The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Kazakhstan:

An enlargeable map of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a landlocked sovereign country located across both Central Asia and Eastern Europe.[1] Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world as well as the world's largest landlocked country,[2] it has a territory of 2,727,300 km2 (greater than Western Europe). It is bordered by Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China. The country also borders on a significant part of the Caspian Sea.

Vast in size, the land in Kazakhstan is very diverse in types of terrain: flatlands, steppes, taigas, rock-canyons, hills, deltas, mountains, snow-capped mountains, and deserts. Kazakhstan has the 62nd largest population in the world, with a population density of less than 6 people per square kilometre (15 per sq. mi.).

Kazakhstan declared itself an independent country on December 16, 1991, the last Soviet republic to do so. Its communist-era leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, became the country's new president. Since independence, Kazakhstan has pursued a balanced foreign policy and worked to develop its economy, especially its hydrocarbon industry. While the country's economic outlook is improving, President Nazarbayev maintains strict control over the country's politics. Several opposition leaders and journalists have been killed in recent years, and Western observers generally do not consider Kazakhstan's elections to be free and fair. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan's international prestige is building.[3] It is now considered to be the dominant state in Central Asia.[4] The country belongs to many international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO's Partnership for Peace, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. In 2010, Kazakhstan will chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In 2011, it formed a customs union with Russia and Belarus.

Kazakhstan is ethnically and culturally diverse, in part due to the mass deportations of many ethnic groups to the country during Stalin's rule. Kazakhs are the largest group, followed by Russians. Kazakhstan allows freedom of religion, and many different beliefs are represented in the country. Islam is the primary religion, followed by Orthodox Christianity. The official language is Kazakh, though Russian is still commonly and most widely used for everyday communication.

General reference

edit
 
An enlargeable relief map of Kazakhstan

Geography of Kazakhstan

edit

Geography of Kazakhstan

  Russia 6,846 km
  Uzbekistan 2,203 km
  China 1,533 km
  Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km
  Turkmenistan 379 km
  • Coastline: none[5]

Environment of Kazakhstan

edit
 
An enlargeable satellite image of Kazakhstan

Environment of Kazakhstan

Natural geographic features of Kazakhstan

edit

Regions of Kazakhstan

edit

Administrative divisions of Kazakhstan

edit

Administrative divisions of Kazakhstan

Provinces of Kazakhstan
edit

Provinces of Kazakhstan

Province Status Full Kazakh name Time zone
Akmola province Ақмола облысы UTC+6
Aktobe province Ақтөбе облысы UTC+5
Almaty city(1) Алматы қаласы UTC+6
Almaty Province province Алматы облысы UTC+6
Astana city(1) Астана қаласы UTC+6
Atyrau province Атырау облысы UTC+5
Baikonur city(2) Байқоңыр қаласы UTC+6
East Kazakhstan province Шығыс Қазақстан облысы UTC+6
Karagandy province Қарағанды облысы UTC+6
Kostanay province Қостанай облысы UTC+6
Kyzylorda province Қызылорда облысы UTC+6
Mangystau province Маңғыстау облысы UTC+5
North Kazakhstan province Солтүстік Қазақстан облысы UTC+6
Pavlodar province Павлодар облысы UTC+6
South Kazakhstan province Оңтүстік Қазақстан облысы UTC+6
West Kazakhstan province Батыс Қазақстан облысы UTC+5
Zhambyl province Жамбыл облысы UTC+6
 
Provinces of Kazakhstan

Notes:

Districts of Kazakhstan
edit

Districts of Kazakhstan

 
Province District(s)
Akmola Province
Aktobe Province
Almaty Province
Atyrau Province
East Kazakhstan Province
Karagandy Province
Kostanay Province
Kyzylorda Province
North Kazakhstan
Pavlodar Province
South Kazakhstan Province
West Kazakhstan Province
Zhambyl Province
Municipalities of Kazakhstan
edit

Municipalities of Kazakhstan

Demography of Kazakhstan

edit

Demographics of Kazakhstan

Government and politics of Kazakhstan

edit

Politics of Kazakhstan

Branches of the government of Kazakhstan

edit

Government of Kazakhstan

Executive branch of the government of Kazakhstan

edit

Legislative branch of the government of Kazakhstan

edit

Judicial branch of the government of Kazakhstan

edit

Court system of Kazakhstan

Foreign relations of Kazakhstan

edit

Foreign relations of Kazakhstan

International organization membership

edit

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a member of:[1]

Law and order in Kazakhstan

edit

Law of Kazakhstan

Military of Kazakhstan

edit

Military of Kazakhstan

History of Kazakhstan

edit

History of Kazakhstan

Culture of Kazakhstan

edit

Culture of Kazakhstan

Art in Kazakhstan

edit

Sports in Kazakhstan

edit

Sports in Kazakhstan

Economy and infrastructure of Kazakhstan

edit

Economy of Kazakhstan

Education in Kazakhstan

edit

Education in Kazakhstan

Health in Kazakhstan

edit

Health in Kazakhstan

See also

edit

Kazakhstan

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Kazakhstan". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 2, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  2. ^ Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan (ASRK). 2005. Main Demographic Indicators. Available at http://www.stat.kz Archived 2010-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Zarakhovich, Yuri (September 27, 2006). "Kazakhstan Comes on Strong", Time Magazine.
  4. ^ Medvedev Visit Underscores Kazakh Victory Over Uzbekistan For Regional Dominance Archived 2008-05-28 at the Wayback Machine Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
  5. ^ Kazakhstan borders the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea, remnants of the ancient Paratethys Sea.
edit

  Wikimedia Atlas of Kazakhstan