Kazakhstan has a population of around 20 million, spread across a territory the size of Western Europe. The low density is striking — much of the country is near-empty steppe and desert, with the population concentrated in the south and the two major cities.
Ethnic Kazakhs make up about two-thirds of the population, a proportion that has risen steadily since independence as Russians and other Soviet-era settlers emigrated. Russians, who make up around 15–17% of the population, are concentrated in the northern cities and industrial towns. There are also significant communities of Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Germans (descendants of those deported by Stalin), Koreans (likewise), Uighurs, and Tatars.
The Kazakhs were traditionally a nomadic people, organized into three great tribal confederations called zhuz — the Elder, Middle, and Junior — with roots stretching back to the Mongol empire. Kazakhs will still often tell you which zhuz and which clan they belong to; it remains a meaningful part of identity, especially in rural areas.
Hospitality is the cornerstone of Kazakh culture. A guest is expected to eat, and to eat generously. Refusing food at someone's table is a genuine social misstep. The centerpiece of a Kazakh feast is usually beshbarmak — boiled horse or mutton served over wide flat noodles, eaten with the hands (the name means "five fingers"). After the meal comes tea, milk, and more conversation.
The dominant religion is Islam, though Kazakhstan's version has always been more steppe-influenced than Middle Eastern. Alcohol is consumed openly, mosques coexist with casinos, and the call to prayer doesn't set the rhythm of daily life in the cities. There's a large Russian Orthodox minority, and religious observance of all kinds is moderate by regional standards.
The country is officially secular, and the government has been firm about keeping it that way. The literacy rate is extremely high — a legacy of Soviet-era education — and Kazakhstanis place significant value on education and professional achievement.