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Why Kazakhstan is Insanely Empty

RealLifeLore・42 minutes read

Kazakhstan is a vast country with a low population density, harsh climate, abundant renewable resources, and a history of demographic shifts due to Soviet policies and famines. The country faces challenges in balancing relationships with Russia and the West to avoid economic collapse, demographic threats, and territorial dismemberment.

Insights

  • Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country globally, has a population of only 20 million people in 2024, with a low population density of just over 7 people per square kilometer, impacted by historical events like famines and Soviet policies that significantly altered demographics and led to a decline in ethnic Kazaks.
  • Kazakhstan's delicate geopolitical position necessitates a careful balance between economic dependence on Russia, efforts to resettle ethnic Kazaks in the north, and selling resources to the Western world to avoid economic collapse, demographic threats, and potential territorial loss, highlighting the country's need for strategic and diplomatic decisions to navigate its challenging neighborhood.

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Recent questions

  • What is the population density of Kazakhstan?

    Low

  • What is the amount of arable land in Kazakhstan?

    296,000 sq km

  • What are the significant water sources in Kazakhstan?

    Sarysu River and Lake Balkhash

  • What caused a significant decline in Kazakhstan's population?

    Famine and Soviet policies

  • What led to a demographic shift in Kazakhstan post-1990?

    Economic struggles and migration

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Summary

00:00

Kazakhstan: Vast Land, Sparse Population, Rich Resources

  • Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country globally, equivalent in size to Western Europe.
  • Despite its vast size, Kazakhstan has a population of only 20 million people in 2024.
  • Kazakhstan's population density is extremely low, with just over 7 people per square kilometer.
  • Surrounding countries have significantly denser populations than Kazakhstan.
  • Kazakhstan's climate is harsh, with cold winters and hot summers dominating the region.
  • Kazakhstan has a large amount of arable land, with 296,000 square km available for agriculture.
  • The country has the highest density of arable land per person globally.
  • Kazakhstan possesses abundant renewable water resources, with 108 billion cubic meters annually.
  • The Sarysu River and Lake Balkhash are significant water sources in Kazakhstan.
  • Historical events, including Russian settlement and Soviet policies, have significantly impacted Kazakhstan's demographics and geography.

13:57

Soviet Policies and Famine Shift Kazakh Demographics

  • During a severe famine in Kazakhstan, an estimated 665,000 to 1.1 million Kazaks fled the country with their cattle to neighboring nations like China, Mongolia, and others, exacerbating food scarcity.
  • Soviet authorities labeled fleeing Kazaks as class traitors, ordering soldiers to shoot them at the border, resulting in numerous deaths.
  • The famine caused a significant decline in Kazakhstan's population, reducing Kazaks from 60% to 38% of the population between 1926 and 1937.
  • Kazakhstan experienced a devastating loss of over half its population due to famines and Soviet policies, leading to ethnic Russians outnumbering Kazaks.
  • Stalin's actions during World War II further impacted Kazakhstan's demographics, introducing large ethnic German and Tatar minorities.
  • The Kazakh Soviet Republic lost 660,000 citizens during World War II, representing 10.7% of the total population.
  • By 1959, ethnic Kazaks had plummeted to 30% of Kazakhstan's population, with Russians making up the majority.
  • Kazakhstan was colonized by Europeans, with ethnic Europeans retaining a slight majority even after the Soviet era.
  • Soviet projects in Kazakhstan, like the Virgin Lands Campaign, aimed to alter the country's geography, leading to ecological consequences.
  • The Aral Sea's destruction due to Soviet irrigation projects caused catastrophic ecological consequences, impacting fishing, agriculture, and climate in Kazakhstan.

27:46

Kazakhstan's Population Shift Post-Cold War

  • After the Cold War and the end of authoritarian policies from Moscow, many ethnic groups in Kazakhstan began leaving the country for their ancestral homelands.
  • By 1999, the ethnic Russian population in Kazakhstan decreased by 1.75 million as many returned to Russia.
  • Kazak Germans were allowed to relocate to Germany post-1990, leading to hundreds of thousands leaving Kazakhstan.
  • The law allowing Kazak Germans to move to Germany caused controversy as they were culturally and linguistically Russian.
  • Hundreds of thousands of Kazak Ukrainians migrated to Ukraine, while Kazakh Tatars moved to Crimea.
  • Kazakhstan's birth rates plummeted in the 1990s due to economic struggles transitioning to a capitalist economy.
  • In 1999, Kazakhstan's fertility rate hit a low of 1.8 children per woman, with a notable difference between Kazak and Russian women.
  • Kazakhstan experienced a significant population decline post-1993, losing over 2.1 million residents by 2002.
  • The country's population density hit a low of 5.47 people per square kilometer in 2002, taking about 20 years to recover.
  • Kazakhstan's population surpassed 20 million in 2021, with a growing economy and fertility rates leading to a demographic shift.

42:02

Kazakhstan's delicate balancing act for survival.

  • Kazakhstan's population, excluding ethnic Russians, is around 17 million people, with significant economic dependence on Russia due to oil export pipelines running through the country.
  • To maintain a delicate balance between Moscow and the West, Kazakhstan aims to resettle ethnic Kazaks in the north, remain part of Russia's economic and military alliances, and sell resources to the Western world.
  • Straying too far towards Russia could lead to Western sanctions, while moving towards the West could provoke Russian nationalists and risk territorial dismemberment.
  • Kazakhstan faces the challenge of navigating a dangerous neighborhood to avoid economic collapse, demographic threats, and potential territorial loss, necessitating careful diplomatic and strategic decisions.
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