Full History Of Kazakhstan In Timeline From 1904

1904: Death of Abai Qunanbaiuly

Abai Qunanbaiuly, who played a preeminent role in the development of modern literary Kazakh, died in 1904.

1906: Completion of the Trans-Aral Railway

In 1906, the number of settlers from the Russian Empire rose further once the Trans-Aral Railway from Orenburg to Tashkent was completed.

1907: Anglo-Russian Convention

The "Great Game" period is generally regarded as running from approximately 1813 to the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907.

1911: Publication of Ay Qap

The literary magazine Ay Qap was published between 1911 and 1915, playing a role in the intellectual development of early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1913: Publication of Qazaq

The literary magazine Qazaq was published between 1913 and 1918, playing a role in the intellectual and political life among early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1915: Publication of Ay Qap

The literary magazine Ay Qap was published between 1911 and 1915, playing a role in the intellectual development of early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1916: Central Asian revolt

In 1916, the most serious uprising, the Central Asian revolt, occurred, with Kazakhs attacking Russian and Cossack settlers and military garrisons.

November 1917: Collapse of central government in Petrograd

Following the collapse of central government in Petrograd in November 1917, the Kazakhs experienced a brief period of autonomy (the Alash Autonomy) before eventually succumbing to the Bolsheviks' rule.

1917: Russian Revolution

In 1917, following the Russian Revolution and subsequent Russian Civil War, Kazakhstan became an autonomous republic of the Russian SFSR within the Soviet Union.

1918: Publication of Qazaq

The literary magazine Qazaq was published between 1913 and 1918, playing a role in the intellectual and political life among early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1919: End of resistance to communist government

By late 1919, both sides in the conflict stemming from the Central Asian revolt had ceased resisting the communist government.

August 1920: Establishment of the Kirghiz ASSR

On 26 August 1920, the Kirghiz Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) was established.

1920: Zatayevich Creates Works

In 1920, Aleksandr Zatayevich, a Russian official, created works of art music with elements of Kazakh folk music.

June 1925: Kirghiz ASSR renamed Kazak ASSR

In June 1925, the Kirghiz ASSR was renamed the Kazak ASSR and its administrative centre was transferred to the town of Kyzylorda.

April 1927: Administrative centre transferred to Alma-Ata

In April 1927, the administrative centre of the Kazak ASSR was transferred to Alma-Ata.

1928: Adaptation of Kazakh Instruments

Beginning in 1928 and accelerating in the 1930s, Aleksandr Zatayevich adapted traditional Kazakh instruments for use in Russian-style ensembles.

1931: Kazakhs Write Music in Notation

In 1931, Kazakhs started to write their own music in notation.

1931: Foundation of Musical-Dramatic Training College

In 1931, the Musical-Dramatic Training College was founded, becoming the first institute of higher education for music in Kazakhstan.

1932: Famine in Kazakhstan

In 1932, the late 1920s and 1930s brought famine and high fatalities in Kazakhstan, leading to unrest (see also: Famine in Kazakhstan of 1932–33).

December 1936: Kazakh ASSR becomes Kazakh SSR

On 5 December 1936, the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was detached from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) and made the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.

1936: Kazakhstan becomes a union republic

In 1936, Kazakhstan's status was elevated to that of a union republic within the Soviet Union.

October 1941: Deportation of Volga Germans

In September–October 1941, approximately 400,000 Volga Germans were deported from the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

1941: Start of the Soviet-German War

The Soviet-German War began in 1941, leading to an increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction in Kazakhstan to support the war effort.

1945: End of the Soviet-German War

The Soviet-German War ended in 1945, during which Kazakhstan experienced an increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction.

1947: Founding of Semipalatinsk test site

In 1947, the USSR founded an atomic bomb test site near Semipalatinsk as part of its atomic bomb project.

1949: First Soviet nuclear bomb test

In 1949, the first Soviet nuclear bomb test was conducted at the atomic bomb test site near Semipalatinsk.

1953: Initiation of the Virgin Lands Campaign

In 1953, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev initiated the Virgin Lands Campaign to turn Kazakhstan's pasturelands into a major grain-producing region.

1959: Kazakhs become a minority

By 1959, due to decades of privation, war and resettlement, the Kazakhs had become a minority, making up 30% of the population.

April 1961: Vostok 1 launch

In April 1961, Baikonur became the springboard of Vostok 1, a spacecraft with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin being the first human to enter space.

1964: Leonid Brezhnev in power

Leonid Brezhnev came to power in 1964 and initiated the development of the agricultural sector.

1965: Almaty tram network began service

In 1965, an 86 km tram network began service in Almaty.

1977: Dynamo Alma-Ata National Championship

In 1977, Dynamo Alma-Ata won the Soviet Union national championships in bandy.

1978: Dynamo Alma-Ata European Cup Win

In 1978, Dynamo Alma-Ata won the European Cup in bandy.

1982: End of Leonid Brezhnev's rule

Leonid Brezhnev remained in power until 1982, during his leadership agricultural sector was developed.

1984: Renaming of State Museum of Art

In 1984, the State Museum of Art of Kazakhstan was renamed after Abilkhan Kasteyev.

December 1986: Jeltoqsan riot

In December 1986, mass demonstrations by young ethnic Kazakhs, later called the Jeltoqsan riot, took place in Almaty to protest the replacement of Dinmukhamed Konayev with Gennady Kolbin.

1989: Ethnic Russian Population

In 1989, ethnic Russians represented 37.8% of the population in Kazakhstan.

1989: Cessation of nuclear tests

In 1989, hundreds of nuclear tests conducted since 1949 at the Semipalatinsk test site ceased, following the rise of the Anti-nuclear movement in Kazakhstan.

1989: Population Decline

The population decline in Kazakhstan began after 1989.

October 1990: Declaration of sovereignty

On 25 October 1990, Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty within the Soviet Union.

1990: Dynamo Alma-Ata National Championship

In 1990, Dynamo Alma-Ata won the Soviet Union national championships in bandy.

1990: Increase in Religious Associations

In 1990, there were 670 religious associations in Kazakhstan, marking the beginning of an increase following decades of religious suppression by the Soviet Union.

1990: Expansion of Armoured Units

Since 1990, armoured units have expanded from 500 to 1,613 in 2005.

August 1991: Failed coup attempt in Moscow

Following the failed August 1991 coup attempt in Moscow.

December 1991: Proclamation of full independence

On 16 December 1991, Kazakhstan proclaimed full independence, becoming the last Soviet republic to do so.

1991: Kazakhstan's independence

As of May 2014, Kazakhstan had attracted $190 billion in gross foreign investments since its independence in 1991 and it led the CIS countries in terms of FDI attracted per capita.

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Before 1991, there were approximately one million Germans in Kazakhstan, many of whom emigrated to Germany after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

1991: Leadership of Kazakhstan

From 1991, Nursultan Nazarbayev led Kazakhstan.

1991: Independence and Foreign Policy

Since gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has pursued a "multi-vector foreign policy", seeking good relations with Russia, China, the United States, and the Western world.

June 1992: Establishment of National Security Committee

Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (UQK) was established on 13 June 1992.

1992: Establishment of National Basketball Team

In 1992, the Kazakhstan national basketball team was established following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

1992: Kazakhstan Hockey Championship Held

The Kazakhstan Hockey Championship is held since 1992.

1993: Foreign Investment in Kazakhstan

Since 1993, Kazakhstan has attracted over $40 billion in foreign investment due to the development of petroleum, natural gas, and mineral extractions.

1993: Tengiz Field Jointly Developed

The Tengiz Field was jointly developed in 1993 as a 40-year Tengizchevroil venture between Chevron Texaco (50%), US ExxonMobil (25%), KazMunayGas (20%), and LukArco (5%).

1996: Val Barker Trophy for Vassiliy Jirov

In 1996, Kazakhstani boxer Vassiliy Jirov was recognised as the best boxer for his techniques and awarded the Val Barker Trophy.

1996: Kazzinc-Torpedo play in VHL

Since 1996, the Kazzinc-Torpedo play in the Supreme Hockey League.

December 1997: Capital Relocation to Astana

On 10 December 1997, Kazakhstan's government relocated its capital from Almaty to Astana.

1997: Homosexuality Legalized in Kazakhstan

Homosexuality has been legal in Kazakhstan since 1997, although it is still socially unacceptable in most areas.

1997: Capital moved to Astana

In 1997, Nazarbayev moved the capital from Almaty to Astana.

1998: Winter Olympics

In 1998, the Kazakh national ice hockey team competed in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.

1998: Pension reform program instituted

Kazakhstan instituted a pension reform program in 1998.

January 1999: Last Census

The last census prior to 2009 was conducted in January 1999.

1999: Application for Observer Status at Council of Europe

In 1999, Kazakhstan applied for observer status at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, but was denied due to concerns about democracy and human rights.

2000: GDP growth figures

Buoyed by high world crude oil prices, GDP growth figures were between 8.9% and 13.5% from 2000 to 2007.

2000: Eurasian Economic Community Establishment

In 2000, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Economic Community.

2000: Kazakhstan's Boxing Success in Sydney Olympics

In the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Kazakh boxers Bekzat Sattarkhanov and Yermakhan Ibraimov earned gold medals, while Bulat Zhumadilov and Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov earned silver medals.

2000: Ratio of total governmental debt to GDP

The ratio of total governmental debt to GDP was 21.7% in 2000.

2001: Ratio of total governmental debt to GDP

The ratio of total governmental debt to GDP was 17.5% in 2001.

March 2002: Kazakhstan granted market economy status by U.S. Department of Commerce

In March 2002, the U.S. Department of Commerce granted Kazakhstan market economy status under US trade law.

March 2002: Court order against Respublika

In mid-March 2002, a court order stated that Respublika were to stop printing for three months. The order was evaded by printing under other titles, such as Not That Respublika.

September 2002: Kazakhstan receives investment grade credit rating

In September 2002, Kazakhstan became the first country in the CIS to receive an investment grade credit rating from a major international credit rating agency.

2002: Asian Games Bronze Medal

In 2002, Kazakhstan's national basketball team won the bronze medal at the Asian Games.

2002: Grain Harvest in Kazakhstan compared to 2003

In 2003 Kazakhstan harvested 17.6 million tons of grain in gross, 2.8% higher compared to 2002.

2002: KazMunayGas (KMG) created

KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil and gas company, was created in 2002 to represent the interests of the state in the oil and gas industry.

2002: Oil and gas condensate exports in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan raised oil and gas condensate exports to 44.3 million tons in 2003, 13% higher than in 2002. Gas production in Kazakhstan in 2003, amounted to 13.9 billion cubic metres, up 22.7% compared to 2002, including natural gas production of 7.3 billion cubic metres.

2002: Steppe Eagle peacekeeping exercise hosted by Kazakhstan

Since 2002, the joint tactical peacekeeping exercise "Steppe Eagle" has been hosted by the Kazakhstan government. "Steppe Eagle" focuses on building coalitions and gives participating nations the opportunity to work together. The KAZBAT peacekeeping battalion operates within a multinational force under a unified command within peacekeeping operations, with NATO and the U.S. Military during the Steppe Eagle exercises in 2002.

April 2003: New customs code adopted

Kazakhstan furthered its reforms by adopting a new customs code on 5 April 2003.

June 2003: New land code adopted

Kazakhstan furthered its reforms by adopting a new land code on 20 June 2003.

November 2003: Law on Changes to Tax Code adopted

On 29 November 2003, the Law on Changes to Tax Code which reduced tax rates was adopted. The value added tax fell from 16% to 15%, the social tax, payable by all employers, from 21% to 20%, and the personal income tax from 30% to 20%.

December 2003: Kazakhstan's gross foreign debt

By late December 2003, Kazakhstan's gross foreign debt was about $22.9 billion. Total governmental debt was $4.2 billion, 14% of GDP.

2003: Grain Harvest in Kazakhstan

In 2003 Kazakhstan harvested 17.6 million tons of grain in gross, 2.8% higher compared to 2002.

2003: Dmitry Karpov's World Athletics Championships Bronze

In 2003, Dmitry Karpov won a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships.

2003: Kazakhstan raises oil and gas condensate exports

Kazakhstan raised oil and gas condensate exports to 44.3 million tons in 2003, 13% higher than in 2002. Gas production in Kazakhstan in 2003, amounted to 13.9 billion cubic metres, up 22.7% compared to 2002, including natural gas production of 7.3 billion cubic metres.

2004: Val Barker Trophy for Bakhtiyar Artayev

In 2004, Kazakhstani boxer Bakhtiyar Artayev was recognised as the best boxer for his techniques and awarded the Val Barker Trophy.

2004: Parliamentary elections

In 2004, parliamentary elections were held, where the pro-government Otan Party dominated the Majilis, and international observers criticized the elections for not meeting democratic standards.

2004: Dmitry Karpov's Olympic Bronze

In the 2004 Summer Olympics, Dmitry Karpov won a bronze medal in the decathlon.

2005: World Bank lists Kazakhstan as corruption hotspot

In 2005, the World Bank listed Kazakhstan as a corruption hotspot, on a par with Angola, Bolivia, Kenya, Libya and Pakistan.

2005: Expansion of Armoured Units

Since 1990, armoured units have expanded from 500 to 1,613 in 2005.

2005: Economy grows faster than R&D expenditure

Since 2005, the economy has grown faster (by 6% in 2013) than gross domestic expenditure on research and development.

July 2006: Personal income tax reduced

On 7 July 2006, the personal income tax was reduced even further to a flat rate of 5% for personal income in the form of dividends and 10% for other personal income.

August 2006: Oleg Maskaev Becomes WBC Heavyweight Champion

On 12 August 2006, Oleg Maskaev, born in Zhambyl and representing Russia, became the WBC Heavyweight Champion after defeating Hasim Rahman.

2006: Kazakhstan contributed around 60% of the region's GDP

By 2006, Kazakhstan contributed around 60% of the region's GDP, primarily through its oil exports.

2006: Ice Hockey Competitions

In 2006, the Kazakh national ice hockey team competed in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics and the Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.

2006: Privatisation of the State Accumulating Pension Fund

The State Accumulating Pension Fund, the only state-owned fund, was privatised in 2006.

December 2007: Kazakhstan Chosen to Chair OSCE

On 1 December 2007, it was announced that Kazakhstan had been chosen to chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe for the year 2010.

2007: GDP growth figures

Buoyed by high world crude oil prices, GDP growth figures were between 8.9% and 13.5% from 2000 to 2007.

2007: Dmitry Karpov's World Athletics Championships Bronze

In 2007, Dmitry Karpov won a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships.

2007: FIBA Asia Cup Finish

In 2007, the Kazakhs' best finish at the official Asian Basketball Championship, now called FIBA Asia Cup, was 4th place.

2007: Kazakhstan System-wide Loans Decline

In 2007, total system-wide loans in Kazakhstan were 59% of GDP and it decreased to 39% by 2011.

2008: GDP growth figures during the financial crisis

GDP growth figures decreasing to 1% to 3% during the 2008 financial crisis.

2008: Barys Astana Transfers to KHL

In the 2008–09 season, Barys Astana was transferred to play in the Kontinental Hockey League after playing in the Kazakhstani national league.

2008: Financial crisis and public debt

The 2008 financial crisis forced Kazakhstan to increase its public borrowing to support the economy. Public debt increased to 13.4% in 2013 from 8.7% in 2008.

2008: Kazakh banking sector collapse due to financial crisis

The banking sector in Kazakhstan collapsed in 2008 due to the 2008 financial crisis, leading to defaults by major banks.

2009: Census Data on Christians

According to the 2009 Census data, there are few Christians in Kazakhstan outside of the Slavic and Germanic ethnic groups.

2009: Oil Production in Kazakhstan

According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2009, Kazakhstan was producing approximately 1,540,000 barrels of oil per day.

2009: Constitutional Council Declaration

In 2009, the Constitutional Council affirmed religious freedoms by declaring a proposed law limiting the rights of certain individuals to practice their religion as unconstitutional.

2009: Kazakh air carriers blacklisted by European Commission

In 2009, the European Commission blacklisted all Kazakh air carriers with the sole exception of Air Astana.

2009: Government introduces large-scale support measures

In 2009, the government introduced large-scale support measures such as the recapitalisation of banks and support for the real estate and agricultural sectors, as well as for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The total value of the stimulus programs amounted to $21 billion, or 20% of the country's GDP, with $4 billion going to stabilise the financial sector. During the Great Recession, Kazakhstan's economy contracted by 1.2% in 2009.

2009: Population Estimate

In 2009, the population estimate was 6.8% higher than the population reported in the last census from January 1999, indicating that the population decline since 1989 had been arrested or reversed.

April 2010: Nazarbayev and Obama Meet

On 11 April 2010, presidents Nazarbayev and Obama met at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between the United States and Kazakhstan.

2010: Kazakhstan Ranked 72nd in Economic Competitiveness

According to the 2010–11 World Economic Forum in Global Competitiveness Report, Kazakhstan was ranked 72nd in the world in economic competitiveness.

2010: Innovation expenditure doubles

Between 2010 and 2011, innovation expenditure more than doubled in Kazakhstan.

2010: GDP growth figures

GDP growth figures rising again from 2010.

2010: Kazakhstan Joins The Region Initiative (TRI)

In 2010, Kazakhstan joined The Region Initiative (TRI), linking it with other South Asian, Eastern European, and Central Asian countries in the tourism market.

2010: Kazakhstan ranked as an authoritarian regime

In 2010, the country was still ranked as an authoritarian regime on The Economist's Democracy Index.

2010: Kazakhstan to chair OSCE

Kazakhstan was chosen to chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010.

2010: State Programme targets R&D expenditure

One of the targets of the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development adopted in 2010 is to raise the country's level of expenditure on research and development to 1% of GDP by 2015.

2010: Five-year plan to develop industrial capacity

The first five-year plan (2010–2014) focused on developing industrial capacity in car manufacturing, aircraft engineering and the production of locomotives, passenger and cargo railroad cars.

2011: Decline in System-wide Loans

By 2011, total system-wide loans in Kazakhstan declined to 39% of GDP.

2011: Innovation expenditure more than doubles

In 2011, Innovation expenditure more than doubled in Kazakhstan representing KZT 235 billion (circa US$1.6 billion), or around 1.1% of GDP.

2011: Olga Rypakova's World Championships Silver

In 2011, Olga Rypakova won a silver medal in the triple jump at the World Championships in Athletics.

2011: Switzerland confiscates Kazakhstani assets

In 2011, Switzerland confiscated US$48 million in Kazakhstani assets from Swiss bank accounts, as a result of a bribery investigation in the United States. US officials believed the funds represented bribes paid by American officials to Kazakhstani officials in exchange for oil or prospecting rights in Kazakhstan.

2011: Kazakhstan's economy increases

Kazakhstan's economy increased to 7.5% in 2011.

January 2012: Pension assets

By January 2012, the pension assets were about $17 billion (KZT 2.5 trillion).

April 2012: ABA Rule of Law Initiative program begins

In April 2012, with funding from the US Agency for International Development, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative began a new program to strengthen the independence and accountability of Kazakhstan's judiciary.

November 2012: UN Human Rights Council Membership

On 12 November 2012, Kazakhstan was elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the first time.

December 2012: Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy announced

In December 2012, President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy with the slogan "Strong Business, Strong State." Proposing socio-economic and political reforms to hoist Kazakhstan among the top 30 economies by 2050.

2012: Almaty tram network details

As of 2012, Almaty had an 86 km tram network that began service in 1965, operating with 20 regular and three special routes.

2012: Railway infrastructure in Kazakhstan

As of 2012, there are 15,333 km of common carrier service railways, excluding industrial lines and 4,000 km electrified. High-speed trains connect most cities.

2012: Foreign Direct Investment Inflows into Kazakhstan

In 2012, Kazakhstan attracted $14 billion of foreign direct investment inflows into the country at a 7% growth rate.

2012: Corruption listed as biggest problem in doing business

In 2012, Kazakhstan ranked low in an index of the least corrupt countries and the World Economic Forum listed corruption as the biggest problem in doing business in the country.

2012: Val Barker Trophy for Serik Sapiyev

In 2012, Kazakhstani boxer Serik Sapiyev was recognised as the best boxer for his techniques and awarded the Val Barker Trophy.

2012: Bandy World Championship Bronze

In 2012, the Kazakhstan national bandy team won the bronze medal at the Bandy World Championship, which Kazakhstan hosted.

2012: Olga Rypakova's Olympic Gold

In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Olga Rypakova won a gold medal in the triple jump.

2012: Kazakhstan's economy increases

Kazakhstan's economy increased to 5% in 2012.

2012: Production of crude oil and natural gas

Production of crude oil and natural gas condensate from the oil and gas basins of Kazakhstan amounted to 79.2 million tonnes in 2012.

2012: Saryarka Karagandy play in VHL

Since 2012, the Saryarka Karagandy play in the Supreme Hockey League.

October 2013: Kazakhstan Accepted as "EITI Compliant"

In October 2013, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) accepted Kazakhstan as "EITI Compliant", indicating a functional process for regular disclosure of natural resource revenues.

December 2013: Kazakhstan to send officers to UN Peacekeeping forces

In December 2013, Kazakhstan announced it will send officers to support United Nations Peacekeeping forces in Haiti, Western Sahara, Ivory Coast and Liberia.

2013: Government achieves overall fiscal surplus

Between 2012 and 2013, the government achieved an overall fiscal surplus of 4.5%.

2013: R&D expenditure reaches 0.18% of GDP

By 2013, Kazakhstan's level of expenditure on research and development stood at 0.18% of GDP.

2013: China launches the Belt and Road Initiative

In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in which Kazakhstan functions as a transit hub.

2013: Artur Platonov wins at Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards

In 2013, Kazakhstan journalist Artur Platonov won Best Script for his documentary "Sold Souls" about Kazakhstan's contribution to the struggle against terrorism at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards.

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2013: Astana Metro construction abandoned

In 2013, the construction of the Astana Metro system was abandoned at one point.

2013: Population Rise in Kazakhstan

In 2013, the population of Kazakhstan increased to 17,280,000, showing a 1.7% growth rate over the previous year as reported by the Kazakhstan Statistics Agency.

2013: Kazakhstan enters top 50 most competitive countries

Kazakhstan achieved its goal of entering the top 50 most competitive countries in 2013.

2013: Kazakhstan launches Green Economy Plan

Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan in 2013. It committed Kazakhstan to meet 50% of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources by 2050.

February 2014: Kazakhstan devalues its currency

In February 2014, Kazakhstan devalued its currency by 19%.

March 2014: Kazakhstan Sends Observers to UN Peacekeeping Missions

In March 2014, the Ministry of Defense chose 20 Kazakhstani military men as observers for the UN peacekeeping missions.

May 2014: Kazakhstan attracts foreign investment

As of May 2014, Kazakhstan had attracted $190 billion in gross foreign investments since its independence in 1991 and it led the CIS countries in terms of FDI attracted per capita.

September 2014: Kazakhstan maintains position in Global Competitiveness Report

Kazakhstan maintained its position in the 2014-2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report published in September 2014, ahead of other CIS states in most pillars of competitiveness with an overall score of 4.4.

October 2014: Donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross

In October 2014, Kazakhstan donated $30,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross's humanitarian effort in Ukraine.

2014: U.S. government report released

According to a U.S. government report released in 2014, in Kazakhstan:

2014: Tourism Contribution to Kazakhstan's GDP

As of 2014, tourism accounted for 0.3% of Kazakhstan's GDP, with government plans to increase it.

2014: Almaty's Winter Olympics Bid

In 2014, Almaty submitted a bid for the Winter Olympics.

2014: Kazakhstan Ranked Low on Press Freedom Index

In 2014, Kazakhstan was ranked 161 out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.

2014: Tax Concessions to Promote FDI

In 2014, President Nazarbayev signed into law tax concessions to promote foreign direct investment, including a 10-year exemption from corporation tax, an eight-year exemption from property tax, and a 10-year freeze on most other taxes.

2014: Tourism underdeveloped in Kazakhstan

In 2014, The Guardian described tourism in Kazakhstan as "hugely underdeveloped" due to high prices, "shabby infrastructure," "poor service," and the difficulties of travel in a large underdeveloped country.

2014: Restrictions on freedoms and unfair trials in Kazakhstan

In 2014, authorities in Kazakhstan closed newspapers, jailed or fined dozens of people after peaceful but unsanctioned protests, and fined or detained worshipers for practicing religion outside state controls. Government critics, including opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov, remained in detention after unfair trials. Also in 2014, Kazakhstan adopted new criminal, criminal executive, criminal procedural, and administrative codes, and a new law on trade unions, which contain articles restricting fundamental freedoms and are incompatible with international standards.

2014: Bidding for UN Security Council Seat

Since 2014, the Kazakhstani government has been bidding for a non-permanent member seat on the UN Security Council for 2017–2018.

2014: Five-year plan to develop industrial capacity

The first five-year plan (2010–2014) focused on developing industrial capacity in car manufacturing, aircraft engineering and the production of locomotives, passenger and cargo railroad cars.

January 2015: Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine

In January 2015, Kazakhstan sent $400,000 of aid to Ukraine's southeastern regions to help with the humanitarian crisis.

January 2015: Latin Alphabet Transition Announcement

In January 2015, the government announced that the Latin alphabet would replace Cyrillic as the writing system for the Kazakh language by 2025.

January 2015: Statement on Ukraine Crisis

On 26 January 2015, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement that there is no alternative to peace negotiations to resolve the crisis in south-eastern Ukraine.

February 2015: FBI and Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency sign treaty

In February 2015, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

March 2015: World Bank Loan for Skills and Job Project

On 30 March 2015, the World Bank's Group of Executive Directors approved a $100 million loan for the Skills and Job project in Kazakhstan, aimed at providing training to the unemployed and underemployed.

May 2015: Agreement signed to resume Astana Metro construction

In May 2015, an agreement was signed for the Astana Metro project to be resumed after being abandoned in 2013.

August 2015: Kazakhstan devalues its currency again

In August 2015, Kazakhstan experienced another 22% devaluation of its currency.

2015: Kazakhstan's gold production

In 2015, Kazakhstan's gold production reached 64 metric tonnes.

2015: Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020 issued

In 2015, the Kazakh government issued a "Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020," which aimed to establish five tourism clusters in Kazakhstan.

2015: Kazakhstan's Investment Climate

In 2015, the U.S. State Department reported that Kazakhstan was widely considered to have the best investment climate in the region.

2015: Human Rights Watch report on Kazakhstan

In its 2015 report, Human Rights Watch stated that "Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly, speech, and religion." It also commented that Kazakhstan "took few meaningful steps to tackle a worsening human rights record in 2015, maintaining a focus on economic development over political reform."

2015: Kazakhstan joins the World Trade Organization

Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organization in 2015.

2015: Kazakhstan maintains top 50 competitive countries position

Kazakhstan maintained its position in the top 50 most competitive countries in the 2014–2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report that was published at the beginning of September 2014.

2015: Kazakhstan's Rule of Law Index Ranking

Kazakhstan's global rank in the World Justice Project's 2015 Rule of Law Index was 65 out of 102; the country scored well on "Order and Security" (global rank 32/102), and poorly on "Constraints on Government Powers" (global rank 93/102), "Open Government" (85/102) and "Fundamental Rights" (84/102, with a downward trend marking a deterioration in conditions).

2015: Target to raise R&D expenditure

One of the most ambitious targets of the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development adopted in 2010 is to raise the country's level of expenditure on research and development to 1% of GDP by 2015.

June 2016: Election to UN Security Council

On 28 June 2016, Kazakhstan was elected as a non-permanent member to serve on the UN Security Council for a two-year term.

December 2016: Khorgos Eastern Gate SEZ Commences Operations

In December 2016, the Khorgos Eastern Gate SEZ, surrounding the Khorgos Gateway dry port, officially commenced operations.

2016: Kazakh airlines removed from EU blacklist

In 2016, European air safety authorities removed all Kazakh airlines from the blacklist, citing "sufficient evidence of compliance" with international standards by Kazakh Airlines and the Civil Aviation Committee.

2016: Human Rights Watch report on Kazakhstan's human rights record

The 2016 Human Rights Watch report commented that Kazakhstan "took few meaningful steps to tackle a worsening human rights record in 2015, maintaining a focus on economic development over political reform."

May 2017: Astana Nurly Zhol railway station opens

On 31 May 2017, the Astana Nurly Zhol railway station, the most modern railway station in Kazakhstan, was opened in Astana. The 120,000m station was expected to be used by 54 trains and handle 35,000 passengers a day.

July 2017: Alstom opens locomotive repairing centre

In July 2017, Alstom opened its first locomotive repairing centre in Kazakhstan, which is the only repairing centre in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

2017: OECD Report on Kazakhstan Anti-Corruption Reforms

A 2017 OECD report on Kazakhstan indicated that Kazakhstan has reformed laws with regard to the civil service, judiciary, instruments to prevent corruption, access to information, and prosecuting corruption.

2017: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report findings

According to the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report of 2017, the travel and tourism industry GDP in Kazakhstan was $3.08 billion, or 1.6% of total GDP.

2017: Kazakhstan ranks 43rd in tourist arrivals

In 2017, Kazakhstan ranked 43rd in the number of tourist arrivals.

2017: UN Security Council Seat

Kazakhstan bid for a non-permanent member seat on the UN Security Council for 2017-2018.

2017: Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover compared to 2018

Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover in 2018 was 19.7% more than in 2017. Export in 2018 reached $67 billion (up 25.7% in comparison to 2017) and import was $32.5 billion (up 9.9% in comparison to 2017).

2017: OECD Investment Policy Review

The OECD 2017 Investment Policy Review noted that "great strides" had been made to open up opportunities to foreign investors and improve policy to attract FDI.

June 2018: Shymkent Gains Status

In June 2018, Shymkent gained its status as a "city of republican significance".

2018: Alstom cooperation with KTZ

As of 2018, Alstom, a French locomotive manufacturer, has more than 600 staff and two joint ventures with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and its subsidiary in Kazakhstan to develop Kazakhstan's railway infrastructure.

2018: Foreign Direct Investment increase in Kazakhstan

In 2018, $24 billion of FDI was directed into Kazakhstan, marking a significant increase since 2012.

2018: Kazakhstan's GDP and Growth Rate

In 2018, Kazakhstan had a GDP of $179.332 billion and an annual growth rate of 4.5%. Per capita, Kazakhstan's GDP stood at $9,686.

2018: Signing of UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2018, Kazakhstan signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2018: Launch of Digital Kazakhstan program

In 2018, the Digital Kazakhstan program was launched with the goal of enhancing the country's economic development through the implementation of digital technologies.

2018: Kazakhstan to digitise all investigative, prosecutorial and court records

In an effort to increase transparency in the criminal justice and court system, and improve human rights, Kazakhstan intended to digitise all investigative, prosecutorial and court records by 2018.

2018: UN Security Council Seat

Kazakhstan bid for a non-permanent member seat on the UN Security Council for 2017-2018.

2018: Kazakhstan's Economic Freedom Index Ranking

Kazakhstan climbed to 41st on the 2018 Economic Freedom Index published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation.

2018: Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover

Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover in 2018 was $93.5 billion, which is 19.7% more than in 2017. Export in 2018 reached $67 billion and import was $32.5 billion.

March 2019: Nazarbayev's resignation

On 19 March 2019, Nazarbayev announced his resignation after nearly three decades in power.

May 2019: Population of Kazakhstan (US Census Bureau)

In May 2019, the US Census Bureau International Database estimated the population of Kazakhstan to be 18.9 million.

June 2019: Tokayev takes office

In June 2019, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won the 2019 presidential election and took office on 12 June 2019. Tokayev's first official act was to rename the capital city to Nur-Sultan.

June 2019: Election of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

In June 2019, reforms began to be implemented after the election of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who supports a culture of opposition and loosening rules on forming political parties. Tokayev also established the National Council of Public Trust as a public platform.

July 2019: President Announces Concept of "Listening State"

In July 2019, the President of Kazakhstan announced a concept of a 'listening state' to quickly and efficiently respond to constructive requests from citizens.

2019: Second five-year plan for export markets

During the second five-year plan to 2019, the goal is to develop export markets for products such as cars, aircrafts and trains.

2019: Astana renamed Nur-Sultan

In 2019, Astana later renamed Nur-Sultan.

2019: Change in Leadership

In 2019, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev succeeded Nursultan Nazarbayev as the leader of Kazakhstan.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Score

In 2019, Kazakhstan had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.23/10, ranking it 26th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Ratio of total governmental debt to GDP

In 2019, the ratio of total governmental debt to GDP rose to 19.2%.

2019: Resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev

In 2019, there have been incremental efforts at democratization and political reform since the resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had led the country since independence.

2019: Nazarbayev's Resignation Speech

In his resignation speech of 2019, Nazarbayev envisioned that the people of Kazakhstan would speak three languages in the future: Kazakh, Russian, and English.

2019: WEF ranking of Kazakhstan

The World Economic Forum ranked Kazakhstan 80th in its 2019 report.

March 2020: Concept of Foreign Policy Announced

On 6 March 2020, the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 was announced.

2020: Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020 goals

By 2020, the Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020 sought investment of $4 billion and the creation of 300,000 new jobs in the tourism industry.

2020: Government target for tourism contribution to GDP

By 2020, the government had plans to increase tourism's contribution to Kazakhstan's GDP to 3%.

2020: Freedom House Rating

In 2020, Freedom House rated Kazakhstan as a "consolidated authoritarian regime", citing concerns about freedom of speech and electoral laws.

2020: Kazakhstan Ranks 25th in Doing Business Report

In the 2020 Doing Business Report by the World Bank, Kazakhstan ranked 25th globally and as the number one best country globally for protecting minority investors' rights.

2020: Business 2020 roadmap

The second five-year plan coincides with the development of the Business 2020 roadmap for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which makes provision for the allocation of grants to SMEs in the regions and for microcredit. The government and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs also plan to develop an effective mechanism to help start-ups.

2021: Religious Demographics

According to the 2021 census, 69.3% of the population in Kazakhstan is Muslim, 17.2% is Christian, and 2.25% identify as atheist.

2021: Kazakh and Russian Language Usage

According to the 2021 census, Kazakh is spoken by 80.1% of the population, while Russian is spoken by 83.7%.

January 2022: Large-scale protests

In January 2022, Kazakhstan was gripped by large-scale protests following a sharp rise in fuel prices.

February 2022: Shift Towards Independent Foreign Policy

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kazakhstan has increasingly pursued an independent foreign policy, balancing relations with major powers.

September 2022: Capital's name reverted back to Astana

In September 2022, the capital's name was reverted back to Astana, a move seen as part of the broader efforts to distance the country from the former president’s influence.

September 2022: Tokayev Signs Decree Limiting Presidential Tenure

On 17 September 2022, Tokayev signed a decree that limits presidential tenure to one term of seven years and announced a new reform package to decentralize power.

2022: Almaty's Winter Olympics Bid

In 2022, Almaty submitted a bid for the Winter Olympics.

2022: World Population Prospects

In 2022, United Nations sources estimated Kazakhstan's population to be 19,196,465.

November 2023: Population of Kazakhstan (Official Estimates)

As of November 2023, official estimates placed the population of Kazakhstan at 20 million.

2023: Kazakhstan's Press Freedom Index Ranking

In 2023, Kazakhstan was ranked 134th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index.

2024: Global Peace Index Ranking

According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Kazakhstan is the 59th most peaceful country in the world.

2024: Kazakhstan's Press Freedom Index Ranking

In 2024, Kazakhstan was ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index.

2024: Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index

In 2024, Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index gave Kazakhstan a score of 40, ranking it 80th among 180 countries.

2024: V-Dem Democracy Indices Rating

In 2024, the V-Dem Democracy Indices described Kazakhstan as an electoral autocracy.

2024: Kazakhstan Ranked 78th in Global Innovation Index

Kazakhstan was ranked 78th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.

2025: Ethnic Composition

As of 2025, ethnic Kazakhs constitute 71.3% of the population, while ethnic Russians make up 14.6%.

2025: Latin Alphabet Implementation

By 2025, the Latin alphabet is scheduled to replace Cyrillic as the writing system for the Kazakh language.

2030: Shift to a "green economy"

As part of the shift to a "green economy" by 2030, 15% of acreage will be cultivated with water-saving technologies.

2030: UNESCO Science Report

In 2030, text was taken from UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030, 365–387, UNESCO, UNESCO Publishing, licensed under CC BY-SA IGO 3.0.

2030: Concept of Foreign Policy Announced

On March 6, 2020, the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020-2030 was announced.

2050: Green Economy Plan target

By 2050, Kazakhstan has committed to meet 50% of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources.

2050: New industries will be established

During subsequent five-year plans to 2050, new industries will be established in fields such as mobile, multi-media, nano- and space technologies, robotics, genetic engineering and alternative energy.