History of Kazakhstan in Timeline

Kazakhstan, a landlocked country in Central Asia with a small part in Eastern Europe, is bordered by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and has a coastline on the Caspian Sea. Astana is the capital city. Almaty is the largest city and a major cultural and commercial center. Formerly the capital, Almaty held this position from 1929 to 1997 before the capital was moved to Akmola, which was later renamed Astana.

1904: Death of Abai Qunanbaiuly

In 1904, Abai Qunanbaiuly, a significant figure in the development of modern literary Kazakh, passed away.

1906: Completion of the Trans-Aral Railway

In 1906, the number of settlers rose still 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 Magazine

Between 1911 and 1915, the literary magazine Ay Qap was published in Arabic script.

1913: Publication of Qazaq Magazine

From 1913 to 1918, the Qazaq magazine played an important role in the intellectual and political life among early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1915: Publication of Ay Qap Magazine

The literary magazine Ay Qap was published between 1911 and 1915 in Arabic script.

1916: Central Asian revolt

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

November 1917: Collapse of Central Government in Petrograd

In November 1917, following the collapse of central government in Petrograd, 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.

1917: Formation of the Alash Orda government

In 1917, in the wake of the Russian Revolution, the Alash Orda government was formed as an attempt to secure Kazakh autonomy.

1918: Publication of Qazaq Magazine

The Qazaq magazine, published between 1913 and 1918, played an important role in the development of the intellectual and political life among early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1919: End of resistance to the communist government

Until late 1919, both sides resisted the communist government in Kazakhstan.

August 1920: Establishment of the Kirghiz ASSR

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

1920: Incorporation into the Soviet Union

By 1920, the Bolshevik Red Army eventually defeated White Russian forces in the region, and Kazakhstan was incorporated into the Soviet Union.

1920: Aleksandr Zatayevich Creates Major Works

In 1920, Aleksandr Zatayevich, a Russian official, created major works of art music with melodies and other 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.

1926: Estimated deaths

Between 1926 and 1939, an estimated 1.5 million deaths occurred, mostly due to starvation and related diseases, as well as violence.

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, Aleksandr Zatayevich also adapted traditional Kazakh instruments for use in Russian-style ensembles.

1929: Capital city

In 1929, Almaty served as the capital city of Kazakhstan.

1931: Kazakhs Write Own Music

In 1931, the Kazakhs themselves did not write their own music in notation until 1931.

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.

1932: Famine in Kazakhstan

Soviet policies led to widespread famine and high fatalities in Kazakhstan in 1932–33.

December 1936: Formation of Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

On 5 December 1936, the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was detached from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and made the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, a full union republic of the USSR.

1936: Union Republic Status

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

1939: Estimated deaths

Between 1926 and 1939, an estimated 1.5 million deaths occurred, mostly due to starvation and related diseases, as well as violence.

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 to Kazakhstan.

1941: Soviet-German War

The Soviet-German War (1941–1945) led to an increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction in support of the war effort.

1945: Soviet-German War

The Soviet-German War (1941–1945) led to an increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction in support of the war effort.

1947: Atomic bomb test site founded

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: Virgin Lands Campaign initiated

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

1959: Kazakhs become a minority

By 1959 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: Brezhnev in power

Under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev who was in power 1964–1982, modernisations accelerated the development of the agricultural sector.

1965: Beginning of Tram Network Service

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

1977: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins Soviet Union national championships

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

1978: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins European Cup

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

1982: Brezhnev in power

Under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev who was in power 1964–1982, modernisations accelerated the development of the agricultural sector.

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 the First Secretary of the Communist Party.

1989: End of nuclear tests

Hundreds of nuclear tests were conducted until 1989 at the atomic bomb test site near Semipalatinsk.

1989: Ethnic Russian Population

In 1989, ethnic Russians were 37.8% of the population, and Kazakhs held a majority in only 7 of the 20 regions of the country.

1989: Population Decline Arrested

The decline in population that began after 1989 has been arrested and possibly reversed.

October 1990: Declaration of Sovereignty

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

1990: Increase in Religious Activity

After decades of religious suppression by the Soviet Union, the coming of independence witnessed a surge in the expression of ethnic identity, partly through religion. The number of religious associations rising from 670 in 1990 to 4,170 today.

1990: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins Soviet Union national championships

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

1990: Expansion of armoured units

Since 1990, Kazakhstan's armoured units have expanded from 500 to 1,613.

August 1991: Failed coup attempt in Moscow

Following the failed August 1991 coup attempt in Moscow.

December 1991: Declaration of full independence

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

1991: Foreign Investment Since Independence

As of May 2014, Kazakhstan had attracted $190 billion in gross foreign investments since its independence in 1991.

1991: Dissolution of Soviet Union

Before 1991, there were about one million Germans in Kazakhstan; after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, most of them emigrated to Germany.

1991: Independence

In 1991, Kazakhstan declared independence from the Soviet Union during its dissolution, becoming the last constituent republic to do so.

June 1992: Establishment of National Security Committee

In June 1992, Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (UQK) was established, including the Service of Internal Security, Military Counterintelligence, Border Guard, Commando units, and Foreign Intelligence (Barlau).

1992: Establishment of the national basketball team

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

1992: Kazakhstan Hockey Championship is held

Since 1992, the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship has been held.

1993: Joint Development of Tengiz Field

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: Vassiliy Jirov wins Val Barker Trophy

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

1996: Kazzinc-Torpedo play in the Supreme Hockey League

Since 1996, Kazzinc-Torpedo has been playing in the Supreme Hockey League.

1997: Legalization of Homosexuality

Homosexuality has been legal in Kazakhstan since 1997, although it remains socially unacceptable in most areas, and discrimination against LGBT people is widespread.

1997: Capital moved to Astana

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

1997: Capital moved from Almaty to Akmola

In 1997, the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from Almaty to Akmola, which is now known as Astana.

1998: Kazakhstan competes in ice hockey at Winter Olympics

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

1998: Pension Reform Program

Kazakhstan instituted a pension reform program in 1998.

January 1999: Last Census

The 2009 population estimate is 6.8% higher than the population reported in the last census from January 1999.

2000: Kazakhstan earns gold and silver medals in boxing at the Summer Olympics

At 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: GDP Growth Figures

From 2000 to 2007, Kazakhstan's GDP growth figures were between 8.9% and 13.5%.

2000: Debt to GDP Ratio

In 2000, the ratio of total governmental debt to GDP in Kazakhstan was 21.7%.

2001: Debt to GDP Ratio

In 2001, the ratio of total governmental debt to GDP in Kazakhstan was 17.5%.

March 2002: Market Economy Status Granted

In March 2002, the U.S. Department of Commerce granted Kazakhstan market economy status under US trade law, recognizing reforms in currency convertibility, wage rate determination, openness to foreign investment, and government control over production and resource allocation.

March 2002: Court order against Respublika newspaper

In mid-March 2002, a court order, with the government as plaintiff, stated that Respublika newspaper were to stop printing for three months.

September 2002: 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: Creation of KazMunayGas

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

2002: Bronze medal at the Asian Games

In 2002, the Kazakhstan national basketball team achieved its greatest accomplishment by winning the bronze medal at the Asian Games, defeating the Philippines in the final game.

2002: Grain Harvest

In 2003 Kazakhstan harvested 17.6 million tons of grain which was 2.8% higher compared to 2002.

2002: Increase in Gas Production

In 2003, gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 13.9 billion cubic metres, up 22.7% compared to 2002.

2002: Steppe Eagle peacekeeping exercise

Since 2002, the joint tactical peacekeeping exercise "Steppe Eagle" has been hosted by the Kazakhstan government, focusing on building coalitions and allowing participating nations to collaborate.

April 2003: New Customs Code

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

June 2003: New Land Code

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

November 2003: Tax Code Changes

On 29 November 2003, Kazakhstan adopted the Law on Changes to Tax Code, reducing the value-added tax from 16% to 15%, the social tax from 21% to 20%, and the personal income tax from 30% to 20%.

December 2003: Gross Foreign Debt

By late December 2003, Kazakhstan's gross foreign debt was about $22.9 billion.

2003: Dmitry Karpov Wins Bronze at World Athletics Championships

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

2003: Grain Harvest

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

2003: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production

In 2003, Kazakhstan's production of crude oil and natural gas condensate amounted to 51.2 million tonnes, and gas production reached 13.9 billion cubic metres, up 22.7% compared to 2002.

2004: Dmitry Karpov Wins Bronze at Summer Olympics

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

2004: Bakhtiyar Artayev wins Val Barker Trophy

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

2004: Parliamentary elections

In the 2004 parliamentary elections, the pro-government Otan Party dominated the Majilis.

2005: Armoured units expansion

By 2005, Kazakhstan's armoured units had expanded to 1,613 from 500 since 1990.

2005: Corruption Hotspot Listing

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

2005: Economic Growth and R&D Expenditure

Since 2005, the economy of Kazakhstan has grown faster than gross domestic expenditure on research and development.

July 2006: Personal Income Tax Reduction

On 7 July 2006, Kazakhstan reduced the personal income tax 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 August 12, 2006, Oleg Maskaev, representing Russia, became the WBC Heavyweight Champion after defeating Hasim Rahman.

2006: Contribution to the region's GDP

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

2006: Privatization of State Accumulating Pension Fund

In 2006, Kazakhstan privatized the State Accumulating Pension Fund, which was the only state-owned fund.

2006: Kazakhstan competes in ice hockey at Winter Olympics and World Championships

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

2007: GDP Growth Figures

From 2000 to 2007, Kazakhstan's GDP growth figures were between 8.9% and 13.5%.

2007: Dmitry Karpov Wins Bronze at World Athletics Championships

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

2007: 4th place at the Asian Basketball Championship

In 2007, the Kazakh national basketball team finished in 4th place at the Asian Basketball Championship, now called the FIBA Asia Cup, marking their best finish in the competition.

2007: Loans as Percentage of GDP

In 2007, total system-wide loans in Kazakhstan were 59% of GDP.

2008: Financial Crisis Impact

During the 2008 financial crisis, Kazakhstan's GDP growth decreased to 1% to 3%.

2008: Banking Sector Collapse

In 2008, Kazakhstan's banking sector collapsed due to the 2008 financial crisis.

2008: Barys Astana transferred to Kontinental Hockey League

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

2009: Christian Population

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

2009: Constitutional Council Declaration

In 2009, the Constitutional Council affirmed the rights to religious freedom, stating that a proposed law limiting the rights of certain individuals to practice their religion was unconstitutional.

2009: Kazakh Air Carriers Blacklisted

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

2009: Government Support Measures

In 2009, the Kazakhstan 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).

2009: Population Estimate

In 2009, the population estimate was 6.8% higher than the population reported in the last census from January 1999. Men and women made up 48.3% and 51.7% of the population, respectively.

2010: Economic Competitiveness Ranking

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

2010: Kazakhstan Joins The Region Initiative (TRI)

In 2010, Kazakhstan joined The Region Initiative (TRI), a Tri-regional Umbrella of Tourism-related organisations, functioning as a link between South Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.

2010: Authoritarian regime

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

2010: Adoption of State Programme

In 2010, the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development was adopted in Kazakhstan.

2010: Focus on Industrial Capacity Development

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

2010: Increase in Innovation Expenditure

Innovation expenditure more than doubled in Kazakhstan between 2010 and 2011.

2010: GDP Growth Resurgence

Starting in 2010, Kazakhstan's GDP growth began to rise again after the 2008 financial crisis.

2011: Decline in Loans

By 2011, total system-wide loans in Kazakhstan had declined to 39% of GDP following the 2008 financial crisis.

2011: Olga Rypakova Wins Silver at World Championships in Athletics

In 2011, Olga Rypakova won silver in triple jump at the World Championships in Athletics, and Astana and Almaty hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games.

2011: Confiscation of Kazakhstani Assets

In 2011, Switzerland confiscated US$48 million in Kazakhstani assets from Swiss bank accounts, stemming from a bribery investigation in the United States.

2011: Innovation Expenditure

In 2011, innovation expenditure in Kazakhstan represented KZT 235 billion (circa US$1.6 billion), or around 1.1% of GDP.

January 2012: Pension Assets Value

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

April 2012: ABA Rule of Law Initiative Program

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

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 place Kazakhstan among the top 30 economies by 2050.

2012: Almaty Tram Network

As of 2012, Almaty's tram network consisted of 86 km with 20 regular and three special routes.

2012: FDI Inflows

In 2012, Kazakhstan attracted $14 billion of foreign direct investment inflows, showing a 7% growth rate.

2012: Railway Electrification

In 2012, Kazakhstan had 4,000 km of electrified railways out of a total of 15,333 km in common carrier service.

2012: Kazakhstan hosts Bandy World Championship

In 2012, Kazakhstan hosted the Bandy World Championship on home ice, where the national team won the bronze medal.

2012: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production

In 2012, Kazakhstan produced 79.2 million tonnes of crude oil and natural gas condensate.

2012: Corruption Ranking

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: Serik Sapiyev wins Val Barker Trophy

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

2012: Olga Rypakova Wins Gold at Summer Olympics

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

2012: Saryarka Karagandy play in the Supreme Hockey League

Since 2012, Saryarka Karagandy has been playing in the Supreme Hockey League.

December 2013: Support for UN Peacekeeping forces

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

2013: R&D Spending Ratio

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

2013: Launch of 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 Best Script 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: Launch of Green Economy Plan

In 2013, Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan, committing the country to meet 50% of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources by 2050. This plan was projected to increase GDP by 3% and create approximately 500,000 jobs.

2013: Population Increase

In 2013, Kazakhstan's population rose to 17,280,000, reflecting a 1.7% growth rate over the past year, as reported by the Kazakhstan Statistics Agency.

2013: Abandonment of Astana Metro System

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

2013: Entering Top 50 Most Competitive Countries

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

February 2014: Currency Devaluation

In February 2014, Kazakhstan devalued its currency by 19% due to a slowdown in economic growth sparked by falling oil prices and the effects of the Russo-Ukrainian War.

May 2014: EBRD and Kazakhstan Partnership

In May 2014, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kazakhstan created the partnership for Re-Energizing the Reform Process in Kazakhstan.

September 2014: Global Competitiveness Report

In September 2014, Kazakhstan maintained its position in the 2014–2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, ahead of other CIS states in almost all of the report's pillars of competitiveness.

2014: U.S. government report

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

2014: Tourism Contribution to GDP

As of 2014, tourism accounted for 0.3% of Kazakhstan's GDP.

2014: Almaty Submits Bid for Winter Olympics

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

2014: Kazakhstan's ranking on the World Press Freedom Index and cease publication order to Assandi-Times newspaper

In 2014, Kazakhstan was ranked 161 out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. Also in early 2014, a court issued a cease publication order to the small-circulation Assandi-Times newspaper.

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 and an eight-year exemption from property tax.

2014: Description of Tourism in Kazakhstan

In 2014, The Guardian described tourism in Kazakhstan as "hugely underdeveloped."

2014: Restrictions on Freedom

In 2014, authorities in Kazakhstan closed newspapers, jailed or fined individuals after peaceful protests, and penalized worshipers for practicing religion outside state controls.

2014: End of the First Five-Year Plan

In 2014, the first five-year plan (2010-2014) concluded, with its focus on developing industrial capacity.

January 2015: Announcement of Latin Alphabet Transition

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

February 2015: Signing of Mutual Legal Assistance 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 Banks' Group of Executive Directors approved a $100 million loan for the Skills and Job project in Kazakhstan to provide training to unemployed and other people in need of training.

May 2015: Agreement Signed to Resume Astana Metro Project

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

August 2015: Currency Devaluation

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

2015: Rule of Law Index Ranking

In 2015, Kazakhstan's global rank in the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index was 65 out of 102, scoring well on "Order and Security" and poorly on "Constraints on Government Powers", "Open Government" and "Fundamental Rights".

2015: Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020 Issued

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

2015: Kazakhstan's Investment Climate

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

2015: Human Rights Watch report

In its 2015 report, Human Rights Watch stated that "Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly, speech, and religion."

2015: Joined World Trade Organization

Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organization in 2015.

2015: Global Competitiveness Report

Kazakhstan maintained its position in the 2014–2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report.

2015: R&D Spending Target

One of the targets of the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development was to raise Kazakhstan's expenditure on research and development to 1% of GDP by 2015.

December 2016: Commencement of Khorgos Eastern Gate SEZ 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

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: Opening of Astana Nurly Zhol railway station

On May 31, 2017, 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 center in Kazakhstan. This center is the only one of its kind in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

2017: OECD Report on Kazakhstan

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 Industry GDP

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

2017: Tourist Arrivals Ranking

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

2017: Comparison for Trade Turnover

Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover grew in 2018 by 19.7% compared 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 in Kazakhstan.

2018: Alstom's presence in Kazakhstan

As of 2018, Alstom had more than 600 staff and two joint ventures with KTZ and its subsidiary in Kazakhstan, highlighting its significant involvement in the country's railway infrastructure.

2018: Digitization of Records

By 2018, Kazakhstan intended to digitize all investigative, prosecutorial, and court records to increase transparency in the criminal justice and court system and improve human rights.

2018: Increase in FDI

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

2018: GDP and Growth Rate

In 2018, Kazakhstan had a GDP of $179.332 billion and an annual growth rate of 4.5%, with a per capita GDP of $9,686.

2018: Foreign Trade Turnover

In 2018, Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover was $93.5 billion, a 19.7% increase from 2017. Exports reached $67 billion, and imports were $32.5 billion.

2018: Launch of Digital Kazakhstan Program

In 2018, the Digital Kazakhstan program was launched to boost economic growth through the implementation of digital technologies.

2018: Economic Freedom Index Ranking

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

March 2019: Nazarbayev's resignation

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

May 2019: Population of Kazakhstan

In May 2019, the US Census Bureau International Database listed the population of Kazakhstan as 18.9 million.

June 2019: Tokayev took office

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

2019: Goal to Develop Export Markets

By 2019, the goal is to develop export markets for products like cars and locomotives.

2019: Capital renamed Nur-Sultan

In 2019, Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan.

2019: Debt to GDP Ratio

In 2019, Kazakhstan's ratio of total governmental debt to GDP rose to 19.2%.

2019: Nazarbayev's Resignation Speech

In Nazarbayev's resignation speech of 2019, he projected that the people of Kazakhstan in the future will speak three languages (Kazakh, Russian and English).

2019: WEF Ranking

In the World Economic Forum's 2019 report, Kazakhstan was ranked 80th in travel and tourism competitiveness.

2019: Resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev

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

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 Kazakhstan's tourism industry.

2020: Tourism GDP Target

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

2020: Business 2020 Roadmap

In 2020 the Business 2020 roadmap for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was under development to allocate grants to SMEs and provide microcredit.

2020: Doing Business Report Ranking

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.

2021: Religious Demographics

According to the 2021 census, 69.3% of the population is Muslim and 17.2% are Christian.

2021: Language Proficiency in Kazakhstan

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

2022: Almaty Submits Bid for Winter Olympics

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

2022: UN Population Estimate

The 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects by the United Nations estimates Kazakhstan's population at 19,196,465.

November 2023: Population of Kazakhstan Reaches 20 Million

In November 2023, official estimates put the population of Kazakhstan at 20 million.

2023: Press Freedom Index Ranking

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

2024: Kazakhstan Ranks 25th in Global Hunger Index

In 2024, Kazakhstan ranks 25th out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI), indicating a low level of hunger with a GHI score of 5.3.

2024: Press Freedom Index Ranking

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

2024: Corruption Perception Index Score

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

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

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

2025: Ethnic Composition of Kazakhstan

As of 2025, ethnic Kazakhs constitute 71.3% of the population, while ethnic Russians account for 14.6%.

2025: Transition to Latin Alphabet

The Kazakh language is scheduled to transition from Cyrillic to the Latin alphabet by 2025.

2030: Shift to a "Green Economy"

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

2030: UNESCO Science Report

In 2030, the UNESCO Science Report was published.

2050: Kazakhstan's Goal to be Among Top 30 Economies

By 2050, Kazakhstan aims to be among the top 30 economies, evolving into a knowledge economy. This is according to the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy.

2050: Green Economy Plan Goal

By 2050, Kazakhstan's Green Economy Plan committed to meeting 50% of the country's energy needs from alternative and renewable sources.

2050: Establishment of New Industries

By 2050, new industries will be established in fields such as mobile, multi-media, nano- and space technologies, robotics, genetic engineering and alternative energy.