Country Comments

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world and is estimated to hold vast reserves of many non renewable natural resources, including uranium, chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, copper, coal, iron and gold.

Since 2015 Kazakhstan’s fertility rate has averaged 2.7 children per woman which has led to an increase of over 225,000 new citizens every year to a country that already has almost twice as many citizens than can live sustainably on the country’s renewable resources.

With its aging coal plants and transmission network, Kazakhstan is one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and, as of 2015, its energy sector accounts for 82 percent of the GHG emissions. More than 80 percent of electricity comes from coal-fired generation, followed by 7 percent from natural gas and 8 percent from hydropower. (1)

The United Nations Women organization reported Kazakhstan has high levels of violence against women and traditional patriarchal norms, and stereotypes pose a great obstacle to gender equality. Persistent gender imbalances remain, particularly in wages and access to employment and career opportunities.

(1) https://www.usaid.gov/kazakhstan/energy-and-environment