Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor
President: Nursultan Nazarbayev
Population
109,011
17,522,010
Life Expectancy
73.300 years
69.630 years
Capital City
Astana
Largest city
Saint George's (population: 7,500)
Almaty (population: 2,000,900)
Human Development Index
0.774
0.807
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
Literacy Rate
96%
99.5%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
2.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
21.4%
12.3%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Alijan Ibragimov ($1.2bn US)
Unemployment Rate
5.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
NA
Political System
parliamentary democracy
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Independence date
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages
English (official), French patois
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
