1% ๐ง
- Other: 0.1%
- Non-believers: 2.3% ๐คทโโ๏ธ
- Unspecified: 11% โ
This diverse mix illustrates how the people of Kazakhstan embrace various faiths! ๐
Percentage of Muslims
69.3%
Percentage of Christians
17.2%
Percentage of Buddhists
0.1%
Percentage of Non-believers
2.3%
Religious Distribution in Kazakhstan (2021)
Languages
Kazakhstan is a vibrant place with a mix of languages spoken! ๐ The official language is Kazakh, also known as Qazaq, and it's spoken by 80.1% of the people. ๐ฃ๏ธ However, Russian is even more widely used, known by a whopping 83.7% of the population. ๐ If you're looking to travel or communicate, you'll also find that 35.1% of folks can speak English! ๐ฌ๐ง This diverse linguistic landscape shows how different cultures blend together in Kazakhstan!
Percentage of Kazakh speakers
80.1%
Percentage of Russian speakers
83.7%
Percentage of English speakers
35.1%
Language Proficiency in Kazakhstan (2021)
Imports - partners
Kazakhstan has some interesting trading partners! When we look at where Kazakhstan imports its goods from, we see a few key players. ๐ In 2022, Russia was the largest at 29%, closely followed by China at 28%. Germany comes in third with 5%, while South Korea and Turkey hold 4% and 3%, respectively. It's clear that these countries play a big role in providing goods to Kazakhstan! ๐ฆโ๏ธ
Kazakhstan's top import partner
Russia - 29%
Second highest import partner
China - 28%
Smallest import partner
Turkey - 3%
Kazakhstan's Import Partners (2022)
Population
Kazakhstan has a total population of 20,260,006 people! ๐ That's a lot of friends and neighbors! This number shows how many wonderful people live in this beautiful country. Let's dive into more facts about Kazakhstan's population! ๐
Total Population
20,260,006
Area
Kazakhstan is a gigantic country that covers a whopping 2,724,900 sq km! ๐ But let's break it down:
- Land Area: 2,699,700 sq km of beautiful land ๐พ
- Water Area: Only 25,200 sq km of water ๐ This means that most of Kazakhstan is dry land, making it a vast territory for many adventures!
Isn't it amazing how much space there is to explore? ๐คฉ
Total Area of Kazakhstan
2,724,900 sq km
Total Land Area
2,699,700 sq km
Total Water Area
25,200 sq km
Area Distribution in Kazakhstan
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Kazakhstan's economy is on the rise! ๐ Let's take a look at its Real GDP (adjusted for purchasing power) over the last few years:
- In 2021, it was $650.47 billion.
- By 2022, it grew to $671.285 billion. That's progress! ๐
- And in the latest estimate for 2023, it reached an impressive $705.52 billion! ๐ฐ
This shows that Kazakhstan's economy is getting stronger and stronger, year after year! ๐
2021 Real GDP
650.47 billion $
2022 Real GDP
671.285 billion $
2023 Real GDP
705.52 billion $
Kazakhstan's Real GDP Over 3 Years
Real GDP per capita
Kazakhstan's economy is buzzing! ๐ The Real GDP per capita gives us a peek into how much each person could expect to earn if the country's wealth were shared evenly. Let's see how it's changing over the years:
- In 2021, the Real GDP per capita was $33,900.
- By 2022, it rose to $34,200! ๐
- And the latest estimate for 2023 has it at $35,500. ๐
This upward trend shows Kazakhstan's economy getting stronger year by year!
GDP per capita in 2021
$33,900
GDP per capita in 2022
$34,200
GDP per capita in 2023
$35,500
Kazakhstan's Real GDP per capita Over Time
Imports
Kazakhstan has been increasing its imports steadily over the years! ๐ In 2021, imports were at $49.597 billion. This amount grew to $60.151 billion in 2022, and by 2023, it skyrocketed to an estimated $71.811 billion! ๐ฐ This shows a strong upward trend in Kazakhstan's trade activities. Letโs take a closer look at these impressive import figures!
Imports in 2021
$49.597 billion
Imports in 2022
$60.151 billion
Imports in 2023
$71.811 billion
Kazakhstan's Import Trends (2021-2023)
Exports
Kazakhstan's exports have shown an exciting trend over the past few years! ๐ Let's take a look at the impressive figures:
- 2021: $71.726 billion
- 2022: $93.598 billion
- 2023: $90.167 billion
As you can see, Kazakhstan's exports really took off from 2021 to 2022 but saw a slight dip in 2023. ๐ This data illustrates the dynamic nature of the country's export economy! ๐
Total Exports in 2023
$90.167 billion
Exports Growth from 2021 to 2022
30.4%
Exports Decrease from 2022 to 2023
3.9%
Kazakhstan's Exports Over the Years
Population growth rate
Kazakhstan's population is on the rise! ๐โจ As of the 2024 estimate, the population growth rate stands at 0.86%. This means that more and more people are calling Kazakhstan home! ๐ก๐
Population Growth Rate
0.86%