Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan

Introduction

Background

Ethnic 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-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 drove many of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan’s economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states largely due to the country’s vast natural resources. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity

expanding the development of the country’s vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets

diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors

enhancing Kazakhstan’s economic competitiveness

developing a multiparty parliament and advancing political and social reform

and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.

Geography

Location

Central Asia, northwest of China

a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in eastern-most Europe

Geographic coordinates

48 00 N, 68 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area

total: 2,724,900 sq km
country comparison to the world: 9 land:2,699,700 sq km
water:25,200 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Land boundaries

total: 12,185 km
border countries:China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

note – Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

Terrain

vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point:Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

Natural resources

major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

Land use

arable land: 8.28%
permanent crops:0.05%
other:91.67% (2005)

Irrigated land

35,560 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

109.6 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 35cu km/yr (2%/17%/82%)
per capita:2,360cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

earthquakes in the south

mudslides around Almaty

Environment – current issues

radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals

industrial pollution is severe in some cities

because the two main rivers that flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts

these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms

pollution in the Caspian Sea

soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography – note

landlocked

Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome

in January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective:Kazakhstani

Ethnic groups

Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.1%, Russian 23.7%, Uzbek 2.8%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Uighur 1.4%, Tatar 1.3%, German 1.1%, other 4.5% (2009 census)

Languages

Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the “language of interethnic communication”) 95% (2001 est.)

Religions

Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Population

15,522,373 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.6% (male 1,709,929/female 1,637,132)
15-64 years:71% (male 5,373,755/female 5,654,461)
65 years and over:7.4% (male 392,689/female 754,407) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 30.2 years
male:28.7 years
female:31.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Birth rate

16.65 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Death rate

9.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Net migration rate

-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Urbanization

urban population: 59% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

Almaty 1.383 million

ASTANA (capital) 650,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.058 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.53 male(s)/female
total population:0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

45 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 101

Infant mortality rate

total: 24.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 83 male:28.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female:19.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.51 years
country comparison to the world: 152 male:63.24 years
female:74.08 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Health expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155

Physicians density

3.877 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 15

Hospital bed density

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 90% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 10% of population
total: 5% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 97% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 2% of population
total: 3% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.9% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 85

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 137

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.5%
male:99.8%
female:99.3% (1999 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male:15 years
female:16 years (2010)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 6.7%
country comparison to the world: 118 male:6.8%
female:8.2% (2008)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form:Kazakhstan
local long form:Qazaqstan Respublikasy
local short form:Qazaqstan
former:Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type

republic

authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Capital

name: Astana
geographic coordinates:51 10 N, 71 25 E
time difference:UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note:Kazakhstan is divided into two time zones

Administrative divisions

14 provinces (oblystar, singular – oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar, singular – qala)

Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy [Baykonur]*, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy [South Kazakhstan] (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz)
note:administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

in 1995, the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baykonur, formerly Leninsk)

in 2004, a new agreement extended the lease to 2050

Independence

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

Constitution

first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993

new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991)
head of government:Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January 2007)

First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak SHUKEYEV (since 3 March 2009), Deputy Prime Ministers Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October 2007), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 12 March 2010)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term

election last held on 3 April 2011 (next to be held December 2016)

prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, with Mazhilis approval

note – constitutional amendments of May 2007 shortened the presidential term from seven years to five years and established a two-consecutive-term limit

changes will take effect after NAZARBAYEV’s term ends

he, and only he, is allowed to run for president indefinitely
note:constitutional amendments of January 2011 moved election date from 2012 to April 2011 but kept five-year term

subsequent election to take place December 2016
election results:Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president

percent of vote – Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 95.5%, other 4.5%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats

15 members are appointed by the president

32 members elected by local assemblies

members serve six-year terms, but elections are staggered with half of the members up for re-election every three years) and the Mazhilis (107 seats

9 out of the 107 Mazhilis members elected by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a presidentially appointed advisory body designed to represent the country’s ethnic minorities

non-appointed members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)
elections:Senate – (indirect) last held in October 2008 (next to be held in 2011)

Mazhilis – last held on 18 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – Nur Otan 16

Mazhilis – percent of vote by party – Nur-Otan 88.1%, NSDP 4.6%, Ak Zhol 3.3%, Auyl 1.6%, Communist People’s Party 1.3%, Patriots Party 0.8% Ruhaniyat 0.4%

seats by party – Nur-Otan 98

note – parties had to achieve a threshold of 7% of the electorate to qualify for seats in the Mazhilis

changes to electoral legislation enacted since the 2007 election now ensure that the second-placed party will enter the Majilis at the next parliamentary election, even if it does not clear the 7% threshold

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (44 members)

Constitutional Council (seven members)

Political parties and leaders

Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, Zeynulla ALSHIMBAYEV, Serik ABDRAHMANOV, Bakhytbek AKHMETZHAN, Yerkin ONGARBAYEV, Tolegan SYDYKOV] (formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan)

Agrarian and Industrial Union of Workers Block or AIST (Agrarian Party and Civic Party)

Ak Zhol Party (Bright Path) [Alikhan BAYMENOV]

Alga [Vladimir KOZLOV] (unregistered)

Auyl (Village) [Gani KALIYEV]

Azat (Freedom) Party [Bolat ABILOV] (formerly True Ak Zhol Party)

Azat NSDP [co-chaired by Bolat ABILOV and Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]

Azat and NSDP united in 2009, but the authorities have refused to register Azat NSDP as a single party

Communist Party of Kazakhstan or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN]

Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]

National Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]

Nur Otan [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan)

Patriots’ Party [Gani KASYMOV]

Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) [Serikzhan MAMBETALIN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]

Almaty Helsinki Committee [Ninel FOKINA]

Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]

For Fair Elections [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS (jailed), Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV]

Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]

Pan-National Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]

Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]

Republican Network of International Monitors [Dos KUSHIM]

Transparency International [Sergey ZLOTNIKOV]

International organization participation

ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Yerlan IDRISSOV
chancery:1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 232-5488
FAX:[1] (202) 232-5845
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles
consulate(s):New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND
embassy:Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[7] (7172) 70-21-00
FAX:[7] (7172) 34-08-90

Flag description

a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky blue background

the hoist side displays a national ornamental pattern “koshkar-muiz” (the horns of the ram) in gold

the blue color is of religious significance to the Turkic peoples of the country, and so symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity

it also represents the endless sky as well as water

the sun, a source of life and energy, exemplifies wealth and plenitude

the sun’s rays are shaped like grain, which is the basis of abundance and prosperity

the eagle has appeared on the flags of Kazakh tribes for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the future

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

National anthem

name: “Menin Qazaqstanim” (My Kazakhstan)
lyrics/music:Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV
note:adopted 2006

President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics

Economy

Economy – overview

Kazakhstan, geographically the largest of the former Soviet republics, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves and plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals, such as uranium, copper, and zinc. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. In 2002 Kazakhstan became the first country in the former Soviet Union to receive an investment-grade credit rating, and from 2000 through 2007, Kazakhstan’s economy grew more than 9% per year. Extractive industries, particularly hydrocarbons and mining, have been the engines of this growth. However, geographic limitations and decaying infrastructure present serious obstacles. Landlocked, with restricted access to the high seas, Kazakhstan relies on its neighbors to export its products, especially oil and gas. Although its Caspian Sea ports and rail lines carrying oil have been upgraded, civil aviation has been neglected. Telecoms are improving, but require considerable investment, as does the information technology base. Supply and distribution of electricity can be erratic. At the end of 2007, global financial markets froze up and the loss of capital inflows to Kazakhstani banks caused a credit crunch. The subsequent and sharp fall of oil and commodity prices in 2008 aggravated the economic situation, and Kazakhstan plunged into recession. While the global financial crisis took a significant toll on Kazakhstan’s economy, it has rebounded well. In response to the crisis, Kazakhstan’s government devalued the tenge (Kazakhstan’s currency) to stabilize market pressures and injected $19 billion in economic stimulus. Rising commodity prices have helped revive Kazakhstan’s economy, which registered 7% growth in 2010. Barring a dramatic decline in oil prices, strong growth is expected to continue in 2011. Despite solid macroeconomic indicators, the government realizes that its economy suffers from an overreliance on oil and extractive industries, the so-called “Dutch disease.” In response, Kazakhstan has embarked on an ambitious diversification program, aimed at developing targeted sectors like transport, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, petrochemicals and food processing.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$196.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54 $183.6 billion (2009 est.)
$181.4 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$138.4 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35 1.2% (2009 est.)
3.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$12,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 $11,900 (2009 est.)
$11,800 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 5.4%
industry:42.8%
services:51.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

8.611 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 28.2%
industry:18.2%
services:53.6% (2010)

Unemployment rate

5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53 6.6% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

8.2% (2009)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%:25.2% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

26.7 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132 31.5 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Budget

revenues: $29.18 billion
expenditures:$32.77 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Public debt

15.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 13.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178 7.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 7% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.161% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143 6.757% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$21.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 $16.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$66.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 $52.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$67.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58 $62.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$60.74 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 51 $57.66 billion (31 December 2009)
$31.08 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton

livestock

Industries

oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, uranium, iron and steel

tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate

10% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity – production

75.61 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Electricity – consumption

77.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity – exports

2.483 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

1.94 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

1.61 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Oil – consumption

249,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Oil – exports

1.501 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Oil – imports

172,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Oil – proved reserves

30 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas – production

35.61 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas – consumption

8.572 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas – exports

9.9 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas – imports

6.1 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas – proved reserves

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Current account balance

$4.319 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35 -$4.221 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$60.84 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 $43.93 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals 5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal

Exports – partners

China 20.2%, Germany 9.1%, Russia 8.5%, France 7.1%, Turkey 4.5%, Canada 4.5%, Italy 4.1% (2010)

Imports

$31.96 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60 $28.96 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs

Imports – partners

Russia 34.3%, China 27.7%, Germany 5.2%, Ukraine 4% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$28.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 $23.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$124.1 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37 $95.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$79.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41 $69.17 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$13.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 $5.958 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
147.28 (2010)
147.5 (2009)
120.25 (2008)
122.55 (2007)
126.09 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

97 (2010)
country comparison to the world:62

Airports – with paved runways

total: 65
over 3,047 m:10
2,438 to 3,047 m:26
1,524 to 2,437 m:16
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:8 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 32
over 3,047 m:5
2,438 to 3,047 m:6
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:13 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 658 km

gas 12,317 km

oil 11,201 km

refined products 1,095 km

water 1,465 km (2010)

Railways

total: 15,079 km
country comparison to the world: 19 broad gauge:15,079 km 1.520-m gauge (4,000 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 93,612 km
country comparison to the world: 49 paved:84,100 km
unpaved:9,512 km (2008)

Waterways

4,000 km (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 27

Merchant marine

total: 8
country comparison to the world: 124 by type:petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned:1 (Ireland 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur’yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Military

Military branches

Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service

conscript service obligation – 2 years

minimum age for volunteers NA (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 4,163,629
females age 16-49:4,179,051 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,909,999
females age 16-49:3,528,169 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 125,322
female:119,541 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 124

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan

field demarcation of the boundaries with Turkmenistan commenced in 2005, and with Uzbekistan in 2004

demarcation is scheduled to get underway with Russia in 2007

demarcation with China was completed in 2002

creation of a seabed boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under discussion

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the lake

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 3,700 (Russia)

508 (Afghanistan) (2007)

Illicit drugs

significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrine)

limited government eradication of illicit crops

transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe

significant consumer of opiates