Bayterek observation tower The Baitarek (also Bajterek) lookout tower towers over the roofs of Astana. It is 105 meters high, the most famous landmark of the capital of Kazakhstan and is located in a beautifully landscaped park next to the newly built government district. Symbolic tree of life The elegant shape of the tower, designed… Read More »
Almaty Almaty, until 1921 Werny, until 1993 Alma-Ata, independent city in Kazakhstan, 700–900 m above sea level, on the northern slope of the Transili-Alatau, a foothill of the northern Tian Shan; (2019) 1.9 million residents, of which around a third are Russians. With several mountain rivers and streams flowing through it, Almaty is the cultural… Read More »
Entry and residence regulations Since July 15, 2014, a visa was no longer required for German citizens for a stay of up to 15 days in Kazakhstan, and since January 1, 2017, there has been no visa for a period of 30 days. For all longer stays, a visa must be applied for at the… Read More »
At the beginning of the 1990’s, the new freedom of religion, combined with the end of the Soviet ideology and the difficult socio-economic times, led to a revival of religions in Kazakhstan as well. People were able to profess their faith, and numerous new churches and places of worship were built. All the information about… Read More »
The culture of the Kazakhs was a nomadic culture, which is why it has partly been lost due to the settlement or has been robbed of its original meaning. But you can still or again today observe a number of typical phenomena. The great hospitality, for example, is seen as a nomadic legacy, as is… Read More »
Education and youth In terms of securing the future, the state attaches great importance to education, successes can be seen, but not yet resounding. Given the size of the country and the task, this does not seem surprising; The still comparatively poor pay of teachers and the widespread corruption represent an unresolved old and the… Read More »
Almost 53% of Kazakhstan’s population are female. Their position in political and economic leadership positions is by no means dominant and not on an equal footing in social life and on the income scale, but it is relatively good, especially in comparison with other countries in the region. This is also expressed by the various… Read More »
In today’s Kazakhstan, the Kazakh language and culture is gradually gaining ground again, but Russian is still of great importance. The many nationalities live together peacefully. There are great differences between social classes, generations, city and country, north and south. Share alphabet. Adults: 99.8% Major religions: sunni. Islam (70%); Russian Orthodox (26%) Urban population: 58.2%… Read More »
Kazakhstan is not only the ninth largest country in the world, but members of 120 nationalities also live on its territory. The diversity of languages, religions, traditions and cultures is correspondingly large – even if in the past the “Soviet” was unmistakable and today “Kazakh” is increasingly in the foreground. In addition, the living conditions… Read More »
Mining and industry The share of industry in GDP is around 35%. The leading industries are mining, nuclear and chemical industries, mechanical engineering, construction and pharmaceuticals. The largest mining and steel-producing companies are located in central Kazakhstan, where coal and ore deposits are located close together in Karagandy / Temirtau and Ekibastus (Pavlodar region). The… Read More »
The economic development of independent Kazakhstan was a success story up to 2014, mainly thanks to its immense oil reserves. The globally falling oil price combined with structural problems has increasingly led to economic problems that the government is trying to counter with infrastructure and austerity programs. According to estatelearning, most important for Kazakhstan’s economy… Read More »
After the deep fall of all the former Soviet republics after the end of the Union (high inflation, bankruptcy of many companies, unemployment, etc.) in the mid-1990’s, Kazakhstan’s economy initially developed positively. The great wealth of raw materials, especially crude oil, but also natural gas, coal, uranium, iron ore, copper, chromium, titanium, tungsten, nickel, phosphorus,… Read More »
In recognition of its geographic location, Kazakhstan has pursued an active foreign policy that is open to all sides from the start, and the freedom from nuclear weapons was one of its most important requirements. Under the catchphrase multi-vector policy, the leadership initially established close political and economic contacts with its large neighbors Russia and… Read More »
According to official figures, 3,520 mass media (newspapers and magazines, radio and television stations, information agencies, internet media) were registered in Kazakhstan in 2019, the majority of which were printed matter. 16% of them appear in Kazakh, almost 25% in Russian, 36% in both languages. There is also media in several minority languages. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan… Read More »
Political life under Nazarbayev Contrary to the expectations of many observers, the independent Kazakhstan developed peacefully in the first quarter of a century, despite the initially tense socio-economic situation and the very multinational composition of its population. Despite statements to the contrary by Kazakh politicians, there was no democratization, on the contrary, there was a… Read More »
The successor In his resignation speech, Nursultan Nazarbayev announced that the previous chairman of the Senate, Kasym-Dschomart Tokayev, would be his successor until the end of his regular term in 2020. The swearing-in took place on March 20, 2019. Tokayev, born on May 17th, 1953 in Alma-Ata, is an experienced, level-headed politician from the immediate… Read More »
The “Leader of the Nation” The defining figure of the independent Kazakhstan is Nursultan Nazarbayev (born July 6, 1940). As party leader of the KasSSR, he was first elected to the newly created office of president by the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic in 1990 and was confirmed as the only candidate by the… Read More »
Kazakhstan is a young nation-state whose political development is largely determined by its increasingly autocratic ruling president. Democracy only exists on paper, freedom of expression is restricted, but Kazakhstan is not a police state and, above all, is stable internally and externally. Independence Day: December 16, 1991 Head of state: Kasym-Dschomart Tokayev Head of government:… Read More »
Prehistory The territory of today’s Kazakhstan has been proven to have been crossed by nomads since the Stone Age. Excavations show the settlement in later centuries. From the 6th – 3rd century BC. the Saks (ie representatives of the Scythian culture) ruled the Kazak steppes. The Altyn Adam (Golden Man), the image of which one… Read More »
Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world with an area of 2,724,900 km². A wide variety of landscapes, valuable mineral resources and a strongly multiethnic population can be found on its territory. A look at the young, diverse state reveals a fascinating mix of opportunities, but also problems. Country overview According to businesscarriers,… Read More »
Most important towns According to official figures, there are 86 cities, 147 settlements and 7,323 aule (villages) in Kazakhstan. About 60% of the population live in cities. The main cities are: Nur-Sultan = Astana (kas. Capital), since December 10th, 1997 capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan; in the north of the country on the River… Read More »
Kazakhstan inherited a number of environmental problems from the Soviet era, above all the large areas of the former Soviet nuclear weapons test site in Semipalatinsk and the drying up of the Aral Sea. In the so-called Polygon of Semipalatinsk , above-ground and then underground nuclear weapon tests were carried out from 1949-1961, regardless of… Read More »
Kazakhstan sees itself as a bridge between East and West. This mixture is also evident in everyday life, western luxury with corresponding prices and, for example, permanent traffic jams on the one hand – the simplest living conditions, great hospitality and old traditions on the other result in a sometimes irritating but also fascinating mix.… Read More »