Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan demonstrates how landlocked geography combines with resource abundance to create both opportunity and constraint. The world's largest landlocked country and Central Asia's dominant economy, Kazakhstan sits on oil, gas, and uranium reserves that drive 35% of GDP and 75% of exports. Yet every barrel of oil must cross a neighbor's territory to reach market—making foreign policy an extension of pipeline economics.

The scale is impressive. Kazakhstan attracted over $370 billion in foreign investment since independence in 1991. GDP per capita reached $14,770 in 2025, surpassing Russia ($14,260) and China ($13,690) according to IMF projections. The extractive sector accounts for nearly 43% of all tax payments. Kazakhstan leads the world in uranium production and ranks among top producers of salt, ferrochrome, titanium sponge, potash, copper, and zinc.

Strategic geography converts landlocked status into transit advantage. Positioned between China and Europe, Kazakhstan participates in the Belt and Road Initiative while maintaining relationships with Russia, the EU, and Central Asian neighbors. The first half of 2025 saw transport sector growth of 22.4%—the fastest in 14 years—as goods increasingly flow through Kazakh corridors bypassing sanctions-constrained Russian routes.

Diversification remains the stated priority, but the resource curse operates through political economy, not just economics. Non-oil sectors delivered 6.3% growth in early 2025—promising evidence that other sectors can expand. Yet productivity persistently lags, investment declines outside extractives, and inflation (7.5-8% projected for 2025) erodes non-resource competitiveness. Like many resource-rich nations, Kazakhstan must build sustainable economic capacity while the commodity revenues last.