Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan for

 
 

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INTRODUCTION 
Economic and social situation
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Kazakhstan covers an area of 2.7 million square kilometres and is the ninth largest country of the 

world. It has a population of 15 million. The GNP amounts to 52.6 billion USD (USD 8500 per capita in 
2006), and the economy grew by 10.6% in 2006. Main areas in this growth were the financial and the 
construction sectors. Oil, gas, and mineral exports are key to Kazakhstan's economic success. Since 1993, 
Kazakhstan‟s extractive industries have attracted $30.7 billion in foreign investment, which represents 
almost 76% of the total foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan for that period. Kazakhstan has significant 
deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, uranium, and gold. Starting in 2004, the Government of Kazakhstan 
increased its take of oil deals by increasing taxation of new oil projects. 
The majority of Kazakhstanis are ethnic Kazakh; other ethnic groups include Russian, Ukrainian, 
Uzbek, German, and Uigur. Religions are Sunni Muslim, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, and other. 
Kazakhstan is a bilingual country. The Kazakh language has the status of the "state" language, while 
Russian is declared the "official" language. 
Political structure 
Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency. It is divided into 14 oblasts and the 
two municipal districts of Almaty and Astana. Each is headed by an akim (provincial governor) appointed 
by the president. Municipal akims are appointed by oblast akims. The Government of Kazakhstan 
transferred its capital from Almaty to Astana on 10June, 1998. 
Kazakhstan has a bicameral Parliament, comprised of a lower house (the Mazhilis) and upper house 
(the Senate). Single mandate districts popularly elect 67 seats in the Mazhilis; there also are 10 members 
elected by party-list vote. The Senate has 39 members. Two senators are selected by each of the elected 
assemblies (Maslikhats) of Kazakhstan's 16 principal administrative divisions (14 regions, or oblasts, plus 
the cities of Astana and Almaty). The president appoints the remaining seven senators. Mazhilis deputies 
and the government both have the right of legislative initiative, though the government proposes most 
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Sources: EBRD Country Factsheet 2006, Transparency International Corruption Perception Indices , US 
Department of State Background Notes February 2007 

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legislation considered by the Parliament. Election to the lower house of Parliament will be held later in 
2007.