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Kazakhstan

Republic of Kazakhstan

Updated

Population

20.84 million

2025 · World Bank

GDP

$306.24B

2025 · World Bank

GDP per capita

$14,692

2025 · World Bank

Area

2,724,900 km²

mledoze/countries reference dataset

Capital

Astana

Median age

29.7 yrs

2025 · UN WPP

Location

CIA World Factbook map of Kazakhstan, showing major cities, rivers and neighbouring countries
Map from The World Factbook, final edition. Public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105); boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative.
Capital
Astana
Region
Central Asia
Subregion
Central Asia
Area
2,724,900 km²
Neighbours
5
Languages
Kazakh, Russian
#65 of 238 in population #50 of 222 in GDP #10 of 252 in area #89 of 213 in GDP per capita #124 of 228 in life expectancy

Leadership

Head of state
Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev
In office since January 1, 2019
Head of government
Älihan Smaiylov
In office since January 5, 2022

Wikidata (CC0), checked August 11, 2026. Frozen Factbook mirrors still list the officeholders of January 2026.

Then and now

The CIA World Factbook stopped updating in January 2026. This is what has changed since its final edition.

Final CIA World Factbook figures of January 2026 versus current data for Kazakhstan
IndicatorFactbook, final editionCurrentChange
Population20,432,662202520,843,7542025+2.0%
GDP (nominal)$288.41B2024$306.24B2025+6.2%
Inflation rate8.8%202411.4%2025+2.6 pp

7 facts about Kazakhstan

  1. 01 Kazakhstan ranks 65 of 238 in population, with 20.84 million people as of 2025.
  2. 02 Its economy produced $306.24B in 2025, or $14,692 per person.
  3. 03 It shares land borders with 5 neighbours: China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
  4. 04 Population has grown 34% since 2000, from 15.50 million to 20.84 million.
  5. 05 Prices sit at about 33% of United States levels (World Bank PPP data, 2025).
  6. 06 93% of the population uses the internet (2024).
  7. 07 It lists 2 official or major languages: Kazakh, Russian.

Reference

Languages
Kazakh, Russian
Currency
Kazakhstani tenge (KZT)
Internet TLD
.kz, .қаз
Demonym
Kazakhstani
ISO codes
KZ · KAZ · 398

Land borders

ChinaKyrgyzstanRussiaTurkmenistanUzbekistan

Compare Kazakhstan

The Factbook archive 154 fields · 12 categories

The complete World Factbook entry for Kazakhstan: 154 fields and 259 sub-entries across 12 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition; the live figures above supersede the fast-moving numbers in it. Last CIA update: January 18, 2026.

Kazakhstan and neighbouring land. Geometry: Natural Earth (public domain).

Introduction 1 field

Background
Ethnic Kazakhs derive from a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes that migrated to the region in the 15th century. The Russian Empire conquered the Kazakh steppe in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. Forced agricultural collectivization led to repression and starvation, resulting in more than a million deaths in the early 1930s. During the 1950s and 1960s, the agricultural "Virgin Lands" program generated an influx of settlers -- mostly ethnic Russians, but also other nationalities -- and by the time of Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, ethnic Kazakhs were a minority. However, non-Muslim ethnic minorities departed Kazakhstan in large numbers from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s, and a national program has repatriated about a million ethnic Kazakhs (from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and the Xinjiang region of China) to Kazakhstan. As a result of this shift, the ethnic Kazakh share of the population now exceeds two-thirds.

Kazakhstan's economy is the largest in Central Asia, mainly due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include diversifying the economy, attracting foreign direct investment, enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness, and strengthening economic relations with neighboring states and foreign powers.  

Geography 20 fields

Location
Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Oral) River in easternmost Europe
Geographic coordinates
48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total: 2,724,900 sq km
land: 2,699,700 sq km
water: 25,200 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries
total: 13,364 km
border countries: China 1,765 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,212 km; Russia 7,644 km; Turkmenistan 413 km; Uzbekistan 2,330 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)

note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
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
Elevation
highest point: Pik Khan-Tengri 7,010 m
note - the northern most 7,000 meter peak in the World
lowest point: Qauyndy Oyysy -132 m
mean elevation: 387 m
Natural resources
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use
agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
other: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
17,794 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 sq km
salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Russia) - 374,000 sq km; Aral Sea (north) - 3,300 sq km; Ozero Alakol - 2,650 sq km; Ozero Teniz 1,590 sq km; Ozero Seletytenzi - 780 sq km; Ozero Sasykkol - 740 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Syr Darya river mouth (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) - 3,078 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)
Population distribution
most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country
Natural hazards
earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty
Geography - note
world's largest landlocked country and one of only two landlocked countries in the world that extends into two continents (the other is Azerbaijan); Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq mi) of territory enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome 

People and Society 34 fields

Population
total: 20,432,662 (2025 est.)
male: 9,902,303
female: 10,530,359
Nationality
noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups
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.)
Languages
Languages: 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.
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.)
Age structure
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 59.4 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 43.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 15.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.3 (2025 est.)
Median age
total: 32.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 30 years
female: 33.8 years
Population growth rate
0.83% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
16.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country
Urbanization
urban population: 58.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.987 million Almaty, 1.291 million NUR-SULTAN (capital), 1.155 million Shimkent (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.56 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
28.9 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
10 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 73.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 69 years
female: 77.9 years
Total fertility rate
2.57 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.24 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
3.75 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
6.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
total: 20.1% (2025 est.)
male: 35.7% (2025 est.)
female: 6.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.8% (2021 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0.2% (2015)
women married by age 18: 7% (2015)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 22% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 14 years (2024 est.)
male: 14 years (2024 est.)
female: 14 years (2024 est.)

Environment 11 fields

Environmental issues
radioactive or toxic chemical sites from former defense industries; severe industrial pollution in some cities; air and soil pollution (including dust storms) from chemical pesticides and natural salts left after two rivers were diverted; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals; salination from infrastructure and irrigation practices; water pollution; desertification
International environmental agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Land use
agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.)
forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
other: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 58.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions: 269.83 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 175.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 50.387 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 43.596 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
38.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions
energy: 1,903.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 781.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 184.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 17.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.66 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 4.877 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 5.995 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 14.264 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources
108.41 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government 26 fields

Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form: Kazakhstan
local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
local short form: Qazaqstan
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology: the name may derive from the Turkic word kazak, meaning "nomad;" the Persian suffix -stan means "place of" or "country"
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
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
Administrative divisions
17 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 4 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Abay (Semey), Almaty (Qonaev), Almaty*, Aqmola (Kokshetau), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Shymkent*, Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl), Turkistan, Ulytau (Zhezqazghan), Zhambyl (Taraz), Zhetisu (Taldyqorghan)

note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses

note 2: in 1995, the Kazakh and Russian governments agreed that Russia would lease for 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq mi) around the Baikonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baikonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, the lease was extended to 2050
Legal system
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
Constitution
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kazakhstan
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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 ÄBDEN (KÄQŪA) 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
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name: House of Representatives (Mazhilis)
number of seats: 98 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 3/19/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Amanat party (62); Auyl party (8); Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (6); Respublica (6); People's Party of Kazakhstan (5); Independents (7); Other (4)
percentage of women in chamber: 18.4%
expected date of next election: March 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name: Senate
number of seats: 50 (40 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 6 years
most recent election date: 1/14/2023
percentage of women in chamber: 20%
expected date of next election: January 2026
Judicial branch
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
Political parties
Ak Zhol Democratic Party or Ak Zhol
Amanat formerly Nur Otan
Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party or Auyl
Green Party of Kazakhstan orBaytaq
Nationwide Social Democratic Party or NSDP
People's Party of Kazakhstan or PPK
Respublica
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Magzhan ILYASSOV (since 16 December 2025)
chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
email address and website:
[email protected]

https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington?lang=en
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Julie STUFFT; Chargé d'Affaires Deborah ROBINSON (since January 2025)
embassy: Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3, Astana 010010
mailing address: 2230 Astana Place, Washington DC  20521-2230
telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00
FAX: [7] (7172) 54-09-14
email address and website:
[email protected]

https://kz.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Almaty
International organization participation
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
Independence
16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday
Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Flag
description: a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky-blue background; the left side displays a national pattern called koshkar-muiz (the horns of the ram) in gold

meaning: the blue color has religious significance for the Turkic peoples and symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity, as well as sky and water; the sun stands for wealth and plenitude, with rays shaped like grain; the eagle has appeared on Kazakh tribal flags for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the future
National symbol(s)
golden eagle
National color(s)
blue, yellow
National coat of arms
winning design from a competition held in 1992; the design uses the national colors of yellow and blue, with blue standing for the hope for unity, peace, and friendship with all people and gold for a clear future for the country’s population; a shanyrak (the upper dome-like portion of a yurt) represents familial well-being, peace, and calmness, with the circular shape standing for life and eternity; the winged horses, or tulpars, protect the shanyrak and symbolize bravery, prosperity, and inspiration
National anthem(s)
title: "Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)
lyrics/music: Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV
history: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (c); Petroglyphs at Tanbaly (c); Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (n); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien-Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n)

Economy 32 fields

Economic overview
upper-middle-income Central Asian economy; robust growth due to rising oil production, expansion in manufacturing and services, rising domestic demand, and infrastructure investments; however, rapid growth contributing to high inflation rate; declining unemployment and poverty rates
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $739.385 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $705.52 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $671.285 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024: $35,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $34,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $33,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$288.406 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 8.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 3.9% (2024 est.)
industry: 31.4% (2024 est.)
services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 51.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 11.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 3.3% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 34.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -27.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, milk, barley, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons, sunflower seeds, maize, onions, tomatoes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
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
Industrial production growth rate
6.6% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Labor force
10.285 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 4.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 3.8% (2024 est.)
male: 3% (2024 est.)
female: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
5.2% (2023 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 29.2 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food: 50.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4.3% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 24.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget
revenues: $44.25 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $47.247 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023: 20.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
11.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
Current account balance 2024: -$3.702 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$9.448 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $6.436 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2024: $91.908 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $90.926 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $93.822 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners
China 16%, UK 15%, Russia 10%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, gold, radioactive chemicals, refined copper, copper ore (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
Imports 2024: $74.246 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $72.723 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $60.439 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners
China 28%, Russia 24%, Gambia, The 4%, Turkey 4%, USA 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, vehicle bodies, packaged medicine (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $45.808 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $35.965 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $35.076 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023: $25.765 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency: tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 468.962 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 456.165 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 460.165 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 425.908 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 412.953 (2020 est.)

Energy 8 fields

Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 27.624 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 106.201 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 2.243 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 3.694 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 9.439 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 87.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)
Coal
production: 120.279 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 86.349 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 34.043 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 114,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 25.605 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 1.955 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 30 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 28.769 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 22.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 7.071 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 408.952 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 2.407 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 172.936 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications 6 fields

Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2.574 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 26.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media
the state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; there are 96 TV channels, and 4 state-run radio stations; some former state-owned media outlets have been privatized; households with satellite dishes have access to foreign media; small number of commercial radio stations; all media outlets have to register with the government (2018)
Internet country code
.kz
Internet users
percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 3.59 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)

Transportation 5 fields

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
UP
Airports
132 (2025)
Heliports
32 (2025)
Railways
total: 16,636 km (2021)
broad gauge: 16,636 km (2021) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified)
Merchant marine
total: 122 (2023)
by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112

Military and Security 6 fields

Military and security forces
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
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2024: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
available information varies widely; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 30,000 National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Kazakh military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has sought to diversify to suppliers such as China, France, Israel, South Korea, and Türkiye; Kazakhstan has a defense industry capable of assembling or producing such items as naval vessels, combat vehicles, helicopters, and radar systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation
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)
Military - note
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)

Space 4 fields

Space agency/agencies
Aerospace Committee of the Kazakh Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Ministry (aka National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan or KazCosmos; established 2007) (2025)
Space launch site(s)
Baikonur Cosmodrome/Space Center (Baikonur) (2025)

note 1: Baikonur Cosmodrome is leased and administered by Russia until 2050; the cosmodrome was originally built by the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s and is the site of the World's first successful satellite launch (Sputnik) in 1957; it is also the largest space launch facility in the World

note 2: in 2018, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed that Kazakhstan would build, maintain, and operate a new space launch facility (Baiterek) at the Baikonur Space Center (estimated to be fully operational in 2027-2028)
Space program overview
space program originated with the former Soviet Union; focuses on satellite acquisition and operation; builds (with foreign assistance) and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; building space infrastructure, such as launch and testing facilities, ground stations, and rocket manufacturing; has an astronaut (cosmonaut) program; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, and the UK; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; has state-owned and private companies that assist with the country’s space program and work closely with foreign commercial entities (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1991 - first Kazakh in space on the last Soviet Soyuz mission

2006 - first communications satellite (KazSat-1) built jointly with Italy and launched by Russia

2014 - first remote sensing satellite (KazEOSat-1) built by France and launched on European rocket

2024 - joined China-led lunar base project

Transnational Issues 1 field

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

Frequently asked

What is the population of Kazakhstan in 2025?
Kazakhstan has a population of 20.84 million (20,843,754) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.
What is the capital of Kazakhstan?
The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana.
How large is the economy of Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan's GDP is $306.24B (2025, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $14,692 per capita.
Who leads Kazakhstan?
Head of state: Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev (since January 1, 2019). Head of government: Älihan Smaiylov (since January 5, 2022). Source: Wikidata, checked August 11, 2026.

Kazakhstan