republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
republic
Independence date
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
1 January 1804 (from France)
Religions
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo
Languages
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
