Kazakhstan, an introduction
Kazakhstan is relatively unknown by most people in Western countries. It ranks 9 on the list of largest countries in the world with 2,717,300 km² but it is not densely populated. Kazakhstan is divided in 14 administrative regions called "oblast". Most of the inhabitants live at the south border and in isolated cities throughout the country. The South Kazakhstan Oblast is relatively dense populated with an average of 17 people per km², but in the other oblasts the population density doesn't exceed 8 people per km².
Kazakhstan is one of the former 15 Soviet Republics and was official declared independent at 16 December 1991. Kazakhstan borders in the north to Russia, in the west to the Caspian Sea and in the east to China. At the south border the former Soviet Republics Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kirgizstan are situated. Islamic tendencies present in the other Central Asian republics are almost unknown in Kazakhstan. It is the only Central Asian republic where the Islam is not mentioned in the constitution. There are two reasons why religion only plays a minor role in politics in Kazakhstan. First of all there is a large group of Russians, Ukrainians and Germans (total estimated at 36%) who are historically on important positions in the economy and politics. Furthermore the governments actively tries to attract foreign investors and an official seperation of religion and politics helps to convince foreign investors of the stable investment climate in Kazakhstan.
The table below is to give some idea of the general figures of Kazakhstan. Please use these figures with care. As an example I have both included the population size according to the Agency on Statistics of the Kazakh government and the CIA, both known as authorative sources. These figures differ more than 10% which is a good indication of the reliability of the other figures.
| Total area | 2 717 300 km² | |
| Population | 14 873 700
16 763 795 | (Feb. 2003, AoS – KAZ)
(Jul. 2003, CIA factbook) |
| Population density | 5.5 / 6.2 per km² | (AoS / CIA) |
| Ethnic groups | Kazakh
Russian
Ukrainian
Uzbek
German
Uighur
other | 53.4 %
30.0 %
3.7 %
2.5 %
2.4 %
1.4 %
6.6 % |
| Religions | Muslim
Russian Orthodox
Protestant
other | 47 %
44 %
2 %
7 % |
| Languages | Kazakh
Russian | spoken by 64 %
spoken by 95 % |
| GDP per capita | $ 6 300 | (2002) |
| GDP real annual growth | 9.5% | (2002) |
| Literature |
| — |
Lonely Planet guidebooks for Central Asia .
The Lonely Planet guidebooks are the main source for travellers who need detailed and accurate information about their travel destination. |
Bradley Mayhew
Richard Plunkett
Simon Richmond |
| monthly |
Statistical Bulletins of the Agency on Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This document originates from the agency's website. The Agency publishes detailed statistical information in English, Russian and Kazakh language about all kinds of issues of Kazakh society. |
Agency on
Statistics |
| 2005 |
The World Factbook 2005 published by the American Central Intelligence Agency CIA. The CIA publishes this factbook to provide non-confidential general information about all countries in the world. |
CIA |
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It's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money.
CANADA BILL JONES' MOTTO
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