djective:
Kazakhstani
Ethnic divisions:
Kazakh (Qazaq) 41.9%, Russian 37%, Ukrainian 5.2%, German 4.7%, Uzbek
2.1%, Tatar 2%, other 7.1% (1991 official data)
Religions:
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages:
Kazakh (Qazaqz) official language spoken by over 40% of population,
Russian (language of interethnic communication) spoken by two-thirds
of population and used in everyday business
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
7.356 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 26%, other 43%
(1992)

@Kazakhstan, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form:
Kazakhstan
local long form:
Kazakhstan Respublikasy
local short form:
none
former:
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
KZ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Almaty
Administrative divisions:
19 oblystar (singular - oblys) and 1 city (qalalar, singular - qala)*;
Almaty*, Almaty Oblysy, Aqmola Oblysy, Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy,
Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Kokshetau Oblysy, Mangghystau Oblysy,
Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay
Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Pavlodar Oblysy, Semey Oblysy, Shyghys
Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik
Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavl), Taldyqorghan Oblysy, Torghay Oblysy,
Zhambyl Oblysy, Zhezqazghan Oblysy
note:
names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from
oblys name
Independence:
16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 28 January 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (since NA April 1990); Vice
President Yerik ASANBAYEV (since 1 December 1991); election last held
1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1995); percent of vote by party
NA; Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed
head of government:
Prime Minister Sergey TERESHCHENKO (since 14 October 1991); First
Deputy Prime Minister Arkezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since NA November 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Supreme Council:
elections last held 7 March 1994 (next to be