Kazakhstan is the world's [[List of countries and dependencies by area|ninth-largest country by land area]] and the largest landlocked country. [[Steppe|Hilly plateaus]] and [[plain]]s account for nearly half its vast territory, with [[Upland and lowland|lowlands]] composing another third; its southern and eastern frontiers are composed of mountainous regions. Kazakhstan has a population of 20.5 million and [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|one of the lowest population densities]] in the world, with fewer than {{convert|8|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}.{{cite web |url=https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2023-11-16/kazakhstans-population-reaches-20-million-president-tokayev-has-congratulated-his-fellow-citizens |title=Kazakhstan's population reaches 20 million. President Tokayev congratulates his fellow citizens |language=en |publisher=kursiv.kz |date=2023-11-16 |access-date=2023-11-17 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117134411/https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2023-11-16/kazakhstans-population-reaches-20-million-president-tokayev-has-congratulated-his-fellow-citizens/}} Ethnic [[Kazakhs]] constitute a majority, while [[Russians in Kazakhstan|ethnic Russians]] form a significant minority. Officially secular, Kazakhstan is a [[Muslim world|Muslim-majority country]] with a sizeable [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan|Christian community]].

Kazakhstan is the world's [[List of countries and dependencies by area|ninth-largest country by land area]] and the largest landlocked country. [[Steppe|Hilly plateaus]] and [[plain]]s account for nearly half its vast territory, with [[Upland and lowland|lowlands]] composing another third; its southern and eastern frontiers are composed of mountainous regions. Kazakhstan has a population of 20.5 million and [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|one of the lowest population densities]] in the world, with fewer than {{convert|8|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}.{{cite web |url=https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2023-11-16/kazakhstans-population-reaches-20-million-president-tokayev-has-congratulated-his-fellow-citizens |title=Kazakhstan's population reaches 20 million. President Tokayev congratulates his fellow citizens |language=en |publisher=kursiv.kz |date=2023-11-16 |access-date=2023-11-17 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117134411/https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2023-11-16/kazakhstans-population-reaches-20-million-president-tokayev-has-congratulated-his-fellow-citizens/}} Ethnic [[Kazakhs]] constitute a majority, while [[Russians in Kazakhstan|ethnic Russians]] form a significant minority. Officially secular, Kazakhstan is a [[Muslim world|Muslim-majority country]] with a sizeable [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan|Christian community]].

Kazakhstan has been inhabited since the [[Paleolithic|Paleolithic era]]. In antiquity, various nomadic [[Iranian peoples]] such as the [[Saka]], [[Massagetae]], and [[Scythians]] dominated the territory, with the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid Persian Empire]] expanding towards the south. [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] nomads entered the region from the sixth century. In the 13th century, the area was subjugated by the [[Mongol Empire]] under [[Genghis Khan]]. Following the disintegration of the [[Golden Horde]] in the 15th century, the [[Kazakh Khanate]] was established over an area roughly corresponding with modern Kazakhstan. By the 18th century, the Kazakh Khanate had fragmented into three {{lang|kk-latn|[[jüz]]}} (tribal divisions), which were gradually absorbed and conquered by the [[Russian Empire]]; by the mid-19th century, all of Kazakhstan was nominally under Russian rule.{{cite web |last=Galiev |first=Anuar |date=1998 |title=Traditional Institutions in Modern Kazakhstan |url=http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/sympo/97summer/galiev.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904124830/http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/sympo/97summer/galiev.html |archive-date=4 September 2019 |access-date=4 December 2011 |publisher=Src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp}} Following the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]] and subsequent [[Russian Civil War]], it became [[Kazakh Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic|an autonomous republic]] of the [[Russian SFSR]] within the [[Soviet Union]]. Its status was elevated to that of [[Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic|a union republic]] in 1936. The Soviet government settled Russians and other ethnicities in the republic, which resulted in ethnic Kazakhs being a minority during the Soviet era. Kazakhstan was the last [[Republics of the Soviet Union|constituent republic]] of the Soviet Union to [[On the State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan|declare independence]] in 1991 during [[dissolution of the Soviet Union|its dissolution]].

Kazakhstan has been inhabited since the [[Paleolithic|Paleolithic era]]. In antiquity, various nomadic [[Iranian peoples]] such as the [[Saka]], [[Massagetae]], and [[Scythians]] dominated the territory, with the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid Persian Empire]] expanding towards the south. [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] nomads entered the region from the sixth century. In the 13th century, the area was subjugated by the [[Mongol Empire]] under [[Genghis Khan]]. Following the disintegration of the [[Golden Horde]] in the 15th century, the [[Kazakh Khanate]] was established over an area roughly corresponding with modern Kazakhstan. By the 18th century, the Kazakh Khanate had fragmented into three {{lang|kk-latn|[[jüz]]}} (tribal divisions), which were gradually absorbed and conquered by the [[Russian Empire]]; by the mid-[[19th century]], all of Kazakhstan was nominally under Russian rule.{{cite web |last=Galiev |first=Anuar |date=1998 |title=Traditional Institutions in Modern Kazakhstan |url=http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/sympo/97summer/galiev.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904124830/http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/sympo/97summer/galiev.html |archive-date=4 September 2019 |access-date=4 December 2011 |publisher=Src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp}} Following the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]] and subsequent [[Russian Civil War]], it became [[Kazakh Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic|an autonomous republic]] of the [[Russian SFSR]] within the [[Soviet Union]]. Its status was elevated to that of [[Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic|a union republic]] in 1936. The Soviet government settled Russians and other ethnicities in the republic, which resulted in ethnic Kazakhs being a minority during the Soviet era. Kazakhstan was the last [[Republics of the Soviet Union|constituent republic]] of the Soviet Union to [[On the State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan|declare independence]] in 1991 during [[dissolution of the Soviet Union|its dissolution]].

Kazakhstan dominates Central Asia both [[Economy of Kazakhstan|economically]] and [[Politics of Kazakhstan|politically]], accounting for 60% of the region's [[Gross domestic product|GDP]], primarily through its [[Oil and gas industry in Kazakhstan|oil and gas industry]]; it also has vast mineral resources,{{cite news |last=Zarakhovich |first=Yuri |date=27 September 2006 |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1539999,00.html |title=Kazakhstan Comes on Strong |magazine=Time |access-date=13 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207235354/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1539999,00.html |archive-date=7 December 2015}} ranking among the highest producers of iron and silver in the world.{{Cite web |title=USGS Silver Production Statistics |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220035538/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2024 |access-date=December 23, 2024}} Kazakhstan also has the highest [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] ranking in the region. It is a [[Unitary state|unitary]] constitutional republic;{{cite web |title=Kazakhstan/Qazaqstan Constitution |url=http://www.parlam.kz/en/constitution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202170929/http://www.parlam.kz/en/constitution |archive-date=2 December 2016 |access-date=27 December 2016 |website=[[Parliament of Kazakhstan]]}} however, its government is [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]].{{cite web |date=6 December 2010 |title=Democracy Index 2010: Democracy in retreat |url=https://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213120004/http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf |archive-date=13 December 2017 |access-date=26 January 2017 |publisher=Economist Intelligence Unit}}{{Cite web |title=Democracy Index 2022 |url=https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210003136/https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2022/ |archive-date=10 February 2022 |access-date=14 April 2023 |work=Economist Intelligence Unit}} Nevertheless, there have been incremental efforts at democratization and political reform since the resignation of [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] in 2019, who had led the country since independence. Kazakhstan is a member state of the [[United Nations]], [[World Trade Organization]], [[Commonwealth of Independent States]], [[Shanghai Cooperation Organization]], [[Eurasian Economic Union]], [[Collective Security Treaty Organization]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]], [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Organization of Islamic Cooperation]], [[Organization of Turkic States]], [[International Organization of Turkic Culture]] and Special Guest status with the [[Council of Europe|Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly]].

Kazakhstan dominates Central Asia both [[Economy of Kazakhstan|economically]] and [[Politics of Kazakhstan|politically]], accounting for 60% of the region's [[Gross domestic product|GDP]], primarily through its [[Oil and gas industry in Kazakhstan|oil and gas industry]]; it also has vast mineral resources,{{cite news |last=Zarakhovich |first=Yuri |date=27 September 2006 |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1539999,00.html |title=Kazakhstan Comes on Strong |magazine=Time |access-date=13 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207235354/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1539999,00.html |archive-date=7 December 2015}} ranking among the highest producers of iron and silver in the world.{{Cite web |title=USGS Silver Production Statistics |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220035538/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2024 |access-date=December 23, 2024}} Kazakhstan also has the highest [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] ranking in the region. It is a [[Unitary state|unitary]] constitutional republic;{{cite web |title=Kazakhstan/Qazaqstan Constitution |url=http://www.parlam.kz/en/constitution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202170929/http://www.parlam.kz/en/constitution |archive-date=2 December 2016 |access-date=27 December 2016 |website=[[Parliament of Kazakhstan]]}} however, its government is [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]].{{cite web |date=6 December 2010 |title=Democracy Index 2010: Democracy in retreat |url=https://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213120004/http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf |archive-date=13 December 2017 |access-date=26 January 2017 |publisher=Economist Intelligence Unit}}{{Cite web |title=Democracy Index 2022 |url=https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210003136/https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2022/ |archive-date=10 February 2022 |access-date=14 April 2023 |work=Economist Intelligence Unit}} Nevertheless, there have been incremental efforts at democratization and political reform since the resignation of [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] in 2019, who had led the country since independence. Kazakhstan is a member state of the [[United Nations]], [[World Trade Organization]], [[Commonwealth of Independent States]], [[Shanghai Cooperation Organization]], [[Eurasian Economic Union]], [[Collective Security Treaty Organization]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]], [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Organization of Islamic Cooperation]], [[Organization of Turkic States]], [[International Organization of Turkic Culture]] and Special Guest status with the [[Council of Europe|Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly]].