About Kazakhstan

The Kazakhs, for whom the country is named, constitute about 46% of the population (compared to 32% in 1970). Russians, who came to live in large numbers during the Soviet period, constitute 35%, Ukrainians, 5%, and ethnic Germans, 3%; the remaining 11% consists of smaller numbers of other European and Asian peoples. The culture and food reflect this and most people are bilingual in Kazakh and Russian or another language.

The educational and health-care systems, developed under the USSR, follows Soviet model, although some changes were introduced since independence in 1991. Restrictions on religion, for example, have been relaxed. The traditional Kazakh was nomadic and pastoral, but today their way of life and cultural expressions show strong Russian influences.

Kazakhstan, a land of nomadic mystical culture is expressed in oral epics, legends, ritual songs, and from the 19th century, in a written literature strongly influenced by Russian traditions. Today most Kazakhs are rural dwellers, but a few remain shepherds and in former traditional work roles. Racially of Mongolian descent and Muslim tradition, they give the impression of classic Mongol warriors when mounted on horseback and garbed in their native clothing. Their way of life, the least Islamized of any of the Central Asian Turks, is richly infused with customs, painting a tapestry of an ancient Asian culture with Soviet suppression and influence. Kazakhstan's economy is still closely tied to Russia's, but Kazakhstan is promoting investment to improve their social conditions. Infant mortality rate is 64 per 1000 births as compared to Russia's 25/1000. Life is hard in Kazakhstan. Many Russians live in the North part of Kazakhstan, where our program places infants into their forever families! 

Full Country Name: Republic of Kazakhstan

Location: Central Asia

Area: 2,724,900 sq km (1,052,085 sq mi); slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Boundaries: Boarders China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan  Climate: Continental: cold winters, hot summers, arid and semiarid

Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, lead, zinc, gold, uranium

Nationality: Kazakhstani

Ethnic Groups: 67% Kazakh, 18% Russian, 2.7% Ukrainian, 2.6% Uzbek

Religions:  Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Languages: Kazakh: state language, Russian: official, used in everyday communication

Government: Republic, authoritarian presidential rule

Capital: Astana

Population: 16.4 million