Kazakhstan is geographically the largest of the five Central Asian republics, is rich in natural resources, and home to a diversity of ethnic groups. The former capital, Almaty, was moved in December 1998 to Astana. The US Embassy and the Regional USAID office remain in Almaty.

Due to its oil and gas resources, size and strategic location, Kazakhstan continues to have a special partnership with the U.S. Although it does not border Afghanistan, Kazakhstan's leading economic and political position in the region gives it an important role in the War on Terrorism. With a per capital GDP of $1,421, Kazakhstan is the wealthiest of the Central Asian republics. It has made the most significant economic progress since independence, well surpassing many other former Soviet countries in macro-economic reform. However, the historical legacies of authoritarianism and corruption, wasteful services and energy practices, and disdain for civic action and independent media are still very evident. Already large income and social disparities continue to grow, with over 30% of the population living under the poverty line, according to official government statistics. The shadow economy is estimated to account for 20 to 28% of GDP. The official unemployment rate is near 4%, but the real figure may be as high as 30%.

To read more, see the Kazakhstan Country Profile (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 198kb file).

Links

Many internet resources provide information on Kazakhstan. In addition to those noted on this page, check the following reference. Websites for Kazakhstan and the Central Asia Region