Full History Of Kazakhstan In Timeline From 1904

1904: Death of Abai Qunanbaiuly

Abai Qunanbaiuly (1845–1904) died in 1904. He played a preeminent role in the development of modern literary Kazakh.

1906: Completion of the Trans-Aral Railway

The number of settlers from the Russian Empire rose in Kazakhstan once the Trans-Aral Railway from Orenburg to Tashkent was completed in 1906.

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

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

1913: Publication of Qazaq magazine

The literary magazine Qazaq was published between 1913 and 1918.

1915: Publication of Ay Qap magazine

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

1916: Central Asian revolt

In 1916, the most serious uprising, the Central Asian revolt, occurred where the Kazakhs attacked 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.

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.

1918: Publication of Qazaq magazine

The literary magazine Qazaq was published between 1913 and 1918.

1919: Resistance against communist government ends

In 1919, resistance by both sides of the Central Asian revolt against the communist government ended.

August 1920: Establishment of the Kirghiz ASSR

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

1920: Aleksandr Zatayevich created 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: Renaming of the Kirghiz 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 traditional Kazakh instruments

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

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.

1931: Kazakhs music in notation

The Kazakhs themselves, however, did not write their own music in notation until 1931.

1932: Famine in Kazakhstan

Soviet repression and forced collectivisation in the late 1920s and 1930s caused famine and high fatalities. See also: Famine in Kazakhstan of 1932–33.

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 and made the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, a full union republic of the USSR.

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 to Kazakhstan.

1941: Start of the Soviet-German War

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

1945: End of the Soviet-German War

The Soviet-German War ended in 1945.

1947: Foundation of the 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 in Kazakhstan.

1953: Initiation of the Virgin Lands Campaign

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

1959: Kazakhs become a minority

By 1959, due to decades of privation, war, and resettlement, Kazakhs had become a minority in Kazakhstan, making up 30 percent of the population. Ethnic Russians accounted for 43 percent.

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

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

1977: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins Soviet Union national championships

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

1978: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins European Cup

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

1982: Leonid Brezhnev in power

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

1984: State Museum of Art Renamed

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

December 1986: Jeltoqsan riot

In December 1986, the Jeltoqsan riot took place in Almaty as young ethnic Kazakhs protested the replacement of Dinmukhamed Konayev with Gennady Kolbin.

1989: End of nuclear tests in Kazakhstan

Hundreds of nuclear tests were conducted in Kazakhstan until 1989, leading to the rise of the Anti-nuclear movement as a major political force.

1989: Ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan

In 1989, ethnic Russians comprised 37.8 percent of Kazakhstan's population, and Kazakhs held a majority in only 7 of the country's 20 regions.

1989: Population Decline Arrested

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

October 1990: Declaration of Sovereignty

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

1990: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins Soviet Union national championships

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

1990: Increase in Religious Activity

In 1990, there were 670 religious associations. Since then, the free practice of religious beliefs and the establishment of full freedom of religion led to an increase of religious activity.

1990: Army Expands

Since 1990, armored units in the Kazakhstan Army have expanded from 500 to 1,613.

August 1991: Failed coup attempt in Moscow

Following the failed August 1991 coup attempt in Moscow, Kazakhstan moved towards full independence.

December 1991: Declaration of full independence

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

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

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

1991: Leadership change

From 1991, Nursultan Nazarbayev led the country.

1991: Kazakhstan declares independence

In 1991, Kazakhstan was the last constituent republic of the Soviet Union to declare independence during its dissolution.

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: National Security Committee Established

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

1992: Establishment of National Basketball Team

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

1992: Kazakhstan Hockey Championship

The Kazakhstan Hockey Championship is held since 1992.

1993: Joint Development of Tengiz Field

In 1993, the Tengiz Field was jointly developed as a 40-year Tengizchevroil venture between Chevron Texaco, US ExxonMobil, KazMunayGas, and LukArco.

1993: Foreign Investment

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

1996: Vassiliy Jirov recognised as the best boxer

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

1996: Kazzinc-Torpedo Plays in Supreme Hockey League

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

December 1997: Capital Relocation

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

1997: Capital moved to Astana

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

1997: Legalization of Homosexuality in Kazakhstan

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

1998: Pension Reform Program Instituted

Kazakhstan instituted a pension reform program in 1998.

1998: Kazakhstan in Winter Olympics

The Kazakh national ice hockey team competed in ice hockey in the 1998 Winter Olympics.

January 1999: Census Data

In January 1999, a census was conducted in Kazakhstan.

1999: Council of Europe Application

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

2000: GDP Growth Figures

From 2000 to 2007, Kazakhstan experienced GDP growth figures between 8.9 percent and 13.5 percent.

2000: Eurasian Economic Community

In 2000, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Economic Community to harmonise trade tariffs and create a free trade zone.

2000: Ratio of Total Governmental Debt to GDP

In 2000, the ratio of total governmental debt to GDP was 21.7 percent.

2000: Kazakhstan performs well in the Summer Olympics

In the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Kazakhstan performed well in boxing. Bekzat Sattarkhanov and Yermakhan Ibraimov earned gold medals, while Bulat Zhumadilov and Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov earned silver medals.

2001: Ratio of Total Governmental Debt to GDP

In 2001, the ratio of total governmental debt to GDP was 17.5 percent.

March 2002: Kazakhstan Granted Market Economy Status by U.S.

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 resources.

March 2002: Court order to stop printing for three months

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: 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: Grain Harvest in Kazakhstan

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

2002: Oil and Gas Production and Exports

In 2002, Kazakhstan raised oil and gas condensate exports to 44.3 million tons, 13 percent less than in 2003. Gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 13.9 billion cubic metres.

2002: Bronze Medal at Asian Games

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

2002: Steppe Eagle Exercise

Since 2002, the joint tactical peacekeeping exercise "Steppe Eagle" has been hosted by the Kazakhstan government.

April 2003: Adoption of New Customs Code

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

June 2003: Adoption of New Land Code

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 was adopted, reducing the value added tax from 16% to 15%, the social tax from 21 percent to 20 percent, and the personal income tax from 30 percent to 20 percent.

December 2003: Kazakhstan's 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, 14% of GDP.

2003: Dmitry Karpov wins bronze at World Athletics Championships

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

2003: Grain Harvest in Kazakhstan

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

2003: Oil and Gas Production and Exports

In 2003, Kazakhstan raised oil and gas condensate exports to 44.3 million tons, 13 percent higher than in 2002. Gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 13.9 billion cubic metres.

2004: Bakhtiyar Artayev recognised as the best boxer

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

2004: Parliamentary elections

In 2004, the pro-government Otan Party, led by Nazarbayev, dominated the Majilis during the parliamentary elections. International observers criticized the elections for not meeting democratic standards.

2004: Dmitry Karpov wins bronze at Summer Olympics

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

2005: Army Expands

By 2005, the Kazakhstan Army has expanded their armored units to 1,613, since 1990.

2005: Kazakhstan Listed as a Corruption Hotspot in 2005

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

2005: Economy Progress since 2005

Since 2005, the economy has grown faster (by 6 percent in 2013) than gross domestic expenditure on research and development, which only progressed from PPP$598 million to PPP$714 million between 2005 and 2013.

July 2006: Further Reduction of Personal Income Tax

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

August 2006: Oleg Maskaev becomes WBC Heavyweight Champion

On 12 August 2006, Oleg Maskaev, representing Russia, became the WBC Heavyweight Champion after knocking out Hasim Rahman.

2006: Kazakhstan's economic contribution to Central Asia

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, the State Accumulating Pension Fund, the only state-owned fund, was privatized.

2006: Kazakhstan in Winter Olympics

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

December 2007: OSCE Chairmanship

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

From 2000 to 2007, Kazakhstan experienced GDP growth figures between 8.9 percent and 13.5 percent.

2007: Dmitry Karpov wins bronze at World Athletics Championships

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

2007: Best Finish at FIBA Asia Cup

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

2007: System-wide Loans Dropping to 39 percent of GDP

System-wide loans dropped from 59 percent of GDP in 2007 to 39 percent in 2011.

2008: GDP Growth Figures

In 2008 and 2009, Kazakhstan's GDP growth decreased to 1 to 3 percent.

2008: Public Debt Increase

In 2008, public debt was 8.7 percent.

2008: Banking Industry Collapse in 2008

The banking industry of Kazakhstan collapsed in 2008 after several years of rapid expansion in the mid-2000s. Several large banking groups, including BTA Bank J.S.C. and Alliance Bank, defaulted soon thereafter.

2008: Barys Astana Transferred to Kontinental Hockey League

Until the 2008–09 season, Barys Astana played in the Kazakhstani national league, after which they were transferred to 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: GDP Growth Figures

In 2008 and 2009, Kazakhstan's GDP growth decreased to 1 to 3 percent.

2009: Oil Production

In 2009, Kazakhstan was producing approximately 1,540,000 barrels (245,000 m) of oil per day according to the US Energy Information Administration.

2009: Constitutional Rights Affirmed

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 declared unconstitutional.

2009: Government Introduced 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).

2009: Population Estimate

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

April 2010: Nazarbayev and Obama meet at Nuclear Security Summit

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

2010: Economic Competitiveness Ranking in 2010

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

2010: GDP Growth Figures

From 2010, Kazakhstan's GDP growth figures started rising again.

2010: Kazakhstan Joins The Region Initiative (TRI)

In 2010, Kazakhstan joined The Region Initiative (TRI) to strengthen its tourism networking.

2010: Kazakhstan ranked as authoritarian regime

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

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

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

2010: OSCE Chairmanship

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

2010: Adoption of the State Programme for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development

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 percent of GDP by 2015.

2010: First Five-Year Plan (2010-2014) Focus

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: Annual Growth Rate Increased

In 2011 and 2012, Kazakhstan's annual growth rate increased to 7.5 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

2011: Astana and Almaty host Asian Winter Games

In 2011, Astana and Almaty hosted the Asian Winter Games.

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.

2011: Confiscation of Kazakhstani Assets in Switzerland

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

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

2011: System-wide Loans Dropping to 39 percent of GDP

System-wide loans dropped from 59 percent of GDP in 2007 to 39 percent in 2011.

January 2012: Pension Assets in Kazakhstan

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

April 2012: ABA Rule of Law Initiative Program to Strengthen Judiciary

In April 2012, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative began a new program with funding from the US Agency for International Development, aimed at strengthening 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: Announcement of Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

In December 2012, President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy with the slogan "Strong Business, Strong State."

2012: Annual Growth Rate Increased

In 2011 and 2012, Kazakhstan's annual growth rate increased to 7.5 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

2012: Foreign Direct Investment in 2012

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

2012: Kazakhstan hosts Bandy World Championship

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

2012: Corruption Ranking and Perception in 2012

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: Production of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Condensate

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

2012: Serik Sapiyev recognised as the best boxer

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

2012: Railway Statistics

In 2012, railways provided 68 percent of all cargo and passenger traffic to over 57 percent of the country. There were 15,333 km in common carrier service, excluding industrial lines. Most cities are connected by railroad.

2012: Olga Rypakova wins gold at Summer Olympics

In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Olga Rypakova won gold in triple jump (women's).

2012: Saryarka Karagandy plays in Supreme Hockey League

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

October 2013: EITI Compliant

In October 2013, Kazakhstan was accepted as "EITI Compliant" by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, ensuring regular disclosure of natural resource revenues.

December 2013: Kazakhstan to send officers to support 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: R&D Expenditure in 2013

By 2013, the ratio of expenditure on research and development stood at 0.18 percent of GDP.

2013: China Launches Belt and Road Initiative in 2013

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

2013: Artur Platonov won Best Script 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: Launch of Green Economy Plan

In 2013, Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan, committing to meet 50 percent of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources by 2050.

2013: Population Growth in Kazakhstan

In 2013, Kazakhstan's population increased to 17,280,000, showing a 1.7 percent growth rate compared to the previous year, according to the Kazakhstan Statistics Agency.

2013: Public Debt Increase

In 2013, public debt increased to 13.4 per cent from 8.7 per cent in 2008.

2013: Goal of entering top 50 most competitive countries achieved in 2013

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

February 2014: Kazakhstan Currency Devaluation

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

March 2014: Peacekeeping Observers

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

May 2014: Kazakhstan Attracts $190 Billion in Foreign Investments

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: Competitiveness Report Published in September 2014

Kazakhstan has maintained its position in the 2014–2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report that was published at the beginning of September 2014.

October 2014: Humanitarian Aid to 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 on Kazakhstan

According to a U.S. government report released in 2014, detailed information regarding Kazakhstan was provided.

2014: Tourism Contribution to GDP in 2014

As of 2014, tourism accounted for 0.3 percent of Kazakhstan's GDP, but the government had plans to increase it to 3 percent by 2020.

2014: Almaty's Bid for Winter Olympics

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

2014: Tax Concessions for FDI

In 2014, President Nazarbayev signed into law tax concessions to promote foreign direct investment which included 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 Underdevelopment in Kazakhstan in 2014

In 2014, The Guardian described tourism in Kazakhstan as "hugely underdeveloped," despite the country's mountain, lake, and desert landscapes, citing high prices, "shabby infrastructure," "poor service," and travel difficulties as hampering factors.

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 remained in detention after unfair trials. New codes were adopted restricting fundamental freedoms, and torture remained common.

2014: Court issued a cease publication order to Assandi-Times newspaper

In early 2014, a court issued a cease publication order to the small-circulation Assandi-Times newspaper, saying it was a part of the Respublika group.

2014: UN Security Council Bid

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

2014: First Five-Year Plan (2010-2014) Focus

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: 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: Kazakh Language to Use Latin Alphabet

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 emphasizing that there is no alternative to peace negotiations as a way to resolve the crisis in south-eastern Ukraine.

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 Jobs Project

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

May 2015: Agreement Signed to Resume Astana Metro Project

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

August 2015: Kazakhstan Currency Devaluation

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

2015: Human Rights Watch Report on Kazakhstan

In 2015, Human Rights Watch reported that Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly, speech, and religion, describing the government as authoritarian. The report also indicated 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's Rank in World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index

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

2015: 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," aiming to establish five tourism clusters and seeking investment of $4 billion and the creation of 300,000 new jobs in the tourism industry by 2020.

2015: US State Department on Investment Climate

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

2015: Kazakhstan's position in the 2014-2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report

Kazakhstan has maintained its position in the 2014–2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report that was published at the beginning of September 2014.

2015: Kazakhstan Joins World Trade Organization

Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organization in 2015.

2015: Target of Raising R&D Expenditure to 1% of GDP by 2015

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 percent 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: Commencement of Khorgos Eastern Gate SEZ Operations

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

2016: Human Rights Watch Report on Kazakhstan

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

2016: Removal of Kazakh Airlines from EU Blacklist

In 2016, the 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.

May 2017: Opening of Astana Nurly Zhol railway station

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 would have the capacity to 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. It is the only repairing centre in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

2017: OECD Report on Anti-Corruption Reforms in 2017

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: Tourism Contribution to GDP in 2017

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, accounting for only 1.6 percent of total GDP.

2017: Kazakhstan's ranking in tourist arrivals in 2017

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

2017: Kazakhstan's Foreign Trade Turnover

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

2017: UN Security Council Term

Kazakhstan served as a non-permanent member on the UN Security Council for a two-year term starting 2017.

2017: OECD 2017 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: Şymkent Status Change

In June 2018, the city of Şymkent became a "city of republican significance".

2018: Foreign Direct Investment in 2018

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

2018: Kazakhstan's Ranking on Economic Freedom Index

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

2018: Kazakhstan's GDP and Annual Growth Rate in 2018

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

2018: Digitization of Records in Criminal Justice System

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

2018: UN Nuclear Treaty

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

2018: Kazakhstan's Foreign Trade Turnover

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

2018: Launch of the Digital Kazakhstan program

In 2018, the Digital Kazakhstan program was launched to stimulate Kazakhstan's economic growth through the adoption of digital technologies.

2018: UN Security Council Term

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

March 2019: Resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev

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

May 2019: Kazakhstan population

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

June 2019: Political Reforms

In June 2019, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev initiated reforms supporting a culture of opposition, public assembly, and relaxed rules on forming political parties and established the National Council of Public Trust.

June 2019: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev takes office

On June 12, 2019, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took office after winning the 2019 presidential election and his first official act was to rename the capital city to Nur-Sultan.

July 2019: 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: Second Five-Year Plan to 2019 Goal

During the second five-year plan to 2019, the goal is to develop export markets for these products.

2019: Astana renamed Nur-Sultan

In 2019, Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan.

2019: Leadership change

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

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

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 percent.

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: 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.

2019: Kazakhstan's Ranking in the WEF Report 2019

The WEF ranked Kazakhstan 80th in its 2019 report.

March 2020: Foreign Policy Concept

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

2020: Government Plans for Tourism by 2020

As of 2014, tourism accounted for 0.3 percent of Kazakhstan's GDP, and the government had plans to increase it to 3 percent by 2020.

2020: Tourism Development Plan 2020 Goals

In 2015, the Kazakh government issued a "Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020," aiming to establish five tourism clusters and seeking investment of $4 billion and the creation of 300,000 new jobs in the tourism industry by 2020.

2020: Freedom House Rating

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

2020: Kazakhstan Ranked as "Authoritarian Regime" in Democracy Index

In 2020, The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Kazakhstan as an "authoritarian regime" in its Democracy Index, placing it 128th out of 167 countries.

2020: Kazakhstan ranked 25th globally in Doing Business Report 2020

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 for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

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.

2021: Religious Demographics

According to the 2021 census, 69.3% of the population is Muslim, 17.2% are Christian, 0.2% follow other religions, 11.01% chose not to answer, 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 and 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, leading to Tokayev assuming control of the Security Council.

February 2022: Independent Foreign Policy

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

September 2022: Capital's name reverted back to Astana

In September 2022, the capital's name was reverted back to Astana, distancing the country from the former president’s influence.

September 2022: Presidential Term Limits and Reforms

On 17 September 2022, Tokayev signed a decree limiting presidential tenure to one seven-year term and announced a reform package to decentralize power, modify the electoral system, and expand the decision-making authorities of Kazakhstan's regions.

2022: Almaty's Bid for Winter Olympics

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

2022: United Nations Population Estimate

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

November 2023: Kazakhstan population reaches 20 million

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

2023: Kazakhstan's Ranking in Press Freedom Index

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 Ranks 25th in Global Hunger Index

In 2024, Kazakhstan ranked 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: Kazakhstan's Ranking in Press Freedom Index

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

2024: Global Innovation Index in 2024

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

2024: Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

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

2025: Ethnic composition of Kazakhstan

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

2025: Latin Alphabet Implementation

By 2025, the Latin alphabet will replace Cyrillic as the writing system for the Kazakh language.

2030: Shift to a Green Economy by 2030

As part of the shift to a "green economy" by 2030, 15% of acreage will be cultivated with water-saving technologies. Experimental agrarian and innovational clusters will be established and drought-resistant genetically modified crops developed.

2030: UNESCO Science Report

In 2030, text was taken from UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030, 365–387, UNESCO, UNESCO Publishing.

2030: Foreign Policy Concept

The Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 was announced in March 2020.

2050: Target for Renewable Energy Use

By 2050, Kazakhstan's Green Economy Plan committed it to meet 50 percent of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources.

2050: New Industries Target by 2050

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

2050: Target of Devoting 3% of GDP to R&D by 2050

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