republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Independence date
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
