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Kazakhstan
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Customs and Culture
Customs and Culture
Cultural Attributes
Hospitality is an important part of Kazak culture. A traveler will be put up for the night in any Kazak's home. Kazaks traditionally have large birthday parties. The traditional wedding is called the toi and is an important event for honoring the married couple and assembling extended family.
Steppe of Boundless Horizons
Social Customs & Etiquette
Greetings
Greetings in Kazakhstan reflect the country's rich blend of Kazakh nomadic traditions and the social customs shaped by decades of Soviet influence. Understanding how people greet one another offers valuable insight into the values of respect, hospitality, and community that remain central to Kazakh culture.
The most common everyday greeting in the Kazakh language is "Salam" (Салам), an informal way of saying hello, borrowed from the Arabic "Salaam" and widely used among friends and peers. A more formal greeting is "Salametsiz be" (Саламетсіз бе), which roughly translates to "Are you well?" and is used when addressing elders or people of higher social standing. In Russian, which remains widely spoken especially in urban areas like Almaty and Nur-Sultan (Astana), people commonly say "Zdravstvuyte" (Здравствуйте) in formal settings or "Privet" (Привет) informally.
Physical greetings vary depending on gender, age, and the relationship between individuals. Men typically greet each other with a firm handshake, and close friends may shake hands with both hands clasped together as a sign of warmth and sincerity. It is also common for men to place their right hand over their heart while nodding slightly when greeting someone they respect, a gesture rooted in Islamic tradition and nomadic courtesy. Women may greet each other with a light kiss on the cheek or a gentle embrace among friends and family.
Age and seniority carry great importance in Kazakh greetings. Younger people are expected to greet their elders first, and it is considered respectful to use formal titles or honorifics when addressing older individuals. The term "Aga" (older brother or respected man) and "Apa" (older woman or respected woman) are frequently used as polite forms of address even toward people who are not family members.
Guests are treated with exceptional warmth, and it is customary to invite visitors into one's home for tea and food as an extension of the greeting itself. This hospitality, known as "qonaqjailyq," reflects the deep-seated cultural value placed on welcoming others with generosity and respect.
Gestures
It is considered impolite to take off one's shoes or to point. Asking a host questions is considered bad manners. Friends usually embrace when meeting then talk about the well being of their livestock.
Visiting
“Come to my dastarkhan” is an invitation to a table spread with a Kazakh feast. Welcoming guests warmly and making them comfortable is very important to Kazakhstanis. People love to visit and share good food, especially in the winter, when they may dine with friends and relatives almost every night of the week. A host will be offended if a guest does not accept offers of
refreshments. Guests in a Kazak home are allowed to rest and are given
fermented mare's milk to drink.
Personal Appearance
Urban Kazaks wear Western style clothes. Traditionally Kazaks liked to wear boots with with a pair of felt stockings in the winter.
Diet
At a traditional meal, tea, called chai, is served first, with breads, nuts and sweets, as an appetizer. The main dish may be boiled mutton. Foods for special occasions include cold noodles with a horse meat sausage called qazy, a rich mutton stew known as kuyrdak and a meat-and-noodle stew called besbarmak. Pulau is a much-loved mixture of rice, fruit and spices. Noodle soup with radishes and peppers is called kespe.
Yogurt, known as katyk, is often used in cooking. Cookies, halva, raisins, nuts and fresh fruit are enjoyed for dessert. Milky drinks are popular. Koumyss is fermented mare's milk and shubat is fermented camel milk.
Kuirdak, is a dish prepared from freshly slaughtered meat and consists of the animal's liver, heart, kidneys and other organs cut into pieces, boiled in oil and served with onions and pepper. Dastarkhan, a feast for special occasions consisting of meat dishes and dairy products. Usually an entire sheep is slaughtered and the various parts are given to family members as a symbol of desired traits for that family member. For example someone served the tongue will speak better. The oldest member of the family get the honor of serving the family.
Family
Just over half of Kazakhstan's people live in cities, mostly in apartments. There is a housing shortage in Kazakhstan and many families live in small spaces. Young married couples sometimes cannot find apartments and live with relatives until they can set up their own home.
For part of the year, a small number of traditional herders live in large, weather-tight tents made of felt, called yurtas. People enter a yurta through a carved, folding wooden door. Tall poles support the high ceiling, which is open at its peak to let out smoke from the cooking fire. Colorful carpets called tekemets cover the floor and walls. Families can dismantle and pack up the yurta in an hour when it is time to move on to new grazing land.
According to Kazakh tradition, the youngest son is expected to look after his parents when they grow old. He and his family will live with them or in a nearby house or apartment. Women who marry into a Kazakh family are expected to show special respect for their husband's parents.
Dating Customs
Dating and marriage customs in Kazakhstan reflect a blend of traditional Kazakh nomadic heritage, Islamic influences, and Soviet-era social changes, creating a unique cultural landscape that continues to evolve in the modern era.
Historically, Kazakh marriages were arranged affairs organized between families, often with the payment of a bride price known as "kalym," which was given by the groom's family to the bride's family. This practice, while less common in urban areas today, still holds cultural significance in rural regions and among more traditional families. The kalym traditionally consisted of livestock, money, or other valuables, and its size was often tied to the social standing of both families.
Modern dating in Kazakhstan, particularly in cities like Almaty and Nur-Sultan (Astana), increasingly resembles practices seen across much of the world, with young people meeting through social circles, universities, workplaces, and online platforms. However, family approval remains an important consideration in relationship decisions, and young couples typically seek the blessing of their parents before committing to marriage.
Wedding ceremonies in Kazakhstan are elaborate, multi-day events that combine Islamic traditions with distinctly Kazakh customs. A traditional Kazakh wedding often includes the "kyz uzatu," a farewell ceremony where the bride's family sends her off with songs and blessings, and the "toy," a large celebratory feast with music, dancing, and food shared among extended family and community members. Weddings can involve hundreds of guests and represent a significant financial commitment for both families.
The legal marriage age in Kazakhstan is 18 for both men and women, though exceptions can be granted by regional authorities in certain circumstances. The government has taken steps in recent years to address issues such as underage marriage and bride kidnapping, a practice known locally as "ala kachuu," which, while more associated with neighboring Kyrgyzstan, has also been documented in parts of Kazakhstan. Legislation criminalizing forced marriage has been strengthened as part of broader family law reforms.
The average age at first marriage has been rising steadily, particularly among educated urban women, reflecting shifting social attitudes toward career, education, and personal independence.
Recreation
The people of the steppe created several games that are played on horseback, sometimes at wild speeds. Kokpar is a little like polo, but the teams on horseback compete to grab a headless goat's carcass. They try to drag it into the opponent's goal. Sometimes up to 1,000 horsemen join the fray on the wide-open plains.
Kumis alu means “pick up the coin.” Galloping at full speed, a competitor bends to pick up a coin or handkerchief. Historians say that Alexander the Great watched a game of kumis alu and called it worthy training for a warrior. Wrestling on horseback, or audaryspak, requires skill both in fighting and in trick riding. The one who succeeds in throwing his opponent off his horse is the winner.
Girls and boys play a galloping game called kyz kuu (“overtake the girl”). A girl on horseback races away from a male rider as fast as she can. As he tries to approach her, she strikes at him with a whip. If she reaches the finish line before him, she can take another few swipes at him. If he reaches the finish line first, she rewards him with a kiss.
Kazakh girls often amuse themselves skipping with a cord that loops around the ankle and bears a weight on one end. They get the cord spinning in a circle and hop over it. Boys play assyk, competing to see who can toss a small sheep bone closest to a little pile of bones.
Holidays
Republic Day
12/12Independence
Christmas
12/25Christmas
Kazakhstan is a country whose religion is predominantly Islamic in nature. However, the presence of a large number of Russian Orthodox Christians has led the nation to celebrate Christmas. Although Christmas may be celebrated by the Kazakhs, the New Year holiday is a festival and celebration that is more grand and festive.
The traditional greeting of the people is S Rozhdestvom which is Russian, a language that is still commonly used in the country. The New Year greeting S novym godom is more common as the locals are more excited about the New Year Celebrations than Christmas celebrations.
Santa Claus is known as Grandfather Frost and is called Dyed Moroz pronounced “Dead Morose.” by the local Kazakhs. Traditions say that he is accompanied by his granddaughter named Snegurochka (Snow Maiden). The description for Santa Claus is not of the fat and huggable figure that has been known for centuries. Instead he is of slender build and wears long lavish robes and a long white beard. Traditions for the country state that Santa does not give gifts during Christmas Eve but rather during New Year’s Eve. Customs say that he brings gifts and places them under the Christmas tree.
Christmas is usually on the January the 7th as the country still observes the Julian calendar which is 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar. Kazakhstan New Years day is not only on December 31st but usually is January 14th which is considered the Old New Year’s Day Celebration.
The New Year’s Day celebration is more vibrant and festive with gifts like clothes, jewelry and native products exchanged on this day. The little children expect their gifts on this day rather than Christmas. It has also been a tradition that Santa places gifts under their pillows during New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas Eve. The Christmas festivities usually end on the Old New Year’s Day Celebrations.
On Christmas Day and Eve, traditions set that midnight masses and ceremonies are to be held in churches and cathedrals and are attended by the Christian community. Masses are held in honor of the solemnity of the occasion. A tradition of some families is to also prepare a feast for the midnight dinner. Roast turkey, cakes and salads are prepared to meet the advent of the savior Jesus Christ. Dishes like Lamb dumplings, lemon chicken and Kazakh rice are served during dinner. The Lemon Chicken dish has ingredients like Olive oil, whole chicken, ground ginger, Paprika, cloves of garlic, onions, saffron, salt, black pepper, chicken stock, green olives and lemon rinds. Traditions during dinner also state that the family says the Troparion chant or prayer in honor of the child Jesus who was born that night.
Dates of Interest
- December 25th
Kazakhstan is a country whose people are predominantly Islamic. However, the presence of a large number of Russian Orthodox Christians has led the nation to celebrate Christmas. Although Christmas may be celebrated by the Kazakhs, the New Year holiday is a festival and celebration that is more grand and festive. The traditional greeting of the people is S Rozhdestvom. The New Year greeting S novym godom is more common as the locals are more excited about the New Year Celebrations than Christmas celebrations. Santa Claus is known as Grandfather Frost and is called Dyed Moroz pronounced “Dead Morose.” by the local Kazakhs. Traditions say that he is accompanied by his granddaughter named Snegurochka (Snow Maiden). The description for Santa Claus is not of the fat and huggable figure that has been known for centuries.
How do people greet each other in Kazakhstan?
Friends usually embrace when meeting and then talk about the well-being of each other's livestock.
Do
- Embrace friends when you meet them
- Ask about the health of their livestock
What are dining customs like in Kazakhstan?
Meals often begin with tea (chai) served alongside breads, nuts and sweets, followed by a main dish that may be boiled mutton, and the oldest family member has the honor of serving.
Do
- Accept offers of refreshments, as a host is offended if you refuse
- Try traditional dishes like besbarmak, kuyrdak, pulau and qazy
- Enjoy milky drinks such as koumyss (fermented mare's milk) and shubat (fermented camel milk)
Don’t
- Don't decline offers of food or drink from your host
Good to know
- At a dastarkhan feast an entire sheep may be slaughtered, with parts given to family members as symbols of desired traits (e.g., the tongue for better speaking)
- Guests may be given fermented mare's milk to drink
What etiquette should visitors know in Kazakhstan?
Hospitality is central to Kazak culture; guests are welcomed warmly, made comfortable, and even a traveler will be put up for the night in any Kazak's home.
Do
- Accept invitations such as "Come to my dastarkhan"
- Allow yourself to rest as a guest
Don’t
- Don't ask your host questions, as it is considered bad manners
- Don't take off your shoes in someone's home
How do people dress in Kazakhstan?
Urban Kazaks wear Western-style clothes, while traditionally Kazaks liked to wear boots with a pair of felt stockings in winter.
Are there gestures to avoid in Kazakhstan?
Pointing and taking off one's shoes are considered impolite.
Don’t
- Don't point
- Don't take off your shoes
What is family life like in Kazakhstan?
Just over half of Kazakhstanis live in cities, mostly in apartments, and due to a housing shortage many families live in small spaces or with relatives.
Good to know
- By tradition, the youngest son looks after his parents in old age and lives with or near them
- Women who marry into a Kazakh family are expected to show special respect for their husband's parents
- Some traditional herders live in felt tents called yurtas that can be packed up in an hour
What sports and games are popular in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhs created many games played on horseback, sometimes at wild speeds, along with other traditional pastimes.
Good to know
- Kokpar is like polo, with horseback teams competing to drag a headless goat carcass into the opponent's goal
- Kumis alu ("pick up the coin") involves galloping riders bending to grab a coin or handkerchief
- Kyz kuu ("overtake the girl") is a galloping chase game between a girl and a male rider
- Boys play assyk, tossing a small sheep bone toward a pile of bones
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports
Photos of Kazakhstan
Photos of Kazakhstan
Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
- Currency
- tenge (KZT)
- Time Difference
- UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Kazakhstan has two time zones
- Airports
- 392
Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.
View full travel guideRecipes
Recipes
History
History
Historical Eras
Ancient Nomadic Steppe
100 BCE – 1219
Nomadic tribes inhabited the vast Kazakh steppe from at least the first century BC, with successive confederations — including the Huns, Göktürks, and Kipchaks — dominating the region through the early 13th century. Major Silk Road cities such as Taraz and Turkestan flourished along northern trade routes, blending sedentary and nomadic cultures. This era established the pastoral, livestock-based way of life that would define Kazakh identity for centuries.
Mongol Rule & Kazakh Khanate
1219 – 1600
Genghis Khan's forces swept through the region between 1219 and 1224, incorporating it into the Mongol Empire and its successor Chagatai and White Horde khanates. From this Mongol substrate, a distinct Kazakh people crystallized by the 15th century, formally establishing the Kazakh Khanate around 1465. By the mid-16th century, the Kazakhs had consolidated a shared language, culture, and economy, reaching the zenith of their unified political power by the early 18th century.
Three Hordes Era
1600 – 1731
In the early 17th century, the Kazakh Khanate fractured into three tribal confederations — the Great, Middle, and Little Hordes — each governing distinct territories through extended kin networks. Political disunion and devastating raids by the Dzungar (Oirat) confederation from the east gravely weakened Kazakh resistance, culminating in the catastrophic 'Great Disaster' of the 1720s. The inability to mount a unified defense ultimately pushed the Little Horde to seek Russian protection in 1731.
Russian Imperial Rule
1731 – 1920
The Little Horde's 1731 treaty with Russia began a gradual absorption of Kazakh lands; by the 1860s, tsarist forces had seized territories belonging to all three hordes and imposed a formal administrative system. Mass settlement of Russian and Ukrainian peasants from the 1860s onward disrupted traditional nomadic pastures and provoked sustained resistance, culminating in the major uprising of 1916. A brief experiment in Kazakh autonomy under the Alash Orda movement collapsed with Bolshevik victory in the ensuing civil war.
Soviet Kazakhstan
1920 – 1991
Kazakhstan became an autonomous Soviet republic in 1920 and a full union republic in 1936; forced collectivization in the late 1920s and early 1930s triggered a catastrophic famine that killed an estimated 1.5 million Kazakhs. Stalin's deportations swelled the population with exiled Koreans, Volga Germans, Chechens, and others, while Khrushchev's Virgin Lands campaign of the 1950s–60s brought further Slavic settlers, reducing ethnic Kazakhs to a minority. The republic also hosted the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the Baikonur Cosmodrome, from which Yuri Gagarin launched in 1961.
Independent Kazakhstan
1991 – present
Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991, and was admitted to the United Nations in 1992; Nursultan Nazarbayev dominated politics as president until 2019, overseeing a resource-driven economic transformation anchored by vast oil, gas, and mineral wealth. Major pipeline agreements with China in 1997 and the opening of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in 2001 integrated Kazakhstan into global energy markets, while the capital was relocated to Astana in 1997 to anchor development of the steppe interior. The country continues to navigate nation-building, governance reform, and economic diversification beyond the extractive sector.
Overview
Nomadic tribes have been living in the region that is now Kazakhstan since the first century BC. From the fourth century AD through the beginning of the 13th century, the territory of Kazakhstan was ruled by a series of nomadic nations. Following the Mongolian invasion in the early 13th century, administrative districts were established under the Mongol Empire, which eventually became the territories of the Kazakh Khanate. The major medieval cities of Taraz and Turkestan were founded along the northern route of the Great Silk Road during this period.
Traditional nomadic life on the vast steppe and semi-desert lands was characterized by a constant search for new pasture to support the livestock-based economy. The Kazakhs emerged from a mixture of tribes living in the region in about the 15th century and by the middle of the 16th century had developed a common language, culture, and economy. In the early 1600s, the Kazakh Khanate separated into the Great, Middle and Little (or Small) Hordes--confederations based on extended family networks. Political disunion, competition among the hordes, and a lack of an internal market weakened the Kazakh Khanate. The beginning of the 18th century marked the zenith of the Kazakh Khanate. The following 150 years saw the gradual colonization of the Kazakh-controlled territories by tsarist Russia.
The process of colonization was a combination of voluntary integration into the Russian Empire and outright seizure. The Little Horde and part of the Middle Horde signed treaties of protection with Russia in the 1730s and 1740s. Major parts of the northeast and central Kazakh territories were incorporated into the Russian Empire by 1840. With the Russian seizure of territories belonging to the Senior Horde in the 1860s, the tsars effectively ruled over most of the territory belonging to what is now the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Russian Empire introduced a system of administration and built military garrisons in its effort to establish a presence in Central Asia in the so-called "Great Game" between it and Great Britain. Russian efforts to impose its system aroused the resentment of the Kazakh people, and by the 1860s, most Kazakhs resisted Russia’s annexation largely because of the disruption it wrought upon the traditional nomadic lifestyle and livestock-based economy. The Kazakh national movement, which began in the late 1800s, sought to preserve the Kazakh language and identity. There were uprisings against colonial rule during the final years of tsarist Russia, with the most serious occurring in 1916.
Although there was a brief period of autonomy during the tumultuous period following the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Kazakhs eventually succumbed to Soviet rule. In 1920, the area of present-day Kazakhstan became an autonomous republic within Russia and, in 1936, a Soviet republic.
Soviet repression of the traditional elites, along with forced collectivization in late 1920s-1930s, brought about mass hunger and led to unrest. Soviet rule, however, took hold, and a communist apparatus steadily worked to fully integrate Kazakhstan into the Soviet system. Kazakhstan experienced population inflows of thousands exiled from other parts of the Soviet Union during the 1930s and later became home for hundreds of thousands evacuated from the Second World War battlefields. The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) contributed five national divisions to the Soviet Union’s World War II effort.
The period of the Second World War marked an increase in industrialization and increased mineral extraction in support of the war effort. At the time of Soviet leader Josif Stalin’s death, however, Kazakhstan still had an overwhelmingly agricultural-based economy. In 1953, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev initiated the ambitious "Virgin Lands" program to turn the traditional pasturelands of Kazakhstan into a major grain-producing region for the Soviet Union. The Virgin Lands policy, along with later modernizations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, sped up the development of the agricultural sector, which to this day remains the source of livelihood for a large percentage of Kazakhstan’s population.
Growing tensions within Soviet society led to a demand for political and economic reforms, which came to a head in the 1980s. In December 1986, mass demonstrations by young ethnic Kazakhs took place in Almaty to
Timeline of Key Events
1219 – 1224
Mongol tribes led by Genghis Khan invade Kazakhstan.
Mongol tribes led by Genghis Khan invade Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Later they become assimilated by Turkic tribes that make up the majority in their empire.
1601 – 1700
Kazakhs split into three tribal unions.
Kazakhs split into three tribal unions, the Elder, Middle and Lesser Zhuzes, or Hordes, which were led by Khans.
1868 – 1916
Thousands of Russian and Ukrainian peasants are brought in to settle Kazakh lands.
Thousands of Russian and Ukrainian peasants are brought in to settle Kazakh lands; first industrial enterprises set up.
1917
Civil war breaks out following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.
Civil war breaks out following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.
1920
Kazakhstan becomes an autonomous republic of the USSR.
Kazakhstan becomes an autonomous republic of the USSR. Until 1925 it is called the Kyrgyz Autonomous Province to distinguish its people from the Cossacks.
1932 – 1933
Stalin imposed terror and famine on the Ukraine, Kuban and Kazakhstan.
Stalin imposed terror and famine on the Ukraine, Kuban and Kazakhstan that was carried out by Lazar Kaganovich.
1936
Kazakhstan becomes a full union republic of the USSR.
Kazakhstan becomes a full union republic of the USSR.
Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.
View expanded historyInteresting Facts
Interesting Facts
When a child loses a tooth they drop their tooth under the bathtub and say “Mouse, mouse, bring me a new tooth, please.”
For many years, the capital of Kazakhstan was Almaty, the largest city in the country. In 1998, the capital was moved to Astana. Almaty remains an important business centre.
Lake Balkash in eastern Kazakhstan contains two kinds of water: salt water in the east and fresh water in the west.
Almaty was once a stop on the Silk Road - an overland trade route between China and Europe from the 1st century to the 16th century. Caravans regularly travelled the route across Asia until the Dutch, Portuguese and English established sea routes to the East.
One of the Mongol leaders who succeeded Genghis Khan was Tamerlane. Although he is remembered as a cruel ruler, he built a huge religious complex in Turkestan in south Kazakhstan in the 14th century. The complex includes a mausoleum dedicated to the Sufi poet and teacher Khodja Ahmed Yasavi.
The cosy hearth is an honoured place in a herder's yurta. Sitting near the fire is a privilege for guests. A cauldron called a kazan simmers over the fire.
See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.
View all interesting factsGeography and Environment
Geography and Environment
- Terrain
- extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
- Climate
- The climate throughout Kazakhstan is continental and dry, and there are four distinct seasons. The weather in Almaty is very moderate, and consecutive rainy days are rare. Winter temperatures and snowfall are rarely extreme (i.e., rarely below 0°F), and the wind is light. During the 4-5-month summer average high temperatures are usually in the low to mid-80's F. "Golden Fall," is perhaps the most pleasant season, particularly in Almaty, with brilliantly clear, dry days, colorful autumn leaves, and pleasant temperatures. In Astana strong winds, long winters, and December-January temperatures periodically fall below 0°F. The summers are generally dry and sunny, but the weather changes rapidly and it is not uncommon to have a rainy morning followed by a sunny afternoon. Average summer highs in Astana are in the low 80's.
- Natural Hazards
- earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
- Current Environmental 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 which 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
Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.
View full geographyPeople & Demographics
People & Demographics
Religion
Languages Spoken
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95%
- Kazakh
- Russian
Population
- Population
- 19,900,000
- Population in Major Urban Areas
- Almaty 1.426 million; ASTANA (capital) 664,000
- Nationality Noun
- Kazakhstani(s)
- Ethnic Groups
- Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Uygur 1.4%, other 6.6% (1999 census)
- Language Note
- Kazakhstan is in the process of changing the alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin.
Education
- Literacy Definition
- age 15 and over can read and write
Life Expectancy
- Life Expectancy at Birth
- Life expectancy at birth in Kazakhstan has shown notable improvement over recent decades, reflecting advances in healthcare infrastructure, public health initiatives, and rising living standards across the country. As of the most recent available data, the overall life expectancy at birth in Kazakhstan stands at approximately 73 years, with women living significantly longer than men. Female life expectancy is estimated at around 77 years, while male life expectancy lags behind at roughly 68 years — a gap that is common across Central Asian and post-Soviet nations but remains a point of focus for health policymakers. It is worth noting that life expectancy figures dipped modestly in the early 2020s due to excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic before beginning to recover. This gender disparity is influenced by several factors, including higher rates of cardiovascular disease among men, greater alcohol consumption, occupational hazards, and lower rates of preventive healthcare utilization among the male population. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in Kazakhstan overall, accounting for a substantial share of mortality across all age groups. During the Soviet era, life expectancy in the region experienced both growth and setbacks, and the economic turmoil following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 contributed to a temporary decline in health outcomes. However, Kazakhstan's oil-driven economic growth in the 2000s helped fund significant investments in hospitals, medical training, and health promotion programs. The government has also pursued national health programs aimed at reducing non-communicable diseases, improving maternal and child health, and expanding access to primary care in rural and remote areas. Infant and child mortality rates have declined considerably, contributing positively to overall life expectancy figures. The under-five mortality rate has dropped sharply over the past two decades, and maternal health services have improved markedly, with higher rates of skilled birth attendance and prenatal care compared to earlier decades. Despite these gains, Kazakhstan still faces challenges including environmental health concerns — particularly in regions affected by the legacy of Soviet-era industrial and nuclear activity, such as areas near the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site — as well as persistently high rates of smoking and alcohol use that continue to suppress life expectancy, especially among men. The burden of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and certain cancers, remains significant. Continued investment in preventive medicine, primary care access, and lifestyle health education is considered essential to closing remaining gaps with higher-income nations and sustaining the recovery in life expectancy seen in recent years.
- Infant Mortality Rate
- Kazakhstan has made remarkable strides in reducing infant mortality over the past three decades, reflecting significant investments in public health infrastructure, maternal care, and child health services following independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. As of the most recent available data, Kazakhstan's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 8 to 9 deaths per 1,000 live births. This represents a dramatic improvement from the early 1990s, when the rate was estimated at around 35 to 40 deaths per 1,000 live births. The decline places Kazakhstan among the better-performing nations in Central Asia and reflects the country's broader economic development and healthcare modernization efforts. Several factors have contributed to this downward trend. The Kazakhstani government has expanded access to skilled birth attendants and improved the quality of neonatal care in hospitals, particularly in urban centers such as Almaty and Astana. Immunization coverage has increased substantially, with high rates of vaccination against diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and polio helping to reduce preventable infant deaths. Despite this progress, disparities remain. Rural and remote regions, particularly in southern and western Kazakhstan, continue to experience higher infant mortality rates than urban areas. Access to quality healthcare, clean water, and sanitation in these regions remains uneven, posing ongoing challenges for public health authorities. Premature birth complications, respiratory infections, and congenital conditions are among the leading causes of infant death in the country. UNICEF and the World Health Organization have partnered with the Kazakhstani government on programs targeting neonatal health, breastfeeding promotion, and the training of healthcare professionals in underserved communities. These efforts align with Kazakhstan's stated goals of meeting international child health benchmarks. Kazakhstan's infant mortality rate, while still above the averages seen in Western Europe and North America, demonstrates a clear trajectory of improvement and reflects the country's commitment to elevating the standard of care for its youngest citizens.
Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.
View full people and societyGovernment & Politics
Government & Politics
Country Identity
- Country Name
- Kazakhstan
- Full Country Name
- Republic of Kazakhstan
- Local - Long
- Qazaqstan Respublikasy
- Former Name
- Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Government Structure
- Government Type
- republic
- Legal System
- based on civil law system
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019); note: Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, who ruled Kazakhstan from independence in 1991 until his resignation on 19 March 2019, retains significant influence as the former head of state and longtime chairman of the ruling Nur Otan party; TOKAYEV won a snap presidential election held on 9 June 2019 and was reelected on 20 November 2022 with approximately 81.3% of the vote head of government: Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024); First Deputy Prime Minister Roman SKLYAR (since 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term, with a two-term limit introduced under constitutional reforms adopted in 2022; election last held on 20 November 2022 (next to be held in 2029); prime minister appointed by the president with approval of the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) election results: Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV 81.3%, Zhiguli DAYRABAEV 3.4%, Nurlan AUHANOV 2.3%, other candidates received the remainder note: Following widespread protests in January 2022, President TOKAYEV initiated a series of constitutional and political reforms aimed at reducing the concentration of executive power. A constitutional referendum held in June 2022 introduced significant changes, including presidential term limits, the re-legalization of opposition parties, and adjustments to the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. These reforms were widely seen as an effort to distance the government from the NAZARBAYEV era and shift Kazakhstan toward a more pluralistic political model, though critics note that meaningful independent oversight remains limited.
- Legislative Branch
- Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (50 seats; 10 senators are appointed by the president; 40 members are indirectly elected by regional representative bodies — 2 from each of the 17 regions, the capital Astana, and the cities of Almaty and Shymkent — to serve six-year terms, with half of the elected members up for election every three years) and the Mazhilis (98 seats; 98 members elected to five-year terms, with 69 elected from single-member constituencies and 29 elected from party lists by proportional representation). Elections: Senate — last indirect elections held in January 2023; Mazhilis — last held on 19 March 2023, following the dissolution of parliament and early elections called by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as part of broader political reforms. Election results: Senate — seats held by regional representatives and presidential appointees; party affiliation largely reflects pro-government alignment. Mazhilis — percent of vote by party: Amanat (formerly Nur Otan) approximately 53.9%, Auyl 10.9%, Respublica 8.6%, Ak Zhol 8.4%, QHP (People's Party of Kazakhstan) 6.8%; seats by party: Amanat 62, Auyl 8, Respublica 6, Ak Zhol 6, QHP 5, independents and others 11; note — the 2023 elections were the first under reformed electoral rules intended to broaden political competition and reduce single-party dominance.
- Judicial Branch
- Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Constitution
- adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995; first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
- Independence
- 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
- National Holiday
- Republic Day, 25 October (1990)
Capital City
- Capital Name
- Astana
- Capital - geographic coordinate
- 51 10 N, 71 25 E
- Capital Time Difference
- UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Kazakhstan has two time zones
the name means "capital city" in Kazakh
note: on 17 September 2022, Kazakhstan changed the name of its capital city from Nur-Sultan back to Astana; this was not the first time the city had its name changed; founded in 1830 as Akmoly, it became Akmolinsk in 1832, Tselinograd in 1961, Akmola (Aqmola) in 1992, Astana in 1998, and Nur-Sultan in 2019; the latest name change occurred just three and a half years after the city was renamed to honor a long-serving (28-year) former president, who subsequently fell out of favor
Military
Branches: Kazakhstan Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces
Embassy / Diplomatic Mission
U.S. Embassy Astana
Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3.
Astana, Kazakhstan, 010010
Telephone: 7-7172-70-21-00
Facsimile: 7-7172-70-22-80
Emergency after-hours telephone: 8-7172-70-22-00
E-mail: USAKZ@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Almaty
97 Zholdasbekov Street
Samal-2
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050059
Telephone: 7-727-250-76-12/17
Emergency after-hours telephone: 7-727-250-76-12/17
Facsimile: 7-727-250-48-84
E-mail: USAKZ@state.gov
Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.
View full government detailsEconomy
Economy
Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in territory excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It is also a major agricultural producer, with significant livestock and grain output. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources, along with a growing machine-building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items.
Following the breakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand for its traditional heavy industry products, Kazakhstan experienced a sharp economic contraction, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the government accelerated economic reform and privatization, shifting substantial assets into the private sector. Driven by its booming energy sector, sustained reforms, and rising foreign investment, Kazakhstan posted some of the strongest growth rates in the post-Soviet region throughout the 2000s. The opening of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium link in 2001, running from the Tengiz oilfield in western Kazakhstan to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, significantly expanded export capacity, and subsequent expansions have further increased throughput.
Today, Kazakhstan is classified as an upper-middle-income economy and ranks as Central Asia's largest, with a GDP of roughly 260 billion USD. Oil, gas, and mining continue to dominate exports, with the giant Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan fields accounting for the bulk of hydrocarbon production. The economy remains heavily exposed to global commodity price swings, as illustrated by downturns in 2015–16 and during the 2020 pandemic, followed by a rebound supported by higher energy prices.
Successive governments have pursued diversification strategies—most recently the "Kazakhstan 2050" agenda and national development plans emphasizing manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics, digital services, renewables, and critical minerals such as uranium, copper, and rare earths. Kazakhstan is the world's leading producer of uranium and a significant supplier of wheat. Progress on diversification has been uneven, and the economy remains heavily reliant on hydrocarbons, which generate more than half of export revenues.
Following the January 2022 unrest and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, authorities have sought to attract relocated businesses, deepen ties with China and the EU, and develop the Trans-Caspian "Middle Corridor" trade route to reduce dependence on Russian transit. Persistent challenges include corruption, weak institutions, an overreliance on extractive industries, and recurring disputes with foreign investors over production-sharing terms, particularly at Kashagan and Karachaganak.
Snapshot
- Currency Name and Code
- Tennge (KZT)
- GDP — official exchange rate
- $47,390,000,000 (USD)
- GDP Real Growth Rate
- 4.8%
- Gini Index
- 31.5
Banknotes
Budget & Public Finance
- Fiscal Year
- calendar year
- Public Debt (% of GDP)
- 9.8%
- External Debt
- $32,700,000,000 (USD)
- Investment (% of GDP)
- 22%
- Current Account Balance
- $3,343,000,000 (USD)
Labor, Industry & Trade
- Labor Force by Occupation
- industry 30%; agriculture 20%; services 50%
- Household Income — highest 10%
- 26.5%
- Industries
- oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials
- Agriculture Products
- grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock
- Export Commodities
- oil and oil products 58%, ferrous metals 24%, chemicals 5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal
- Export Partners
- Bermuda 20.8%, Russia 15.5%, China 10.6%, Italy 9.3%, Switzerland 8.2%, UAE 4.9%
- Import Commodities
- machinery and equipment 41%, metal products 28%, foodstuffs 8%
- Import Partners
- Russia 38.7%, Germany 8.9%, US 7%, China 4.8%
Energy
- Oil Production
- 1,900,000 bbl/day
- Oil Consumption
- 290,000 bbl/day
- Oil Reserves
- 30,000,000,000 bbl/day
- Natural Gas Production
- 28,000,000,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Consumption
- 16,720,000,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Imports
- 271,400,000,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Exports
- 19,000,000,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Reserves
- 2,407,000,000,000 cu m
Communications
- Telephone System
- general assessment: inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is gradually increasing and fixed-line teledensity now roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage has increased rapidly and the subscriber base now exceeds 140 per 100 persons international: country code - 7; international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
- Internet Country Code
- .kz
News & Weather
News & Weather
Current Weather
Latest News
Ukrainian Grandmother Flew to Kazakhstan to Bring Her Grandson Home—And Was Detained on Russia’s Request - UNITED24 Media
UNITED24 Media · 20h ago
Beyond ChatGPT: What Could AI Mean for Kazakhstan’s Creative Industries? - The Astana Times
The Astana Times · 4h ago
Ukrainian woman detained in Kazakhstan following Russian extradition request - Українська правда
Українська правда · 16h ago
Kazakhstan’s VP represents new generation of leaders - Eurasianet
Eurasianet · 1d ago
Kazakhstan poised to receive second Airbus A400M airlifter - FlightGlobal
FlightGlobal · 1d ago
Kazakhstan vs Moldova live stream: Where to watch, TV channel & kick-off time - Goal.com
Goal.com · 20h ago
Kazakhstan detains Ukrainian woman at Russia's request as she traveled to pick up grandson - Ukrinform
Ukrinform · 15h ago
Balaji Srinivasan's Network School has a new home after its Malaysia shutdown - businessinsider.com
businessinsider.com · 46d ago
News via Google News
Videos
Videos
1 curated YouTube videos.
Source: YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last reviewed 2026