Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia with a portion in Europe. It is the largest country in Central Asia and the world's largest landlocked nation, covering about 2.72 million square kilometers. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to the south, featuring a varied landscape that includes steppe, deserts, and mountain ranges such as the Altai and the Tien Shan.

The capital is Astana, a city that was renamed from Nur-Sultan in 2022. The largest city is Almaty. The population is around 19 to 20 million. Official languages are Kazakh and Russian, with Kazakh as the state language and Russian widely used in daily life, business, and government.

Kazakhstan is a unitary semi-presidential republic. The president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has led the country since 2019. The nation declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It participates in international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, and joined the World Trade Organization in 2015.

Economy-wise, Kazakhstan is resource-rich and export-oriented, with large oil and natural gas sectors, substantial uranium production, and growing diversification. The currency is the tenge. Notable sites include the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a historic space-launch facility hosted on Kazakh territory. The country has a multiethnic society, with Islam the largest religion and a significant Orthodox Christian minority, reflecting a heritage shaped by nomadic traditions and Silk Road exchanges.