Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world by land size (2.725 million km², including areas of land and water). Economically, Kazakhstan has achieved the most comprehensive transition of post-Soviet Central Asian states from a planned to a market economy, fuelled by large reserves in oil, gas, and minerals such as uranium. On the other hand, much land in Kazakhstan remains under state ownership, from which the public may gain access through leaseholds. Reports show high levels of corruption amongst its land authorities, and the country ranks poorly in terms of its enforcement of property rights protections.