According to thereligionfaqs, Kazakhstan is a country with a diverse religious landscape. Approximately 70% of the population identifies as Muslim, while the remaining 30% practice other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Islam is the predominant religion in Kazakhstan, and has been present in the region since the 8th century when Arab conquerors brought it to Central Asia. Today, most Kazakh Muslims are either Sunnis or Shias. The two main Islamic holy sites in Kazakhstan are located in Medina and Mecca. In recent years, there has been an increase in Islamic fundamentalism and extremism in some parts of the country, although this is largely confined to rural areas. Christianity was first introduced to Kazakhstan by Russian Orthodox missionaries during the 19th century when Russia annexed much of Central Asia. Today, most Christians are members of either the Russian Orthodox Church or Roman Catholic Church. There are also small numbers of Protestants and other Christians present in Kazakhstan such as Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists. Buddhism was introduced to Kazakhstan by Mongolian invaders during the 13th century but today it is practiced mainly by ethnic Mongolians living in rural areas near China’s border with Kazakhstan. Hinduism was also brought to Kazakhstan by immigrants from India during Soviet times but remains a minority religion practiced mainly among Indian expatriates living in Almaty and Astana cities. Kazakhstan in 2011 was a country of vast size, located in the heart of Central Asia and bordered by Russia and China to the north and west respectively. With a population of over 17 million people, Kazakhstan was the largest landlocked country in the world and had been an independent nation since 1991 after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. Politically, Kazakhstan was ruled by President Nursultan Nazarbayev who had been in power since 1989 and as part of his rule had implemented a market-based economy which helped drive economic growth throughout this period. In 2011 Kazakhstan was considered to be one of the most politically open countries in Central Asia with regular elections held for both local and national offices. In terms of its economy, Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita had grown significantly from 2001-2011 due to increased investment from abroad which helped fuel its diversified economy while also providing employment opportunities for many citizens throughout the country. The primary sources of growth were oil production and exports, along with other natural resources such as coal, gold, uranium, copper, chromium ore and zinc. In 2011 Kazakhstan faced some challenges due to regional conflicts such as those in Afghanistan which caused an influx of refugees into the country that put a strain on public services such as healthcare and education while also leading to an increase in poverty levels throughout certain areas of Kazakhstan. Additionally, rising energy costs due to increased demand for oil had caused inflationary pressures on Kazakh households throughout this time period. Despite these issues however, continued investment from abroad helped fuel its diversified economy while also providing employment opportunities for many citizens throughout the country which contributed towards its overall prosperity during this time period. Furthermore, Kazakhstan’s strategic location between Russia and China meant that it was able to benefit from both countries’ economic growth while also positioning itself as an important player on the international stage through various diplomatic initiatives such as joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2001. Overall, Kazakhstan in 2011 was seen as a relatively stable country despite regional conflicts that had caused an influx of refugees into its borders while also facing some economic challenges due to rising energy prices. Despite these issues however continued investment from abroad helped fuel its diversified economy while also providing employment opportunities for many citizens throughout the country which contributed towards its overall prosperity during this time period. Check physicscat for Kazakhstan in 2013.
Kazakhstan is one of the countries that became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union – on December 16, 1991. The country has numerous mineral resources such as coal, iron ores, lead, copper, zinc, tungsten, silver, barium, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, gold, chromium, manganese and bauxite, the basic material for aluminum production. But above all, […]
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Shopping Overview Colorful silk scarves, fragrant spices, caviar* and tea are popular souvenirs from Kazakhstan. A noble souvenir is silver jewelry, which is often decorated with rubies or emeralds, sometimes with semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli. In small mom-and-pop shops you can get everything you need on a daily basis, such as hygiene items […]
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