Kazakhstan (Republic of Kazakhstan)

Kazakhstan Republic of Kazakhstan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	85th best
Capital	Astana
Land Area	2 699 700km21
Location	Asia
Population	18.3m2
Life Expectancy	69.36yrs (2017)3
GNI	$23 943 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	KZ, KAZ, 3985
Internet Domain	.kz6
Currency	Tenge (KZT)7
Telephone	+78

1. Overview
2. Kazakhstan National and Social Development
3. Kazakhstan's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Kazakhstan's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Kazakhstan's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Kazakhstan's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Kazakhstan's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#islam #kazakhstan #russia

“Ethnic Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Non-Muslim ethnic minorities departed Kazakhstan in large numbers from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s and a national program has repatriated about a million ethnic Kazakhs thus far back to Kazakhstan. These trends have allowed Kazakhs to become the titular majority again. This dramatic demographic shift has also undermined the previous religious diversity and made the country more than 70 percent Muslim. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states largely due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; managing Islamic revivalism; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness; developing a multiparty parliament and advancing political and social reform; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Today Kazakhstan´s expanse of Eurasian steppe offers one of the last great undiscovered frontiers of travel with some home comforts and mod cons. The world´s ninth-biggest country is the most economically advanced of the `stans´, thanks to its abundant reserves of oil and most other valuable minerals. This means generally better standards of accommodation, restaurants and transport than elsewhere in Central Asia. The biggest city, Almaty, is almost reminiscent of Europe with its leafy avenues, chic cafes, glossy shopping centres and hedonistic nightlife. The capital Astana, on the windswept northern steppe, has been transformed into a 21st-century showpiece with a profusion of bold futuristic architecture. But it´s beyond the cities that you´ll find the greatest travel adventures, whether hiking in the high mountains and green valleys of the Tian Shan, searching for wildlife on the lake-dotted steppe, enjoying home-spun hospitality in village guesthouses, or jolting across the western deserts to remote underground mosques.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Kazakhstan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
53	Romania	0.821
54	Oman	0.816
55	Bahamas	0.812
56	Kazakhstan	0.811
57	Trinidad & Tobago	0.810
58=	Costa Rica	0.809
58=	Uruguay	0.809
60	Belarus	0.808
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
54	Malaysia	$26 658
55	Seychelles	$25 831
56	Chile	$24 563
57	Kazakhstan	$23 943
58	Trinidad & Tobago	$23 392
59	St Kitts & Nevis	$23 358
60	Bulgaria	$23 079
61	Guyana	$22 465
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
82	Morocco	84.8
83	Cape Verde	84.8
84	Dominican Rep.	85.7
85	Kazakhstan	85.9
86	Belarus	86.0
87	Vatican City	86.3
88	UAE	86.5
89	Antigua & Barbuda	87.1
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Kazakhstan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Kazakhstan's population is predicted to rise to 18.87 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.05. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
59	Romania	19.5m
60	Mali	19.1m
61	Chile	18.7m
62	Kazakhstan	18.3m
63	Malawi	18.1m
64	Zambia	17.4m
65	Guatemala	17.2m
66	Ecuador	17.1m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
129	Guatemala	69.2
130	Moldova	68.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
147	Lesotho	2.98
148	British Virgin Islands	1.02
149	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	3.05
150	Kazakhstan	3.05
151	Puerto Rico	0.90
152	Tajikistan	3.14
153	Tuvalu	3.14
154	Papua New Guinea	3.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
99	Peru	15.5
100=	Dominican Rep.	15.6
100=	Venezuela	15.6
100=	Kazakhstan	15.6
103	Ecuador	16.0
104	Morocco	16.1
105=	Suriname	16.2
105=	Grenada	16.2
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
21	Palau	23.0%
22	New Zealand	22.7%
23	Canada	21.5%
24	Kazakhstan	20.0%
25	Austria	19.0%
26	Sweden	17.6%
27	Equatorial Guinea	17.5%
28	Ireland	16.9%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
19	Trinidad & Tobago	26.7%
20	Malta	26.2%
21	Georgia	25.1%
22	Kazakhstan	23.6%
23	St Lucia	23.3%
24	Macedonia	21.9%
25	Sao Tome & Principe	21.9%
26	Moldova	21.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #kazakhstan #kazakhstan_gender #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
126	Cuba	106.0
127	Sierra Leone	106.3
128	Grenada	107.1
129	Kazakhstan	108.1
130	Benin	108.6
131	Papua New Guinea	108.8
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Kazakhstan is generally poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world. Kazakhstan does worse than average in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₀ (still low for Asia), commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₁, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₂, freethought₂₃, supporting press freedom₂₄ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to combatting modern slavery₂₅. LGBT folk hide their sexual orientation out of fear of reprisals or discrimination, and they face hostility from authorities₂₆. Kazakhstan seemed determined in 2017 to make its overall record even worse; suppressing independent trade union activity and persecuting critics and journalists, and threatening to further decrease citizen's religious freedoms₂₆. Torture and ill-treatment in detention persist₂₆.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Kazakhstan

5. Kazakhstan's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #kazakhstan #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Japan	37.3
2	Singapore	41.1
3	S. Korea	50.5
	...
20	Maldives	83.9
21	Russia	84.2
22	Armenia	86.5
23	Kazakhstan	88.3
24	Turkmenistan	89.3
25	Saudi Arabia	90.6
26	Uzbekistan	90.9
27	Lebanon	94.5
28	Turkey	96.1
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
83	Armenia	86.5
84	Morocco	86.8
85	Jamaica	87.5
86	Kazakhstan	88.3
87	Turkmenistan	89.3
88	Bosnia & Herzegovina	89.8
89	St Kitts & Nevis	89.9
90	Brazil	89.9
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₂₈. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₈.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₈, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₂₈.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #kazakhstan #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Kazakhstan has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Kazakhstan does better than average in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₂₉, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₀, its adolescent birth rate₃₁, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₂ (but high for Asia) and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₃. Kazakhstan doesn't do so well in other areas. Kazakhstan does worse than average in its smoking rate₃₄, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₅, its alcohol consumption rate₃₆, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in its fertility rate₁₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for its suicide rate₃₇ (one of the highest in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Kazakhstan improved by +6.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Kazakhstan's peak fertility rate was 4.53 in 1960.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
129	Guatemala	69.2
130	Moldova	68.8
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better36
Pos.		2016 Per Capita36
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
111=	Burundi	7.5
111=	Italy	7.5
111=	Norway	7.5
114	Kazakhstan	7.7
115=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	7.8
115=	Brazil	7.8
117	Panama	7.9
118=	Japan	8.0
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
147	Lesotho	2.98
148	British Virgin Islands	1.02
149	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	3.05
150	Kazakhstan	3.05
151	Puerto Rico	0.90
152	Tajikistan	3.14
153	Tuvalu	3.14
154	Papua New Guinea	3.17
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better34
Pos.		Total %34
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
97	Yemen	21.4%
98	Malaysia	22.0%
99	Albania	22.0%
100	Kazakhstan	22.2%
101	Finland	22.3%
102	Italy	22.5%
103	Samoa	22.6%
104	Vietnam	22.6%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate37
Pos.		2013 Per 100k37
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
83	Latvia	48.2
84	Japan	49.4
85	Hungary	50.6
86=	Kazakhstan	52.4
86=	Guyana	52.4
88	Belarus	57.5
89	S. Korea	62
90	Russia	63.4
	Asia Avg	19.50
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
69	Paraguay	69
70	Latvia	70
71	Liberia	71
72	Kazakhstan	72
73	Egypt	73
74=	Burundi	74
74=	Cameroon	74
76	Malta	76
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better35
Pos.		1976 %35
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
107	Panama	31.2
108	Georgia	31.4
109	Portugal	31.5
110	Kazakhstan	31.9
111=	Montenegro	32.1
111=	Cuba	32.1
113=	Azerbaijan	32.2
113=	Nicaragua	32.2
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 %38
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
70	Afghanistan	17.6%
71	Spain	19.2%
72	Lesotho	19.3%
73	Kazakhstan	19.3%
74	Mauritius	19.5%
75	Norway	19.8%
76	Vanuatu	19.9%
77	Gabon	20.0%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better31
Pos.		2022 Per 100031
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
68	Bhutan	18.5
69	Tonga	19.2
70	Lebanon	20.0
71	Kazakhstan	20.9
72	Turkmenistan	21.2
73	Hungary	21.9
74	Djibouti	22.7
75	Chile	22.8
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better30
Pos.		Total Avg %30
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
48=	St Kitts & Nevis	97.1
49=	Russia	97.0
49=	Tunisia	97.0
51=	Kazakhstan	96.9
51=	Antigua & Barbuda	96.9
51=	Saudi Arabia	96.9
54=	Chile	96.8
54=	Costa Rica	96.8
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better29
Pos.		2015 Avg %29
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
28=	Turkmenistan	97.2
28=	St Vincent & Grenadines	97.2
30=	Dominica	97.1
30=	Kazakhstan	97.1
32	Albania	97.1
33	Andorra	97.1
34	Russia	97.0
35	Guyana	97.0
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better33
Pos.		Total Per 100033
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
71=	Thailand	12.18
72	Barbados	12.81
73	Lebanon	13.05
74	Kazakhstan	13.65
75	Turkey	13.98
76	Libya	14.17
77	Seychelles	14.49
78	Mauritius	14.97
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Kazakhstan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #kazakhstan #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
41	Mongolia	108.1
42	Armenia	108.2
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
45	Bhutan	115.3
46	Uzbekistan	116.1
47	Tajikistan	128.6
48	Brunei	130.2
49	N. Korea	132.3
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
170	Suriname	108.5
171	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
172	Angola	109.5
173	Kazakhstan	109.8
174	Barbados	110.1
175	Kiribati	111.4
176	Micronesia	114.6
177	Bhutan	115.3
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₀. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Kazakhstan is positioned 173rd in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is computed using 21 data sets. Kazakhstan does better than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁. But unfortunately Kazakhstan gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average when it comes to its score on the Green Future Index₄₂, its environmental performance₄₃, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₄, energy to GDP efficiency₄₅ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₆.

Environmental Performance Higher is better43
Pos.		201843
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
98	Bahamas	55.0
99	Kyrgyzstan	54.9
100	Nigeria	54.8
101	Kazakhstan	54.6
102	Samoa	54.5
103	Suriname	54.2
104	Sao Tome & Principe	54.0
105	Paraguay	53.9
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better45
Pos.		2022 Avg45
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
125	Vietnam	1.55
126	Estonia	1.56
127	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.60
128	Kazakhstan	1.63
129	Bulgaria	1.63
130	Seychelles	1.63
131	Belarus	1.64
132	St Lucia	1.65
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
30	Tunisia	70%
31	Austria	70%
32	Venezuela	70%
33	Kazakhstan	70%
34	Jordan	69%
35	Portugal	69%
36	Costa Rica	69%
37	Mexico	69%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better44
Pos.		2011 %44
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
108	Lithuania	25.6%
109	Nigeria	25.3%
110	Armenia	25.3%
111	Kazakhstan	25.0%
112	Iraq	24.9%
113	Sweden	24.3%
114	New Zealand	24.2%
115	Poland	23.8%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better46
Pos.		2021 kg46
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
125	Denmark	70.5
126	Seychelles	70.6
127	S. Africa	71.6
128	Kazakhstan	71.8
129	Estonia	72.1
130	Guyana	72.4
131	Latvia	74.0
132	Finland	74.0
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

Green Future Index Higher is better42
Pos.		2023 Score42
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
50	India	4.3
51	Nigeria	4.2
52	Ecuador	4.1
53=	Kazakhstan	4.1
53=	Vietnam	4.1
55	Thailand	4.1
56	Saudi Arabia	4.1
57	Kuwait	4.1
	Asia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

7. Kazakhstan's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #metric #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)47
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank47
1	Taiwan	25.4
2	S. Korea	25.5
3	Japan	26.8
	...
7	Russia	38.3
8	Turkey	46.0
9	Cyprus	46.4
10	Kazakhstan	48.2
11	Georgia	51.9
12	Uzbekistan	55.9
13	Malaysia	57.8
14	Kyrgyzstan	58.6
15	N. Korea	58.8
	Asia Avg	83.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)47
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank47
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
51	Uruguay	46.1
52	Cyprus	46.4
53	Ireland	47.0
54	Kazakhstan	48.2
55	Montenegro	49.1
56	Bosnia & Herzegovina	49.5
57	Georgia	51.9
58	Mexico	53.2
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₈. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₈. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₉.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₀

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₈, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₈.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2951
2	Israel	4.1151
3	Japan	3.5851
	...
94=	Panama	0.1852
94=	Mauritius	0.1853
96=	Oman	0.1754
96=	Kazakhstan	0.1754
98=	Bolivia	0.1655
98=	Kyrgyzstan	0.1652
98=	Sri Lanka	0.1656
101	Albania	0.1557
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
113	Algeria	113
114	Bahamas	114
115	Bahrain	115
116	Kazakhstan	116
117	Sri Lanka	117
118	Rwanda	118
119	Guatemala	119
120	Niger	120
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better58
Pos.		2025 %58
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
96=	Turkey	95
96=	Tunisia	95
96=	Thailand	95
96=	Kazakhstan	95
96=	Israel	95
101=	Iraq	90
101=	Madagascar	90
101=	Dominica	90
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1922, as part of the USSR. Progression:

• 1960 (90%): USSR metric standards in official sectors.
• 1970 (95%): Further standardization.
• 1980 (95%): High completeness.
• 2000 (95%): Post-independence continuity.
• 2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better59
Pos.		2018 %59
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
27=	Ireland	22
27=	Kazakhstan	22
27=	Spain	22
30=	Slovakia	23
30=	Ukraine	23
32	Canada	27
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better60
Pos.		200660
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
38=	Slovakia	96
39=	Portugal	95
39=	Israel	95
41=	Kazakhstan	94
41=	Vietnam	94
41=	Armenia	94
41=	Romania	94
41=	Georgia	94
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better61
Pos.		201861
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
8	Czechia	99.8%
9	Slovakia	99.3%
10	Latvia	99.2%
11	Kazakhstan	98.6%
12	Kyrgyzstan	98.4%
13	Georgia	98.0%
14	Slovenia	97.6%
15	Armenia	97.2%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better62
Pos.		2021 Years62
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
42	France	15.8
43	Palau	15.8
44	Russia	15.8
45	Kazakhstan	15.8
46	UAE	15.7
47	Barbados	15.7
48	Cyprus	15.6
49	Brazil	15.6
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better63
Pos.		201663
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
86	Morocco	58%
87	Colombia	57%
88	Costa Rica	56%
89	Kazakhstan	56%
90=	US Virgin Islands	54%
90=	Serbia	54%
92	Maldives	54%
93	Georgia	53%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better64
Pos.		201264
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
30	Russia	52
31	Zimbabwe	54
32	Sri Lanka	55
33	Kazakhstan	58
34	Egypt	59
35	Thailand	61
36	Pakistan	63
37	Belarus	69
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better65
Pos.		201365
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
56	Armenia	1.22
57	Malawi	1.23
58	Turkmenistan	1.23
59	Kazakhstan	1.23
60	Djibouti	1.29
61	UK	1.34
62	Mongolia	1.42
63	Uganda	1.44
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better66
Pos.		2017 Ratio66
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
112=	Bahamas	0.0
112=	Antigua & Barbuda	0.0
112=	Venezuela	0.0
112=	Kazakhstan	0.0
112=	New Caledonia	0.0
112=	Maldives	0.0
118=	Tunisia	0.0
118=	Tuvalu	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better67
Pos.		202467
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
55	Colombia	49.8%
56	Oman	47.9%
57	Philippines	47.9%
58	Kazakhstan	47.6%
59	Indonesia	47.5%
60	India	47.0%
61	Costa Rica	46.9%
62	Albania	46.7%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Kazakhstan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

On the Corruption Index, Kazakhstan scored on average 28 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 8 points.

World Giving Index Higher is better68
Pos.		2022 %68
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
94=	Mozambique	34.0
94=	Albania	34.0
94=	Montenegro	34.0
94=	Kazakhstan	34.0
94=	Gabon	34.0
94=	Taiwan	34.0
100=	Bangladesh	33.0
100=	Tanzania	33.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better69
Pos.		2022 Points69
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
105=	Panama	36.0
105=	Albania	36.0
105=	Ecuador	36.0
105=	Kazakhstan	36.0
105=	Thailand	36.0
110=	Gambia	34.0
110=	Sierra Leone	34.0
110=	Malawi	34.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better70
Pos.		2024 Score70
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
40	Italy	6.4
41	Panama	6.4
42	Argentina	6.4
43	Kazakhstan	6.4
44	Guatemala	6.4
45	Chile	6.4
46	Vietnam	6.4
47	Nicaragua	6.3
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
128	Niger	128
129	Sierra Leone	129
130	Bangladesh	130
131	Kazakhstan	131
132	Guinea	132
133	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	133
134	Mali	134
135	Chad	135
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better71
Pos.		Total Q71
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
113	Belarus	78.5
114	Suriname	77.8
115	Lesotho	77.5
116	Kazakhstan	75.7
117	Swaziland	74.8
118	Malawi	73.8
119	Kenya	72.8
120	Indonesia	72.5
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
128	Liberia	128
129	Sierra Leone	129
130	Kenya	130
131	Kazakhstan	131
132	Bangladesh	132
133	Indonesia	133
134	Egypt	134
135	Uruguay	135
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better72
Pos.		2023 Score72
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
73	Cambodia	1.95
74	Malawi	1.97
75	UAE	1.98
76	Kazakhstan	1.98
77	Jamaica	1.99
78	Bolivia	2.00
79	Nepal	2.01
80	China	2.01
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
17	Hungary	17
18	Japan	18
19	Chile	19
20	Kazakhstan	20
21	Thailand	21
22	Algeria	22
23	Guatemala	23
24	Ecuador	24
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
107	Tunisia	107
108	Cape Verde	108
109	China	109
110	Kazakhstan	110
111	Jordan	111
112	Libya	112
113	Belize	113
114	Morocco	114
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better73
Pos.		2019 Score73
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
63	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.39
64	Kyrgyzstan	1.47
65	Ghana	1.56
66	Kazakhstan	1.57
67	Austria	1.66
68	Argentina	1.68
69	Madagascar	1.96
70	Finland	2.03
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better74
Pos.		Total %74
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
4	Thailand	0.03%
5	Ukraine	0.03%
6	Czechia	0.03%
7	Kazakhstan	0.04%
8	Russia	0.04%
9	Belgium	0.06%
10	Netherlands	0.07%
11	France	0.08%
12	Moldova	0.09%
	Asia Avg	3.54%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better75
Pos.		201975
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
60=	Lebanon	7.40
60=	Ukraine	7.40
62	Brunei	7.60
63	Kazakhstan	7.70
64=	Macedonia	7.90
64=	Uruguay	7.90
64=	Thailand	7.90
64=	Georgia	7.90
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better76
Pos.		2023 %76
1	Slovakia	24.1%77
2	Slovenia	24.3%77
3	Belarus	24.4%78
	...
24	Croatia	28.9%77
25	Kosovo	29.0%79
26=	Hungary	29.2%77
26=	Kazakhstan	29.2%77
28	Maldives	29.3%80
29	Albania	29.4%78
30	Iraq	29.5%81
31=	Pakistan	29.6%82
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better83
Pos.		2018 Severity83
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
4	Turkmenistan	.001
5	Jordan	.002
6	Kazakhstan	.002
7	Montenegro	.002
8	Trinidad & Tobago	.002
9	Maldives	.003
10	Albania	.003
11	Thailand	.003
12	Moldova	.004
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Between 2010 and 2020, Kazakhstan saw the world's biggest increase in the percentage of Muslims (+8.2%), rising to 77.9% of the population.

Religiosity (2018)59
Pos.		Lower is better %59
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
27=	Ireland	22
27=	Kazakhstan	22
27=	Spain	22
30=	Slovakia	23
30=	Ukraine	23
32	Canada	27
33=	Uzbekistan	29
33=	Uruguay	29
35	Poland	30
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
37=	Portugal	36
39	Azerbaijan	38
40	Chile	41
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)84
Pos.		Higher is better %84
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
35	Armenia	14
36=	Lithuania	13
36=	Singapore	13
38=	Kazakhstan	12
38=	China	12
38=	Uruguay	12
41	USA	10
42	Trinidad & Tobago	9
43	Albania	8
44=	Dominican Rep.	7
44=	Croatia	7
44=	Kyrgyzstan	7
44=	Cambodia	7
48=	Moldova	6
48=	Italy	6
50=	Laos	5
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₅:

	2010	2020
Muslim	69.7%	77.9%
Christian	27.3%	19.3%
Unaffiliated	2.86%	2.53%
Other	<0.1%	0.136%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	None	None

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 97.2% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (12%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 97.5% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 22% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%₈₆.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?