Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country, located mainly in Central Asia with a small part in Eastern Europe. Its territory features vast steppes, mountains, deserts, and part of the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan’s capital is Astana, and the largest city is Almaty.

With a population of about 20 million, Kazakhs form the majority ethnic group, but there is also a significant Russian minority. Kazakh is the official language, although Russian is widely used for everyday communication. Kazakhstan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since developed a major energy sector, particularly in oil and gas, while maintaining centralized political control. The country is secular, with Islam being the predominant religion.