Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country and the ninth-largest nation by area. With a population of around 20 million, it is one of the most sparsely populated countries (7 people per km²). The capital, Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), is a modern planned city, while Almaty, the former capital, remains the financial and cultural hub.
Economically, Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s wealthiest nation, driven by vast oil, gas, and mineral reserves (uranium, copper, zinc). Ethnically, the country is ~70% Kazakh, ~15% Russian, with smaller Uzbek, Ukrainian, and German minorities. Islam (Sunni) is the dominant religion, but Russian Orthodoxy and secularism are also influential.
Geographically, Kazakhstan features steppes, deserts (Aral Sea crisis), and mountain ranges (Tian Shan, Altai). It has a continental climate, with extreme temperatures (winters below -30°C, summers over 40°C).
Culturally, Kazakhstan blends nomadic traditions (eagle hunting, yurts, horse games like kokpar) with modern urban development. The film industry (“Borat” stereotypes aside) and literature (Mukhtar Auezov) have global recognition…
