Kazakhstan

摘要

Area: 2,217,300 sq.km; 15% arable, 57% meadows and pastures, 4% forest and woodland, other 24%. Coastline: Landlocked (1,015km coastline on the Aral Sea, 1,894km coastline on the Caspian Sea). Population: 15,460,484 (July 2010 est.); annual growth rate 0.399% (2010 est.). The population is 46% Kazakh, 34% Russian, 5% other Slavs, 3% Germans, 2% other. Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Ortodox 44%, Protestant and other 9%. Language: Kazakh (official), Russian. Literacy rate: Officially 100%. Long-form or legal name: Republic of Kazakhstan (Qazaqstan Respublikasy). Type of government: Republic. Very strong presidential system. Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (oblasts) and 3 cities. Legal system: Based on civil law system. Branches of government: President elected by popular vote; Prime Minister and Cabinet appointed by the President; bicameral legislative (47-member Senate, 67-member Supreme Council); judiciary headed by Supreme Court and Constitutional Council. The President can rule by decree and has exclusive powers to initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve parliament, call referendums, and appoint and dismiss the administrative heads of regions and cities.