Country Profile: Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, is situated in Central Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the east. The nation has a diverse population, a significant portion of which is ethnic Kazakh, following historical migrations and demographic shifts. It boasts the largest economy in Central Asia, driven by its rich natural resources, including extensive reserves of oil and gas. Governing as a presidential republic, Kazakhstan has made strides in political reform while dealing with various socio-economic challenges.

Geography

Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia, stretching into easternmost Europe and bordered by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The country features a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers and showcases a vast expanse of flat steppe, mountains, deserts, and oases. Being landlocked, Kazakhstan has a coastline along the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea, which is now split into two bodies of water.

2,724,900 sq km - Total area, making it slightly less than four times the size of Texas.
13,364 km - Total land borders.
Pik Khan-Tengri - Highest point at 7,010 m, the northernmost 7,000-meter peak in the world.
Major lakes include Ozero Balkhash (22,000 sq km) and the Caspian Sea (374,000 sq km).

People and Society

The population of Kazakhstan is projected to be approximately 20.4 million by 2025, primarily consisting of ethnic Kazakhs (71%) and significant Russian (14.9%) and Uzbek (3.3%) minorities. The country has a youthful demographic, with a median age of 32.1 years. It exhibits a diverse linguistic landscape where Kazakh is the official language and Russian is widely spoken.

58.2% - Urban population as of 2023.
16.83 births/1,000 - Birth rate in 2025.
73.3 years - Life expectancy at birth, with females living longer at 77.9 years compared to males at 69 years.
6.7 beds/1,000 - Hospital bed density as of 2020.

Economy

Kazakhstan's economy is classified as upper-middle-income, propelled by robust growth in oil production and sectors like manufacturing and services. However, the economy faces challenges like high inflation and the need for diversification. The country is one of the leading producers of various minerals and is focusing on improving foreign direct investment.

$739.385 billion - Real GDP (PPP) estimated for 2024.
4.8% - Unemployment rate projected for 2024.
51.4% - Household consumption as a percentage of GDP in 2023.
5.2% - Population below the poverty line as of 2023.

Government

Kazakhstan is a presidential republic with a multi-tiered system of governance, including an elected president and a bicameral parliament. The administrative structure comprises 17 provinces and 4 cities. The most recent presidential election took place on 20 November 2022, with the next anticipated in 2029.

18 years - Voting age for universal suffrage.
Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV - President since March 2019.
98 seats - Lower chamber (Mazhilis) members, all directly elected.
50 members - Upper chamber (Senate), with a mix of elected and appointed members.

Military and Security

Kazakhstan maintains active military forces, including Land Forces, Naval Forces, and Air Defense Forces. The military's primary role is territorial defense, while the National Guard and police focus on internal security. Kazakhstan emphasizes regional military partnerships and modernization efforts.

0.9% of GDP - Military expenditures projected for 2024.
50,000 active Armed Forces - Estimated as of 2025.
Men aged 18-27 - Subject to conscription for 12-24 months.

Energy

Kazakhstan is rich in energy resources, being one of the top oil and gas producers in the region. The majority of its electricity is generated from fossil fuels, but there is a growing interest in expanding renewable energy sources.

1.955 million bbl/day - Total petroleum production as of 2023.
87.7% - Share of fossil fuels in electricity generation capacity.
120.279 million metric tons - Coal production in 2023.
100% - Electricity access for the total population as of 2022.

Environment

Kazakhstan faces several environmental challenges, including industrial pollution, soil degradation from overuse of chemicals, and desertification. The country is party to multiple international environmental agreements, focusing on biodiversity and climate change.

269.83 million metric tonnes - Total CO2 emissions estimated for 2023.
3.8% - Municipal solid waste recycling rate as of 2022.
108.41 billion cubic meters - Total renewable water resources as of 2022.

Transportation

Kazakhstan has developed infrastructure for transportation, including extensive railways and airports. The country emphasizes connectivity for trade and tourism purposes.

16,636 km - Total railway length as of 2021.
132 airports - Registered as of 2025.
122 vessels - Total in the merchant marine as of 2023.

Communications

Kazakhstan boasts a high level of internet penetration and phone subscriptions relative to its population. The communications sector features a dominant state media presence along with increasing private sector involvement.

93% - Population using the internet as of 2023.
26.2 million - Mobile cellular subscriptions expected in 2024.
2.574 million - Fixed-line telephone subscriptions as of 2023.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	20,432,662 (2025 est.)
Area	2,724,900 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$739.385 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	4.8% (2024 est.)
Birth Rate	16.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth	73.3 years (2024 est.)
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	172.936 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures as % of GDP	0.9% (2024 est.)
Area of Agricultural Land	79.4% (2023 est.)
Population below the Poverty Line	5.2% (2023 est.)