Map of Kazakhstan

Location

Kazakhstan is situated at the turn of two continents – Europe and Asia, between 45 and 87 degrees of eastern longitude, between 40 and 55 degrees of northern latitude. In terms of area Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world after Russia, China, USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and Australia.
Kazakhstan shares borders of 1460 km with China, 980 km with Kyrgyzstan, 380 km with Turkmenistan, 2300 km with Uzbekistan and 6467 km with the Russian Federation. Total extension of the border is 12 187 km, including 600 km along Caspian Sea (in the west). Kazakhstan consists of 14 administrative oblasts (regions), 84 cities, 160 areas, 241 settlings, 2 049 auls (villages).
The terrain extends west to east from the lower reach of Volga River to the Altay Mountains and over 2 time zones north to south from the plains of Western Siberia to Kyzyl-Kum Desert and the Tien Shan mountain system.

Relief

Steppe, framed by mountains on the east and south-east, occupies the most part of Kazakhstan. Central regions of the country host Kazakh melcosopochnik (small hills), called Sary-Arka – ”the yellow steppe” in Kazakh. The capital of Kazakhstan Astana is located to the north of Sary-Arka at the upper course of the River Ishim. Whereas to the west of Sary-Arka, the Plateau Turgayskoye and holy mountains of Ulytau are positioned.
Altay Mountains and Saur-Tarbagatai Mountains, on the east of Kazakhstan, surround Lake Zaysan.
The Tien Shan Mountains stretch from the southern to the eastern part of Kazakhstan and reach 7 000 m above the sea level at the borders with China and Kyrgyzstan (Khan Tengri peak, 7010 m). Dzhungarskiy Alatau and Zayiliyskiy Alatau mountain ridges are located on the south-east of the country, and the ex-capital of Kazakhstan the city of Almaty has flourished at the bottom of the Zayiliyskiy Alatau.
Prikaspiyskaya lowland and Mugodzhari mountains lie on the West of the county. The Karagiye Batyr cavity, 132 m below the sea level, is located on the Mangyshlak peninsula. Usturt Plateau, divided by the steep ledges, is situated to the east of the peninsula.
All of the northern part of the country rests on the Western Siberian plateau, bordered by the small-sized mountain ridge Kokshetau (Blue mountains).

Climate

The climate is continental, with the average temperature in January – from -19 °C to -2 °C and in July – from +19°C to +28 °C.

Demography

Occupying vast territory, Kazakhstan is one of the least populated countries in the world, with the average population density 5.8 people per square meter. As of the first January 2009 estimated population of the republic reached 16,004,8 mln, including 8639,1 thousands in the city zones, and 7365,7 thousands in the rural areas. Today Kazakhstan is home to a multinational community. More than 2/3 of the population is Kazakhs (63,6 %), followed by large Russian diaspora 23.7% of the population. In addition to the 2 major ethnic groups there are more than 120 nationalities residing in Kazakhstan: more than 333,2 thousands of Ukrainians, 178,2 thousands of Germans, 457,2 thousands of Uzbeks and more than 203,3 thousands of Tatars.

There is an incremental numeral superiority of the ratio of women to the total population, compared to the ratio of men to the overall population. Women comprise 51.7 % of the residents of Kazakhstan.

The main factor contributing to the change in the overall population is the natural increase influenced by the birth and mortality rates. In the period from 1999 to 2008 natural increase in the republic totaled 1141.6 thousand people, i.e increased from 70,2 thousands (1999) to 204,2 thousands in 2008. From 1999 to 2008 2671.3 thousands people have been born in the republic. Birth rate in 1999 was 14.6 per thousand people, compared to 22.9 ppm in 2008. Average life expectancy in 1999 was 65.7 years, and 66.3 years in 2007. A difference of 13 years between life expectancy of female and male citizens in the country is quite significant.

Religion

Kazakhstan is a secular multireligious country. The most wide-spread religions are Islam and Christianity. According to the information provided by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Great Britain in 2007 Islam was practiced by 70% of the population, Christianity – 25%, other faiths (including Buddhism) – 5%.

Public administration

The republic has been declared independent in 1991. Kazakhstan is the unitarian presidential parliamentarian republic. The head of state – the President Nursultan Nazarbayev (source: www.akorda.kz ), has been elected in 1991 and re-elected in 1995 and 1999. The Parliament (source: http://www.parlam.kz) is the highest representative legislative body. Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (45 places) and the Majilis (107 places).

The Senate is formed by thirty deputies: two elected representatives of each oblast, cities of the republican importance and the capital of Kazakhstan, and fifteen delegates appointed by the President to ensure national, cultural and other significant public interests are represented in the Senate. Half of the delegates of the Senate are elected every 3 years with 6 years term of office. Majilis is comprised of one hundred and seven deputies. Ninety eight delegates of the Majilis are political parties candidates elected in accordance with the party tickets of the common national district on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage of the secret vote. Nine delegates of the Majilis are elected by the Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan. Term of office of the Majilis delegate is 5 years. The highest body of the judicial authority is the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Counsel.

Political and Social activity

Ten political parties are registered in Kazakhstan:
• Democratic party “Adilet”
• Democratic party of Kazakhstan “Ak zhol”
• Democratic party of Kazakhstan “Azat”
• Kazakhstani social-democratic party “Aul”
• Communist National party of Kazakhstan
• People’s democratic party “Nur Otan”
• National social-democratic party
• Party of the patriots of Kazakhstan
• Party “Ruhaniyat”

3500 NGOs are active in Kazakhstan ( www.npo.kz ), their activities lie in 30 different directions, including employment assistance, development of business initiative, resolution of the society’s conflicts, integration of the disabled to the society, rehabilitation of people with the health problems, introduction of the tax culture, dissemination of the legal knowledge, development of the prejudicial dispute resolution system, protection of consumers and other legal activity, drawing public’s attention to the ecological problems of the republic and regions, help to homeless children, promotion of civil initiatives among youth, support of the social development processes in the county, facilitation of the humanitarian aid from overseas for socially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and many others.

National Holidays

January 1-2 – New Year’s Day
March 8 – International Women’s Day Международный женский день
March 22 – Nauryz Meyramy (Springtime holiday and Nations of East Labour Day)
May 1 – Kazakhstan People’s Unity Day
May 9 – World War II Victory Day
July 6 – Capital City Day
August 30 – Constitution Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan
December 16 – Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan