Central Asia: Kazakhstan
About Kazakhstan
Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence has caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; and continuing to strengthen relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.
| Vital Statistics | |
| Capitol City: | Astana; note - the government |
| Population: | 16,731,303 (July 2001 est.) |
| Percent below poverty: | 35% (1999 est.) |
| Language: | Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 40%, Russian (official, used in everyday business) 66% |
| Date of independence: | 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet U |
| Form of government: | republic |
| Title of Leader: | President |
| Natural Resources: | major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium |
| Environmental Issues: | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers whi |
| Agricultural Products: | grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; wool, livestock |
| Imports: | machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas, vehicles |
| Exports: | oil 40%, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery, chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal |
| Trading Partners: | IMPORTS: Russia 37%, US, Uzbekistan, Turkey, UK, Germany, Ukraine, South Korea (1999) EXPORTS: EU 23%, Russia 20%, China 8% (1999) |
Kazakhstan Headlines
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