Republic of Kazakhstan or Qazaqstan Respublikasï is a transcontinental country located in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is Nur-Sultan, and its former capital and largest city, Almaty, remains the cultural and commercial center of the country. Kazakhstan has a population of approximately 19 million people, with Kazakh and Russian being the official languages. The country is a presidential republic and its economy heavily relies on natural resources, particularly oil and gas, and other industries such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Kazakhstan has a diverse cultural heritage, reflecting its history as a crossroads between different civilizations, including nomadic and settled peoples. Some of the most famous tourist attractions include the historic city of Almaty, the Altyn-Emel National Park, and the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Kazakhstan has pursued a multi-vector foreign policy, seeking to balance its ties to Russia, China, and the West. The country has been an active member of regional organizations, including the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Kazakhstan has also been involved in international peacekeeping efforts, including in Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan has undergone significant economic transformation since independence, transitioning from a command economy to a market-oriented one. Kazakhstan has made efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on natural resources, including through infrastructure development, foreign investment, and education and innovation initiatives.
Capital
- Astana
Cities
- Almaty
- Aktobe
- Atyrau
- Pavlodar
- Semey
- Shymkent
- Turkestan
- Ust-Kamenogorsk
Currency
Tenge (₸) (KZT)
Population
- 19,398,331
Neighbors
- Russia
- China
- Kyrgyzstan
- Uzbekistan
- Turkmenistan
Official languages
- Kazakh
- Russian
Culture
Climate
Cold winters, hot summers, continental with semiarid and arid.
Member state of
- United Nations
- World Trade Organization
- Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
- Eurasian Economic Union
- Collective Security Treaty Organization
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation
- Organization of Turkic States
- International Organization of Turkic Culture
- Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
- Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
- UNESCO
- Nuclear Suppliers Group