Kazakhstan trivia: 49 questions and answers

Astana. Astana has been the capital since 10 December 1997. Almaty is the largest city and was the capital until then.

True. True. Kazakhstan has no coast on the open ocean, and with about 2.7 million km² it is the largest landlocked country and the ninth largest country of all.

Tenge. The tenge (symbol ₸) was introduced on 15 November 1993. The som is used in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the manat in Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, and the lari in Georgia.

Kazakh. Kazakh is the state language. Russian is also used officially and is widely spoken, but it does not have the title of state language.

Khan Tengri. Khan Tengri, about 7,010 m with its ice cap, stands where Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China meet. Elbrus is in Russia, Ararat in Türkiye, Everest on the Nepal and China border.

True. True. The code +997 was reserved for Kazakhstan in 2021, but the switch was dropped, and as of 2026 Kazakhstan still uses +7.

1991. Kazakhstan declared independence on 16 December 1991. Ten days later the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

The 'Golden Man', a young Saka noble buried with about 4,000 gold ornaments. The 'Golden Man', a young Saka noble buried with about 4,000 gold ornaments, was found in 1969. The burial dates from the 4th or 3rd century BC, and the figure is now a national symbol.

Forced collectivisation, which took away the nomads' herds. Forced collectivisation, which took away the nomads' herds, destroyed their way of life. An estimated 1.3 to 2.3 million people died, most of them Kazakhs.

True. True. There were 456 tests there between 1949 and 1989, and the site was closed on 29 August 1991.

Baikonur. Gagarin was launched from Baikonur, in the Kazakh steppe, on 12 April 1961. Sputnik 1 had also been launched from there in 1957.

Timur. Timur commissioned it in 1389. Work stopped when he died in 1405, so the building was never quite finished.

False. False. Voters approved the new constitution on 15 March 2026, and it came into force on 1 July 2026.

Beshbarmak. Beshbarmak, boiled meat on sheets of thin dough with onions and broth, is the national dish and the centre of every festive meal.

Five fingers. Beshbarmak means 'five fingers', because the dish was traditionally eaten with the hands.

Mare, a female horse. Mare, a female horse: kymyz is fermented mare's milk. Fermented camel's milk is a different drink, shubat.

True. True. The host refills the bowl again and again to keep the tea hot. A full bowl can even hint that it is time to leave.

Horse. Kazy is made from horse meat and fat. It was once a dish only the wealthy could afford.

Nauryz, the spring new year. Nauryz kozhe is cooked for Nauryz, the spring new year in March. Its seven ingredients stand for good fortune in the year ahead.

True. True. Aport apples usually weigh 200 to 500 g each and grow in the foothills around Almaty.

Almaty. Almaty has more than two million people. Astana, the capital, is second and Shymkent third.

Alma-Ata. Alma-Ata is the old name of Almaty. Astana was called Akmoly, Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, Astana, Nur-Sultan from 2019, and Astana again since 2022.

True. True. Semey, on the Irtysh River, was known as Semipalatinsk until 2007.

Turkistan. The mausoleum stands in Turkistan in the south. In 2003 it became Kazakhstan's first World Heritage Site.

The magic bird Samruk laying its egg in the tree of life. The magic bird Samruk laying its egg in the tree of life is the legend behind the tower. The golden ball at the top stands for the egg.

True. True. Designed by Norman Foster, it is 150 m tall with its spire and holds shops, a park, a small river and an indoor beach.

A huge outdoor ice skating rink. Medeu is a huge outdoor ice skating rink at 1,691 m, where many speed skating world records were set.

False. False. The cathedral, completed in 1907, is made of wood and is 56 m tall.

Red sandstone. Charyn Canyon is carved into red sandstone by wind and water. Its best-known stretch is the Valley of Castles.

True. True. The rock carvings of Tamgaly, the oldest from the Bronze Age, became a World Heritage Site in 2004.

The apple. The apple. DNA studies show that this wild apple is the main ancestor of the apples eaten around the world.

Ulaanbaatar. Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, is colder. Ottawa held second place until Astana became the capital in 1997.

False. False. Its longest border, about 7,644 km, is with Russia, and it is the longest continuous land border in the world. The border with China is about 1,780 km.

7. As of 2026 there are 7. The newest, added in 2026, are the rock mosques and sacred sites of Mangystau.

True. True. The target date for the switch has moved from 2025 to 2031, so both scripts are in use.

The International Day against Nuclear Tests. 29 August is the International Day against Nuclear Tests, chosen in memory of the closing of the Semipalatinsk site.

Thank you. Raqmet means 'thank you'. Hello is 'sälem', goodbye 'sau bolyñyz' and please 'ötınem'.

Steppe. Dala means 'steppe', the wide grassland that covers much of Kazakhstan. Mountain is 'tau', lake 'köl' and city 'qala'.

True. True. Alma means apple, and the old name of Almaty, Alma-Ata, is often linked with it.

Horse. Jylqy means horse. A camel is 'tüie' and a sheep 'qoi'.

Sälemetsız be?. Sälemetsız be? is the polite hello. Sau bolyñyz means goodbye, raqmet thank you and keşırıñız excuse me.

Goodbye. Sau bolyñyz means 'goodbye', literally 'stay healthy'.

True. True. Kömektesıñız! is the word to shout in an emergency.

False. False. Oqasy joq means 'you're welcome', the reply to thanks.

112. 112 is the general emergency number. You can also call 101 for fire, 102 for police and 103 for an ambulance.

False. False. You must carry your original passport or ID, and police do not accept copies.

A military site. A military site. Photographs of military sites, border areas, airports and some official buildings are banned, and equipment can be confiscated.

True. True. As of September 2026, British visitors can stay up to 30 days at a time without a visa, and no more than 90 days in any 180.

Order one through an app or your hotel. Order one through an app or your hotel. This avoids overcharging and unlicensed drivers.