Kazakhstan flag
Basic facts of Kazakhstan
Official name: Republic of Kazakhstan
Capital: Astana
Area: 2,717,300 sq km, 1,049,200 sq mi
Population 15,340,533 (2008 estimate)
Population growth rate: 0.37 percent (2008 estimate)
Population density: 5.7 persons per sq km, 15 persons per sq mi (2008 estimate)
Urban/rural distribution:
Share urban 56 percent (2005 estimate)
Share rural 44 percent (2005 estimate)
Largest cities: Almaty, Qaraghandy, Shymkent, Öskemen, Semey
Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq, official language); Russian (language of interethnic communication)
Religious affiliations:
Muslim 43 percent
Atheist 11 percent
Orthodox Christian 10 percent
Roman Catholic 3 percent
Nonreligious 29 percent
Other 4 percent
Life expectancy:
Total 67.5 years (2008 estimate)
Female 73.2 years (2008 estimate)
Male 62.2 years (2008 estimate)
Literacy rate:
Total 99.6 percent (1995)
Female 99.5 percent (1995)
Male 99.7 percent (1995)
Form of government: Republic
Total number of military personnel: 65,800 (2004)
Introduction:
Kazakhstan, republic in Central Asia, bounded on the north by Russia; on the east by China; on the south by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan; and on the west by the Caspian Sea and Russia. Almost all of Kazakhstan is located in the west central portion of the Asian continent; however, a small part of the republic lies west of the Ural River on the European continent. The northern city of Astana (formerly Aqmola) is the capital of the country.
In Kazakh, the official state language, Kazakhstan is called Qazaqstan Respublikasy. The Kazakhs, a Turkic people, constitute a majority of the population. Kazakhstan was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1922 until December 1991, when it became independent. The republic has maintained a presidential system of government since independence. In 1995 Kazakhstan adopted a new constitution that granted extensive powers to the president.
Central square, Astana
Astana, a city in northern Kazakhstan, was made the capital of the country in December 1997, replacing Almaty. Astana was formerly called Tselinograd, Akmolinsk, and Aqmola.
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Almaty is known for its beauty, with tree-lined streets, spacious parks, and a dramatic mountain backdrop. The city changed its name from Verny to Almaty in 1921.