Full History Of Kazakhstan In Timeline From 1904

1904: Death of Abai Qunanbaiuly

Abai Qunanbaiuly (1845–1904), whose writings did much to preserve Kazakh folk culture, died in 1904.

1906: Completion of the Trans-Aral Railway

In 1906, the Trans-Aral Railway from Orenburg to Tashkent was completed, leading to a further increase in the number of settlers from the Russian Empire colonizing Kazakhstan.

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, published between 1911 and 1915 in Arabic script, played an important role in the development of intellectual and political life among early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1913: Publication of Qazaq

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

1915: Publication of Ay Qap

The literary magazine Ay Qap, published between 1911 and 1915 in Arabic script, played an important role in the development of intellectual and political life among early 20th-century Kazakhs.

1916: Central Asian revolt

In 1916, the Central Asian revolt occurred, with Kazakhs attacking Russian and Cossack settlers and military garrisons due to competition for land and water, causing great resentment against colonial rule.

November 1917: Collapse of central government in Petrograd

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

1917: Autonomous republic of the Russian SFSR

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 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

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

1919: Resistance to communist government

Until late 1919, both sides of the revolt resisted the communist government.

August 1920: Establishment of the Kirghiz ASSR

On August 26, 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 defeated White Russian forces in the region, and Kazakhstan was incorporated into the Soviet Union.

1920: Aleksandr Zatayevich created 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 the 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: Start of estimated famine period

Starting in 1926, Soviet policies including forced collectivization led to an estimated 1.5 million deaths in Kazakhstan between 1926 and 1939, primarily due to starvation and related diseases.

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 the Musical-Dramatic Training College

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

1931: Kazakhs began writing their own music

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

1932: Famine in Kazakhstan

The Famine in Kazakhstan of 1932–33 led to widespread starvation 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 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: End of estimated famine period

Ending in 1939, Soviet policies including forced collectivization led to an estimated 1.5 million deaths in Kazakhstan between 1926 and 1939, primarily due to starvation and related diseases.

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 Soviet-German War

In 1941, the Soviet-German War (1941–1945) led to an increase in industrialization and mineral extraction in Kazakhstan to support the war effort.

1945: End of Soviet-German War

The Soviet-German War ended in 1945, having led to an increase in industrialization and mineral extraction in Kazakhstan.

1947: Establishment of atomic bomb 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, aimed at transforming Kazakhstan's pasturelands 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, 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: Start of modernizations under Leonid Brezhnev

Starting in 1964, modernizations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev accelerated the development of Kazakhstan's agricultural sector.

1965: Tram network began service

In 1965, an 86 km tram network began service with regular and special routes.

1977: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins Soviet Union national championship

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: End of modernizations under Leonid Brezhnev

Ending in 1982, modernizations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev accelerated the development of Kazakhstan's agricultural sector.

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 Almaty

In December 1986, mass demonstrations by young ethnic Kazakhs, known as the Jeltoqsan riot, occurred in Almaty to protest the replacement of Dinmukhamed Konayev with Gennady Kolbin.

1989: Population decline began

After 1989 a decline in population began.

1989: Ethnic Russian population percentage

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

1989: End of nuclear testing

In 1989, hundreds of nuclear tests had been conducted at Semipalatinsk until 1989 with adverse consequences for the nation's environment and population.

October 1990: Declaration of sovereignty

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

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, with the number of religious associations rising from 670 in 1990 to 4,170 today.

1990: Dynamo Alma-Ata wins Soviet Union national championship

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

1990: Expansion of Armoured Units

In 1990, Kazakhstan began expanding its armoured units, which increased from 500.

August 1991: Failed coup attempt in Moscow

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

December 1991: Proclamation of full independence

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

1991: Kazakhstan's independence

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

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Before 1991, there were about one million Germans in Kazakhstan.

1991: Kazakhstan under Nursultan Nazarbayev

In 1991, Kazakhstan was led by Nursultan Nazarbayev.

1991: Independence and the "multi-vector foreign policy"

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

June 1992: Establishment of National Security Committee

On June 13, 1992, Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (UQK) was established, including various services and units such as 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 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

1992: Kazakhstan Hockey Championship held

Since 1992, the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship is held.

1993: Foreign Investment in Kazakhstan

Since 1993, Kazakhstan attracted over $40 billion in foreign investment, primarily in the development of petroleum, natural gas, and mineral extraction, which accounts for a significant portion of the nation's industrial output.

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 with the Val Barker Trophy.

1996: Kazzinc-Torpedo play in Supreme Hockey League

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

December 1997: Capital Relocation to Astana

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

1997: Legalization of Homosexuality

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

1997: Capital moved from Almaty to Astana

In 1997, Nursultan Nazarbayev moved the capital of Kazakhstan from Almaty to Astana, symbolizing modernization and asserting control over the country's territories.

1998: 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 last census before 2009 was taken in January 1999.

1999: Application for Observer Status at Council of Europe

In 1999, Kazakhstan applied for observer status at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, but the application was not approved due to concerns about democracy and human rights records.

2000: Kazakh boxers earn gold and silver medals at the Summer Olympics in Sydney

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

2000: Start of High GDP Growth Period

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

2000: Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Community

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 Granted by US Department of Commerce

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

March 2002: Court order against Respublika

In mid-March 2002, a court order stated that Respublika was 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: Bronze medal at the Asian Games

In 2002, the Kazakhstan national basketball team won the bronze medal at the Asian Games, defeating the Philippines in the last game.

2002: Grain Harvest Compared

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

2002: Increase in Oil and Gas Production and Exports

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

2002: Creation of KazMunayGas

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

2002: Hosting "Steppe Eagle" Joint Tactical Peacekeeping Exercise

Since 2002, the Kazakhstan government has hosted the joint tactical peacekeeping exercise "Steppe Eagle", which focuses on building coalitions and cooperation between participating nations.

April 2003: New Customs Code Adopted

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

June 2003: New Land Code Adopted

On June 20, 2003, Kazakhstan adopted a new land code as part of its reforms.

November 2003: Law on Changes to Tax Code Adopted

On November 29, 2003, the Law on Changes to Tax Code was adopted, which reduced tax rates, including value added tax from 16% to 15%, social tax from 21% to 20%, and 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. Total governmental debt was $4.2 billion, 14% of GDP.

2003: Grain Harvest

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

2003: Dmitry Karpov won bronze in World Athletics Championships

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

2003: Increase in Oil and Gas Production and Exports

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

2004: Dmitry Karpov won bronze in Summer Olympics

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

2004: Bakhtiyar Artayev wins Val Barker Trophy

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

2004: Parliamentary elections and Otan Party dominance

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

2005: Increase in Armoured Units

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

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: Economy has grown faster

Since 2005, the economy has grown faster (by 6% 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 July 7, 2006, the personal income tax in Kazakhstan was further reduced to a flat rate of 5% for 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: Kazakhstan contributes 60% of the region's GDP

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

2006: Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics and World Championship

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

2006: Privatization of State Accumulating Pension Fund

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

December 2007: Kazakhstan chosen to chair the OSCE for 2010

In 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: Banking sector experienced rapid growth

During the mid-2000s, Kazakhstan's banking sector experienced a period of rapid growth with total system-wide loans at 59% of GDP in 2007.

2007: End of High GDP Growth Period

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

2007: Dmitry Karpov won bronze in World Athletics Championships

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

2007: Best finish at the Asian Basketball Championship

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

2008: Financial Crisis Impact

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

2008: Banking sector collapse due to financial crisis

In 2008, Kazakhstan's banking sector collapsed due to the 2008 financial crisis, following a period of rapid growth in the mid-2000s. Several major banks, including BTA Bank J.S.C. and Alliance Bank, defaulted.

2008: Barys Astana transferred to Kontinental Hockey League

In the 2008–09 season, Barys Astana, a Kazakhstani ice hockey team, was transferred to play in the Kontinental Hockey League.

2008: Increase in Public Debt

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

2009: Christian demographics

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

2009: Kazakhstan's oil production

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

2009: Constitutional Council declaration

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

2009: European Commission blacklisted Kazakh air carriers

In 2009, the European Commission blacklisted all Kazakh air carriers except for Air Astana.

2009: Introduction of Large-Scale Support Measures

In 2009, the government introduced large-scale support measures, such as the recapitalization 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 reported in the January 1999 census, indicating a reversal of the population decline since 1989.

April 2010: Meeting between Nazarbayev and Obama 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: Kazakhstan ranked 72nd in the world in economic competitiveness

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

2010: Innovation expenditure more than doubled

Between 2010 and 2011, innovation expenditure more than doubled in Kazakhstan, representing KZT 235 billion, or around 1.1% of GDP.

2010: Kazakhstan chosen to chair the OSCE in 2010

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

2010: Kazakhstan joined The Region Initiative (TRI)

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

2010: Kazakhstan ranked as an authoritarian regime

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

2010: State Programme adopted to raise expenditure on research and development

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

2010: GDP Growth Recovery

Kazakhstan's GDP growth rose again from 2010 after the 2008 financial crisis.

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

By 2011, total system-wide loans in Kazakhstan had declined to 39% of GDP, following the 2008 financial crisis. To stabilize the sector, the National Bank of Kazakhstan introduced a deposit insurance scheme.

2011: Olga Rypakova won silver in World Championships in Athletics

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

2011: Switzerland confiscated Kazakhstani assets

In 2011, Switzerland confiscated US$48 million in Kazakhstani assets from Swiss bank accounts due to a bribery investigation in the United States involving oil and prospecting rights.

2011: Innovation expenditure increased

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

2011: Economic Growth Increase

Kazakhstan's economy increased to 7.5% in 2011 after contracting by 1.2% in 2009 during the Great Recession.

January 2012: Pension Assets

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

April 2012: ABA Rule of Law Initiative Program

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

November 2012: 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: Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the 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 rank Kazakhstan among the top 30 economies by 2050.

2012: Tram network service

As of 2012, the tram network had 20 regular and three special routes.

2012: Kazakhstan attracted $14 billion FDI

In 2012, Kazakhstan attracted $14 billion of foreign direct investment inflows into the country at 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 being electrified. Most cities are connected by railroad.

2012: Bandy World Championship bronze medal

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

2012: Kazakhstan ranked low in an index of the least corrupt countries

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 with the Val Barker Trophy.

2012: Olga Rypakova won gold in Summer Olympics

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

2012: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Condensate Production

In 2012, the production of crude oil and natural gas condensate from the oil and gas basins of Kazakhstan amounted to 79.2 million tonnes.

2012: Economic Growth

Kazakhstan's economy grew 5% in 2012.

2012: Saryarka Karagandy play in Supreme Hockey League

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

October 2013: Kazakhstan accepted as "EITI Compliant"

On 17 October 2013, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) accepted Kazakhstan as "EITI Compliant", indicating the country has a basic process for disclosing natural resource revenues.

December 2013: Sending Officers to Support UN Peacekeeping Forces

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

2013: Expenditure on research and development stood at 0.18% of GDP

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

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

In 2013, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with Kazakhstan functioning as a transit hub.

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

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

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.

2013: Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan

In 2013, Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan, aiming to source 50% of its energy from alternative and renewable sources by 2050, projecting a 3% GDP increase and creating 500,000 jobs. The government also established prices for energy produced from renewable sources.

2013: Kazakhstan's population rose to 17,280,000

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

2013: Astana Metro system abandoned

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

2013: Public Debt Increase

Public debt in Kazakhstan increased to 13.4% in 2013 from 8.7% in 2008 as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.

February 2014: Currency Devaluation

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

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: Kazakhstan attracted $190 billion in gross foreign investments

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

September 2014: Kazakhstan maintained its position in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report

At the beginning of September 2014, Kazakhstan maintained its position in the 2014-2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, ahead of other states in the CIS in almost all pillars of competitiveness, earning an overall score of 4.4.

October 2014: Kazakhstan donates to the International Committee of the Red Cross's humanitarian effort in Ukraine

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

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

As of 2014, tourism contributed 0.3% to Kazakhstan's GDP, with the government aiming to increase it to 3% by 2020.

2014: Almaty bid for Winter Olympics

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

2014: Kazakhstan ranked 161 on World Press Freedom Index

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

2014: Tax concessions to promote foreign direct investment

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

2014: Tourism in Kazakhstan described as underdeveloped

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

2014: US Government Report

In 2014, a US government report was released regarding Kazakhstan.

2014: Restrictions on Freedoms and Unfair Trials

In 2014, authorities in Kazakhstan closed newspapers, jailed or fined people after protests, and detained worshipers for practicing religion outside state controls. Government critics like Vladimir Kozlov remained in detention after unfair trials.

2014: Kazakhstan's bid for UN Security Council seat

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

January 2015: Kazakhstan sends aid to Ukraine's southeastern regions

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

January 2015: Government announcement about Latin alphabet

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

January 2015: Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement about the crisis in south-eastern Ukraine

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

February 2015: Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty signed

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 March 30, 2015, the World Bank's Group of Executive Directors approved a $100 million loan for the Skills and Job project in Kazakhstan, aiming to provide training to unemployed, self-employed, and employees needing training.

May 2015: Agreement signed to resume Astana Metro project

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

August 2015: Another Currency Devaluation

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

2015: World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index

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" (global rank 32/102), and poorly on "Constraints on Government Powers" (global rank 93/102), "Open Government" (85/102) and "Fundamental Rights" (84/102, with a downward trend marking a deterioration in conditions).

2015: Kazakhstan's gold production

In 2015, Kazakhstan's gold production reached 64 metric tonnes, solidifying its position as a significant player in the global gold market.

2015: Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020 issued

In 2015, the Kazakh government issued a "Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020" aimed at establishing five tourism clusters and seeking $4 billion in investment and the creation of 300,000 jobs by 2020.

2015: Kazakhstan considered to have the best investment climate

In 2015, the US 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."

2015: Kazakhstan maintained its position in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report

Kazakhstan has maintained its position 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.

2015: Target of raising expenditure on research and 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% of GDP by 2015.

June 2016: Kazakhstan elected as a non-permanent member to serve on the 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 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, European air safety authorities removed all Kazakh airlines from the blacklist, citing sufficient compliance with international standards by Kazakh Airlines and the Civil Aviation Committee.

2016: Human Rights Watch Report on Worsening Human Rights Record

The 2016 Human Rights Watch report noted 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

In May 2017, the Astana Nurly Zhol railway station, considered the most modern in Kazakhstan, was opened in Astana. Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) expected the 120,000m station 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 center in Kazakhstan. This center is the only one of its kind in Central Asia and the Caucasus region.

2017: OECD report on Kazakhstan indicated reforms

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

2017: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report

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

2017: Kazakhstan elected as a non-permanent member to serve on the UN Security Council

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

2017: Kazakhstan ranked 43rd in tourist arrivals

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

2017: Comparison of Foreign Trade Turnover

In 2018, Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover was $93.5 billion, which is 19.7% more than in 2017. Export in 2018 reached $67 billion (up 25.7% in comparison to 2017) and import was $32.5 billion (up 9.9% in comparison to 2017).

2017: OECD Investment Policy Review

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

June 2018: Shymkent gains status as a city of republican significance

In June 2018, Shymkent gained its status as a "city of republican significance", placing it on par with Almaty and Astana.

2018: Alstom joint ventures with KTZ

As of 2018, Alstom had more than 600 staff and two joint ventures with KTZ and its subsidiary in Kazakhstan, focused on developing 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 system and improve human rights.

2018: Kazakhstan elected as a non-permanent member to serve on the UN Security Council

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

2018: $24 billion of FDI directed into Kazakhstan

In 2018, $24 billion of FDI was directed into Kazakhstan.

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 Economic Growth

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, which is 19.7% more than in 2017. Export in 2018 reached $67 billion (up 25.7% in comparison to 2017) and import was $32.5 billion (up 9.9% in comparison to 2017).

2018: The Digital Kazakhstan program was launched

In 2018, the Digital Kazakhstan program was launched to stimulate economic growth by implementing digital technologies, which generated significant revenue and created numerous jobs.

March 2019: Nazarbayev's resignation

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

May 2019: Kazakhstan population according to the US Census Bureau

In May 2019, the US Census Bureau International Database reported Kazakhstan's population as 18.9 million.

June 2019: Election of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and establishment of the National Council of Public Trust

In June 2019, following the election of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the National Council of Public Trust was established as a platform for national conversation regarding government policies and reforms.

June 2019: Tokayev takes office and capital renamed

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

July 2019: Announcement of a 'listening state'

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

2019: Astana renamed Nur-Sultan

In 2019, Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan.

2019: Succession of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

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: Resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev

In 2019, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had led the country since independence, resigned from his position, leading to incremental efforts at democratization and political reform.

2019: Governmental Debt to GDP Ratio

In 2019, the ratio of total governmental debt to GDP in Kazakhstan 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 ranked Kazakhstan 80th

In the 2019 World Economic Forum report, Kazakhstan was ranked 80th.

March 2020: Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 announced

On 6 March 2020, the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 was announced, outlining the main points of Kazakhstan's foreign policy.

2020: Government plan to increase tourism's GDP

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

2020: Freedom House rating of Kazakhstan

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

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

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

2020: Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020 goals

The "Tourism Industry Development Plan 2020" had a goal to establish five tourism clusters and seek $4 billion in investment and the creation of 300,000 jobs by 2020.

2021: Religious affiliations according to the census

According to the 2021 census, 69.3% of the population in Kazakhstan is Muslim, 17.2% is Christian, and a small percentage follows other religions or identifies as atheist.

2021: Language proficiency according to census

According to the 2021 census, 80.1% of the population in Kazakhstan spoke Kazakh proficiently, while 83.7% spoke Russian.

January 2022: Large-scale protests following a sharp rise in fuel prices

In January 2022, Kazakhstan experienced large-scale protests triggered by a sharp rise in fuel prices. The unrest escalated, leading President Tokayev to assume control of the Security Council and remove Nazarbayev from his post, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape.

February 2022: Kazakhstan's Independent Foreign Policy after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kazakhstan increasingly pursued an independent foreign policy, seeking to balance its relations with major powers and avoid excessive dependence on any one of them.

September 2022: Capital's name reverted back to Astana

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

September 2022: Decree limiting presidential tenure

On 17 September 2022, Tokayev signed a decree that limits presidential tenure to one term of seven years and announced a new reform package to "decentralise" and "distribute" power between government institutions.

2022: Almaty bid for Winter Olympics

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

2022: UN estimate of Kazakhstan's population

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

November 2023: Kazakhstan population reached 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 in the Global Peace Index

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

2024: Global Hunger Index rank

In 2024, Kazakhstan ranked 25th out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI), with a low level of hunger indicated by 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: Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index score

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 an electoral autocracy.

November 2025: Kazakhstan's Participation in the Abraham Accords

In November 2025, after establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry indicated that the nation had become a participant in the Abraham Accords, consistent with its foreign policy.

2025: Ethnic composition of Kazakhstan

As of 2025, ethnic Kazakhs comprised 71.3% of Kazakhstan's population, while ethnic Russians made up 14.6%.

2025: Kazakhstan was ranked 81st in the Global Innovation Index

In 2025, Kazakhstan was ranked 81st in the Global Innovation Index.

2025: Latin alphabet replacing Cyrillic

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

2026: Percentage of population in urban areas

As of 2026, 63.6% of the population of Kazakhstan lives in urban areas.

2030: UNESCO Science Report

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

2030: Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 announced

On 6 March 2020, the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 was announced, outlining the main points of Kazakhstan's foreign policy.