republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Independence date
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
