Natural hazards: earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Environment-current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salinization from faulty irrigation practices
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: landlocked
@Kazakhstan:People
Population: 16,846,808 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 2,486,607; female 2,413,207) 15-64 years: 64% (male 5,243,028; female 5,523,199) 65 years and over: 7% (male 393,950; female 786,817) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.17% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 17.24 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.15 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)