Full History Of Kazakhstan In Timeline From 1904

1904: Death of Abai Qunanbaiuly

Abai Qunanbaiuly (1845–1904), a key figure in modern Kazakh literature, died in 1904, leaving behind writings that preserved Kazakh folk culture.

1906: Completion of the Trans-Aral Railway

In 1906, the number of settlers in Kazakhstan rose 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, written in Arabic script, was published between 1911 and 1915.

1913: Publication of Qazaq

In 1913, the literary magazine Qazaq was first published and was published until 1918.

1915: Publication of Ay Qap

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

1916: Central Asian Revolt

In 1916, the Central Asian revolt occurred, with Kazakhs attacking Russian and Cossack settlers and military garrisons, leading to clashes and massacres.

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 the 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, the Alash Orda government was formed as an attempt to secure Kazakh autonomy.

1918: Publication of Qazaq

In 1918, the literary magazine Qazaq was published.

1919: Resistance to Communist Government

Until late 1919, both sides resisted the communist government.

August 1920: Establishment of the Kirghiz ASSR

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

1920: Incorporation into the Soviet Union

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

1920: Aleksandr Zatayevich created major works of art music

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

June 1925: Renaming of Kirghiz ASSR to 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: Famine Deaths

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

April 1927: Administrative Centre Transfer to Alma-Ata

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

1928: Adaption of traditional Kazakh instruments

Beginning in 1928 and accelerating in the 1930s, Aleksandr Zatayevich adapted traditional Kazakh instruments for use in Russian-style ensembles, such as by increasing the number of frets and strings.

1931: Kazakhs start to write their own music in notation

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

1931: Foundation of Musical-Dramatic Training College

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

1932: Famine in Kazakhstan

Soviet policies, including forced collectivization in the late 1920s and 1930s, led to widespread famine in Kazakhstan of 1932–33 and high fatalities.

December 1936: Establishment of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

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

1936: Elevation to Union Republic Status

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

1939: Famine Deaths

An estimated 1.5 million deaths occurred between 1926 and 1939, 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.

1941: Start of Soviet-German War and industrialisation increase

The Soviet-German War which started in 1941 led to an increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction to support the war effort.

1945: End of Soviet-German War

The Soviet-German War ended in 1945, after increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction to support the war effort.

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 Semipalatinsk test site.

1953: Initiation of Virgin Lands Campaign

In 1953, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev initiated the Virgin Lands Campaign designed to turn the traditional pasturelands of Kazakhstan into a major grain-producing region for the Soviet Union.

1959: Ethnic Composition Shift

By 1959, after decades of privation, war and resettlement, the Kazakhs had become a minority, making up 30% of the population, while Ethnic Russians accounted for 43%.

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: Modernisations under Leonid Brezhnev

Modernisations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev (in power 1964–1982), accelerated the development of the agricultural sector.

1965: Tram network began service in Almaty

In 1965, an 86 km tram network began service in Almaty. As of 2012, it consisted of 20 regular and 3 special routes.

1977: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins the Soviet Union national championships

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

1978: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins the European Cup

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

1982: Modernisations under Leonid Brezhnev

Modernisations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev (in power 1964–1982), 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, called the Jeltoqsan riot, took place in Almaty to protest the replacement of Dinmukhamed Konayev with Gennady Kolbin.

1989: End of Nuclear Tests

Hundreds of nuclear tests were conducted until 1989 in Kazakhstan, leading to adverse environmental and population consequences.

1989: Ethnic Russians in the 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: Start of population decline

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

October 1990: Declaration of Sovereignty

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

1990: Increase in Religious Associations

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. Hundreds of mosques, churches, and other religious structures were built in the span of a few years, with the number of religious associations rising from 670 in 1990 to 4,170 today.

1990: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins the Soviet Union national championships

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

1990: Expansion of armoured units

Since 1990, Kazakhstan has focused on expanding its armoured units, growing from 500 to 1,613 by 2005.

August 1991: Failed Coup Attempt in Moscow

Following the failed August 1991 coup attempt in Moscow, Kazakhstan proclaimed full independence on 16 December 1991.

December 1991: Proclamation of Full Independence

On 16 December 1991, Kazakhstan proclaimed full independence, becoming the last Soviet republic to do so, ten days before the Soviet Union dissolved.

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, most of the Germans in Kazakhstan emigrated to Germany.

1991: Foreign Investment Since Independence

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

1991: Nursultan Nazarbayev led Kazakhstan

From 1991 Kazakhstan was led by Nursultan Nazarbayev.

1991: Declaration of Independence

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

1991: Independence and Multi-vector foreign policy

Since 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

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

1992: Establishment of the national basketball team

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

1992: Kazakhstan Hockey Championship held since 1992

The Kazakhstan Hockey Championship is held since 1992.

1993: Tengizchevroil Venture

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

1993: Foreign investment in Kazakhstan

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

1996: Vassiliy Jirov wins Val Barker Trophy

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

1996: Kazzinc-Torpedo plays in the Supreme Hockey League since 1996

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

December 1997: Capital relocated to Astana

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

1997: Legalization of Homosexuality

Homosexuality has been legal in Kazakhstan since 1997, although it is still 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.

1998: Kazakhstan competes in ice hockey at the 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 population reported in the last census from January 1999, was 6.8% lower than the population estimated in 2009.

1999: Kazakhstan applied 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: Kazakhstan's boxing success at the Sydney Olympics

During 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: High GDP growth figures

From 2000 to 2007, Kazakhstan experienced high GDP growth figures, ranging from 8.9% to 13.5%.

2000: Eurasian Economic Community established

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

2000: Governmental Debt to GDP Ratio

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

2001: Governmental Debt to GDP Ratio

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

March 2002: Market Economy Status

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

March 2002: Court orders Respublika to stop printing

In mid-March 2002, a court order forced Respublika to stop printing for three months, which was evaded by printing under other titles.

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 state's interests 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: Harvest volume

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

2002: Increase in oil and gas exports and gas production

In 2003, Kazakhstan raised oil and gas condensate exports to 44.3 million tons, a 13% increase from 2002. Gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 13.9 billion cubic meters, a 22.7% increase compared to 2002.

2002: Joint tactical peacekeeping exercise "Steppe Eagle"

Since 2002, the joint tactical peacekeeping exercise "Steppe Eagle" is hosted by the Kazakhstan government. It focuses on building coalitions and provides opportunities for nations to collaborate, particularly the KAZBAT peacekeeping battalion, operating within a multinational force under unified command, involving NATO and the U.S. Military.

April 2003: Adoption of New Customs Code

On 5 April 2003, Kazakhstan adopted a new customs code as part of its ongoing reforms.

June 2003: Adoption of New Land Code

In June 2003, Kazakhstan furthered its reforms by adopting a new land code.

November 2003: Law on Changes to Tax Code

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, with total governmental debt at $4.2 billion, representing 14% of GDP.

2003: Harvest volume

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

2003: Increase in oil and gas exports and gas production

In 2003, Kazakhstan raised oil and gas condensate exports to 44.3 million tons, a 13% increase from 2002. Gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 13.9 billion cubic meters, a 22.7% increase compared to 2002.

2003: Dmitry Karpov wins bronze in World Athletics Championships

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

2004: Bakhtiyar Artayev wins Val Barker Trophy

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

2004: Dmitry Karpov wins bronze in Summer Olympics

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

2004: Parliamentary Elections

In the 2004 parliamentary elections, the pro-government Otan Party dominated the Majilis, and other parties sympathetic to the president secured most of the remaining seats.

2005: Armoured units expansion

By 2005, Kazakhstan's armoured units had expanded from 500 to 1,613 since 1990, marking a significant increase in military capacity.

2005: Kazakhstan listed as a corruption hotspot

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

2005: Economic Growth in Kazakhstan Since 2005

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

July 2006: Reduction of Personal Income Tax

On 7 July 2006, Kazakhstan further reduced the personal income tax 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 knocking out Hasim Rahman.

2006: Economic Contribution to the Region

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

2006: Privatization of 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 the Winter Olympics and World Championships

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

December 2007: Kazakhstan chosen to chair OSCE in 2010

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: High GDP growth figures

From 2000 to 2007, Kazakhstan experienced high GDP growth figures, ranging from 8.9% to 13.5%.

2007: Best finish at the FIBA Asia Cup

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

2007: Dmitry Karpov wins bronze in World Athletics Championships

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

2007: System-wide loans at 59% of GDP

Kazakhstan's total system-wide loans reached 59% of GDP in 2007, prior to the collapse in 2008.

2008: Financial crisis impact

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

2008: Collapse of Banking Sector due to Financial Crisis

In 2008, Kazakhstan's banking sector experienced a collapse due to the 2008 financial crisis. Several major banks defaulted, leading to significant contraction and restructuring.

2008: Barys Astana transfers to the Kontinental Hockey League

In the 2008–09 season, Barys Astana, the main domestic Kazakhstani ice hockey professional team, was transferred from the Kazakhstani national league to play in the Kontinental Hockey League.

2009: Christian Demographics

According to the 2009 Census data, there are few Christians outside 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: Government support measures

In 2009, Kazakhstan's government introduced large-scale support measures such as bank recapitalization, support for the real estate and agricultural sectors, and SMEs, totaling $21 billion or 20% of GDP.

2009: Constitutional Council Declaration

In 2009, the Constitutional Council affirmed religious freedoms, declaring a proposed law limiting religious practice unconstitutional.

2009: Kazakh air carriers blacklisted

In 2009, the European Commission blacklisted all Kazakh air carriers except for Air Astana. Kazakhstan then took measures to modernize and revamp its air safety oversight.

2009: Population Estimate

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

April 2010: Nazarbayev and Obama met at Nuclear Security Summit

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: 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: Innovation Expenditure

Between 2010 and 2011, innovation expenditure more than doubled in Kazakhstan, representing KZT 235 billion (circa US$1.6 billion), or around 1.1% of GDP.

2010: GDP growth recovery

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

2010: Kazakhstan to chair OSCE

In 2010, Kazakhstan chaired the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

2010: Kazakhstan Joins The Region Initiative

In 2010, Kazakhstan joined The Region Initiative (TRI) to network with tourism-related organizations in South Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.

2010: Authoritarian Regime Ranking

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

2010: State Programme adopted to raise R&D expenditure

In 2010, the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development was adopted with one of its targets being to raise the country's level of expenditure on research and development to 1% of GDP by 2015.

2010: Focus on developing industrial capacity

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

2011: System-wide loans declined to 39% of GDP

By 2011, Kazakhstan's total system-wide loans had declined to 39% of GDP, following the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent restructuring.

2011: Innovation expenditure doubled

In 2011, Innovation expenditure more than doubled in Kazakhstan, representing KZT 235 billion (circa US$1.6 billion), or around 1.1% of GDP, with 11% spent on research and development.

2011: Economic growth recovery

In 2011, Kazakhstan's economy increased by 7.5%, recovering from a contraction of 1.2% in 2009 during the Great Recession.

2011: Olga Rypakova wins silver in World Championships in Athletics

In 2011, Olga Rypakova won silver in the World Championships in Athletics for triple jump.

2011: Switzerland confiscated 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.

January 2012: Pension Assets

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

April 2012: ABA Rule of Law Initiative program

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

November 2012: Kazakhstan elected to UN Human Rights Council

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

December 2012: President Announces Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

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 in 2012

As of 2012, Almaty's 86 km tram network, which began service in 1965, had 20 regular and 3 special routes.

2012: Foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan

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

2012: Railway Infrastructure in 2012

In 2012, Kazakhstan had 15,333 km of common carrier railway service, excluding industrial lines, with 4,000 km electrified. Most cities were connected by railroad, and high-speed trains could travel from Almaty to Petropavl in about 18 hours.

2012: Bronze medal at the Bandy World Championship

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

2012: Kazakhstan ranked low in corruption index

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: Economic growth

In 2012, Kazakhstan's economy grew by 5% after increasing in 2011.

2012: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production

In 2012, Kazakhstan's production of crude oil and natural gas condensate amounted to 79.2 million tonnes, up from 51.2 million tonnes in 2003.

2012: Serik Sapiyev wins Val Barker Trophy

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

2012: Olga Rypakova wins gold in Summer Olympics

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

2012: Saryarka Karagandy plays in the Supreme Hockey League since 2012

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

October 2013: Kazakhstan accepted as "EITI Compliant"

On 17 October 2013, Kazakhstan was accepted by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) as "EITI Compliant", indicating the country has a functional process for the regular disclosure of natural resource revenues.

December 2013: Support for UN Peacekeeping forces

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

2013: Public Debt Increase

By 2013, Kazakhstan's public debt increased to 13.4% of GDP, up from 8.7% in 2008 due to the financial crisis response.

2013: China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in which Kazakhstan serves as a transit hub for trade and infrastructure development.

2013: Kazakhstan Achieved Goal of Entering Top 50 Most Competitive Countries

In 2013, Kazakhstan achieved its goal of entering the top 50 most competitive countries globally.

2013: Artur Platonov wins Best Script at Cannes for "Sold Souls"

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.

2013: Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan

In 2013, Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan, committing to meet 50% of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources by 2050. The plan aimed to increase GDP by 3% and create approximately 500,000 jobs, with the government setting prices for energy from renewable sources.

2013: R&D expenditure at 0.18% of GDP

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

2013: Kazakhstan Population Increase

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

2013: Astana Metro Construction Abandoned

In 2013, construction of the Astana Metro system was abandoned at one point before resuming in May 2015.

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.

March 2014: Kazakhstan selects observers for UN peacekeeping missions

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

May 2014: Partnership for Re-Energizing the Reform Process in Kazakhstan created

In May 2014, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kazakhstan established the partnership for Re-Energizing the Reform Process in Kazakhstan, channeling US$2.7 billion provided by the Kazakh government into key sectors of the economy.

September 2014: Kazakhstan maintained top 50 position

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

October 2014: Kazakhstan donates to Red Cross for Ukraine

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

According to a U.S. government report released in 2014, specific details regarding Kazakhstan were provided.

2014: Tourism accounted for 0.3% of Kazakhstan's GDP

As of 2014, tourism accounted for 0.3% of Kazakhstan's GDP, with government plans to increase it to 3% by 2020.

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

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

2014: Almaty's bid for the Winter Olympics

In 2014, Kazakhstan's city of Almaty submitted bids for the Winter Olympics.

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: Tourism "hugely underdeveloped" according to The Guardian

In 2014, The Guardian described tourism in Kazakhstan as "hugely underdeveloped" due to factors such as high prices, "shabby infrastructure," "poor service," and travel difficulties.

2014: Restrictions on Freedoms

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

2014: Kazakhstan began bidding for UN Security Council seat

In 2014, the Kazakhstani government began bidding for a non-permanent member seat on the UN Security Council for 2017-2018.

2014: Focus on developing industrial capacity

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

January 2015: Kazakhstan sends 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 will replace Cyrillic as the writing system for the Kazakh language by 2025.

January 2015: Kazakhstan releases statement on Ukraine crisis

On 26 January 2015, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement advocating for peace negotiations as the way to resolve the crisis in south-eastern Ukraine.

February 2015: Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty signed with the FBI

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, unproductively self-employed, and employees in need of training.

May 2015: Agreement signed to resume Astana Metro construction

In May 2015, an agreement was signed to resume the construction of the Astana Metro system, which had been abandoned at one point in 2013.

August 2015: Currency Devaluation

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

2015: Target date for R&D expenditure

By 2015, Kazakhstan aimed to raise the country's level of expenditure on research and development to 1% of GDP, as outlined in the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development adopted in 2010.

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. The country scored well on "Order and Security" (global rank 32/102) but poorly on "Constraints on Government Powers" (93/102), "Open Government" (85/102) and "Fundamental Rights" (84/102).

2015: Gold production in Kazakhstan

In 2015, Kazakhstan's gold production reached 64 metric tonnes, highlighting its significant mineral resources.

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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 and attract $4 billion in investment, creating 300,000 new jobs by 2020.

2015: Kazakhstan considered to have best investment climate

In 2015, the U.S. State Department stated that Kazakhstan was widely 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" and described the government as authoritarian.

2015: Maintained position in top 50 competitive countries

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

2015: World Trade Organization Membership

Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organization in 2015, potentially opening its markets to billions of people via increased global trade and its central position on the new Silk Road.

June 2016: Kazakhstan elected 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 Officially Commenced Operations

In December 2016, the Khorgos Eastern Gate Special Economic Zone (SEZ), surrounding the Khorgos Gateway dry port, officially commenced operations.

2016: Kazakh airlines removed from EU blacklist

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

2016: Human Rights Watch Report on Kazakhstan

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 opened

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

July 2017: Alstom opened its first locomotive repairing centre

In July 2017, Alstom inaugurated its first locomotive repairing centre in Kazakhstan, becoming the sole center of its kind in Central Asia and the Caucasus region.

2017: OECD report on Kazakhstan's 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 industry GDP in Kazakhstan

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, which was only 1.6% of the country's total GDP.

2017: Kazakhstan ranked 43rd in tourist arrivals

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

2017: Kazakhstan served on UN Security Council

Kazakhstan served as a non-permanent member to serve on the UN Security Council for a two-year term beginning in 2017.

2017: Increase in foreign trade turnover

Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover experienced a 19.7% increase in 2018, reaching $93.5 billion compared to 2017.

2017: OECD Investment Policy Review on Kazakhstan

The OECD's 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.

June 2018: Shymkent gained status as a "city of republican significance"

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

2018: Alstom's presence in Kazakhstan in 2018

As of 2018, Alstom had over 600 employees and two joint ventures with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and its subsidiary in Kazakhstan, highlighting their collaboration in developing Kazakhstan's railway infrastructure.

2018: Digitization of Justice System

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

2018: FDI directed into Kazakhstan

In 2018, $24 billion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was directed into Kazakhstan, marking a significant increase since 2012.

2018: Economic Freedom Index Ranking

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

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: Kazakhstan signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

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

2018: Foreign Trade Turnover

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

2018: Launch of Digital Kazakhstan program

In 2018, the Digital Kazakhstan program was launched to boost the country's economic growth through the implementation of digital technologies. Kazakhstan's digitization efforts generated 800 billion tenges (US$1.97 billion) in two years.

2018: Kazakhstan served on UN Security Council

Kazakhstan served as a non-permanent member to serve on the UN Security Council for a two-year term, concluding in 2018.

March 2019: Nazarbayev's Resignation

On 19 March 2019, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had ruled since independence, 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 listed the population of Kazakhstan as 18.9 million.

June 2019: Tokayev elected and established National Council of Public Trust

In June 2019, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was elected and established the National Council of Public Trust as a public platform to discuss government policies and reforms.

June 2019: Tokayev Takes Office

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won the 2019 presidential election and took office on 12 June 2019, renaming the capital city to Nur-Sultan.

July 2019: President announces 'listening state' concept

In July 2019, the President of Kazakhstan announced a concept of a 'listening state' that quickly and efficiently responds to all constructive requests of the country's citizens.

2019: Goal to develop export markets

During the second five-year plan to 2019, the goal is to develop export markets for car manufacturing, aircraft engineering and the production of locomotives, passenger and cargo railroad cars.

2019: Capital Renamed Nur-Sultan

In 2019, Astana was later renamed Nur-Sultan.

2019: Tokayev succeeded Nazarbayev

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: Governmental Debt to GDP Ratio

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

2019: Resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev

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

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: Kazakhstan ranked 80th in WEF report

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

March 2020: Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan announced

On 6 March 2020, the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 was announced, outlining key foreign policy principles.

2020: Goals of Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020

By 2020, the "Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020", issued in 2015, aimed to establish five tourism clusters, attract $4 billion in investment, and create 300,000 new jobs in the tourism industry.

2020: Target year for increasing tourism contribution to GDP

By 2020, the Kazakh government had plans to increase the contribution of tourism to 3% of the country's GDP, up from 0.3% in 2014.

2020: Freedom House rating of Kazakhstan

In 2020, Freedom House rated Kazakhstan as a "consolidated authoritarian regime", highlighting concerns about freedom of speech and fair elections.

2020: Development of Business 2020 roadmap

In 2020, 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.

2020: Kazakhstan ranked 25th in Doing Business Report

In the 2020 Doing Business Report by the World Bank, Kazakhstan was 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 in Kazakhstan is Muslim, 17.2% are Christian, and a small percentage follow other religions or identify as atheist.

2021: Language Proficiency Statistics

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

January 2022: Large-scale protests and Tokayev's response

In January 2022, Kazakhstan experienced large-scale protests sparked by a sharp increase in fuel prices. President Tokayev responded by assuming control of the Security Council and removing Nazarbayev from his post, consolidating his own power.

February 2022: Kazakhstan pursued independent foreign policy

Based on outlined principles, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kazakhstan has increasingly pursued an independent foreign policy.

September 2022: Capital name reverted to Astana

In September 2022, the capital city's name was changed back to Astana. This action was part of a broader effort to distance the country from the influence of former president Nazarbayev.

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 reform package to decentralize power.

2022: Almaty's bid for the Winter Olympics

In 2022, Kazakhstan's city of Almaty submitted bids for the Winter Olympics.

2022: Population of Kazakhstan (United Nations)

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 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: Global Peace Index ranking

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

2024: Transparency International's 2024 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 described Kazakhstan an electoral autocracy

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

2025: Ethnic Composition

As of 2025, ethnic Kazakhs are 71.3% of the population and ethnic Russians are 14.6%.

2025: Target date for Latin alphabet implementation

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

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, the UNESCO Science Report was released.

2030: Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020-2030

On 6 March 2020, the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 was announced, outlining key foreign policy principles up to 2030.

2050: Target year for 50% renewable energy

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

2050: New industries 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.

2050: Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

In 2050, the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy is meant to hoist Kazakhstan among the top 30 economies.

2050: Target of devoting 3% of GDP to research and development

The Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy fixes a target of devoting 3% of GDP to research and development by 2050 to allow for the development of new high-tech sectors.