Kazakhstan

1465 (Monday, August 12) – Foundation of the Kazakh Khanate by Janibek and Kerey Khans

1731 (Tuesday, October 10) – Northern Kazakh tribes begin allegiance to the Russian Empire

1868 (Monday, July 20) – Russian administrative control formalized through oblasts

December 5, 1936 (Saturday) – Kazakhstan becomes a Soviet Socialist Republic (Kazakh SSR)

August 29, 1949 (Monday) – First Soviet nuclear test conducted at Semipalatinsk Test Site

December 16, 1991 (Monday) – Kazakhstan declares independence from the Soviet Union

January 10, 1993 (Sunday) – First post-independence constitution adopted

June 20, 1998 (Saturday) – Astana declared the new capital (renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019, reverted in 2022)

July 1, 2006 (Saturday) – Major flooding in eastern Kazakhstan due to heavy rains

January 2–11, 2022 – Nationwide protests and unrest over fuel prices lead to deaths and Russian-led CSTO intervention

June 5, 2022 (Sunday) – Constitutional referendum held on reforms to reduce presidential powers

May 27, 2023 (Saturday) – Large wildfires erupt in Kostanay region due to extreme heat and drought

February 2024 (Sunday, February 18) – Strong earthquake (Magnitude 6.1) hits southeast Kazakhstan, minor structural damage reported

Continent: Asia (Central Asia)
Location: Landlocked, bordered by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan
Capital: Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan)
Language: Kazakh (official), Russian (widely used)
Currency: Tenge (₸, KZT)
Population: ~19.9 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zones: UTC+5 to UTC+6 (spans two time zones)

B

Borders: Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
Landscape: Steppe, desert, semi-desert, highlands, mountains
Major Rivers: Irtysh, Ural, Syr Darya, Ishim
Major Mountains: Altai Mountains, Tian Shan, Dzungarian Alatau
Deserts: Betpak-Dala, Kyzylkum (partially), Muyunkum
Lakes: Caspian Sea (inland sea), Lake Balkhash, Lake Zaysan
Volcanoes: None active
Highest Point: Khan Tengri – 7,010 m (22,999 ft)
Lowest Point: Karagiye Depression – -132 m (-433 ft)
Climate: Continental – hot summers, cold winters; arid to semi-arid in much of the country
Geological Features: Steppes, basins, plateaus, and parts of the Tien Shan range

Ethnic Groups: Kazakh (~70%), Russian (~15%), Uzbek, Ukrainian, German, Uyghur, Tatar
Religion: Islam (Sunni), Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Urban Population: ~58% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~9.3% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Nomadic heritage, vast steppe, traditional music, equestrian culture
Cuisine: Beshbarmak, Kazy, Shubat, Baursak
Music: Traditional Kazakh folk, dombyra music
Arts: Felt craft, yurts, embroidery, throat singing
Sports: Wrestling, horse racing, archery, weightlifting, boxing

Economy Type: Mixed, resource-rich
GDP: Approx. $225 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Oil, gas, mining, metallurgy, agriculture
Key Exports: Oil, uranium, copper, zinc, wheat
Unemployment Rate: ~4.9% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Resource-rich west (Caspian Basin), agricultural north, industrialized southeast

Government Type: Presidential republic
Head of State: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral (Senate & Mazhilis)
Constitution: In effect since 1995 (amended several times)

Astana: Futuristic architecture, Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr
Almaty: Former capital, nestled in mountains, Shymbulak Ski Resort
Charyn Canyon: Dramatic rock formations
Lake Kaindy: Submerged forest lake
Turkistan: Historic city with the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Altai Mountains: Remote nature, hiking, biodiversity
Caspian Coast: Beaches and oil towns