Kazakhstan Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 43rd
MPR SCORE: 674
MPR Index: 0.2826 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.6799 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: +0.591 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Kazakhstan ranks 43rd in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR), reflecting its status as Central Asia’s most militarily capable state and a key player in regional security dynamics. As the largest landlocked country in the world and sharing borders with both Russia and China, Kazakhstan’s military doctrine emphasizes territorial defense, border control, and rapid internal deployment across vast and often remote terrain. While not a global military power, Kazakhstan wields significant regional influence through its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and maintains close defense ties with both Russia and China.
Strengths: Strategic Depth, Modernization, and Regional Alliances
Kazakhstan's military posture is built around its geography, alliances, and self-preservation doctrine:
Vast Territory and Border Security Doctrine
Kazakhstan’s military is tasked with securing a 12,000 km border, including lengthy and sensitive frontiers with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
The country is divided into multiple regional commands, each capable of independent operations and border response, reflecting its doctrine of distributed defense.
Ground Force Mobility and Air Defense Modernization
Kazakhstan maintains a sizable ground force (~70,000 active troops) supported by T-72 tanks, BTRs, and modern Russian armored platforms.
Recent upgrades include Russian S-300PS and Buk-M2 air defense systems, giving Kazakhstan one of Central Asia’s most capable integrated air networks.
Strong Alliances and Interoperability
As a founding CSTO member, Kazakhstan regularly participates in joint drills with Russia and Belarus, reinforcing command coordination and regional logistics.
It also engages in military-technical cooperation with China, including purchases of drones, communication systems, and limited joint training.
Why Kazakhstan Ranks 43rd in 2025
While Kazakhstan’s military is effective in its regional context, it remains constrained in several strategic dimensions that affect its overall MPR score:
1. Limited Force Projection and Expeditionary Reach
Kazakhstan’s armed forces are optimized for defensive and internal missions, not external deployment.
The country has no blue-water navy (aside from small patrol craft on the Caspian Sea), no strategic airlift capacity, and no power projection capability beyond its borders.
2. No Strategic Deterrent or Independent Technological Edge
Kazakhstan is a non-nuclear state, with no long-range missile capabilities or strategic deterrence assets.
It relies heavily on imported platforms and Russian military doctrine, limiting doctrinal innovation or independent C4ISR development.
Defense industry remains underdeveloped, with limited domestic production of major platforms.
3. Command and Operational Challenges
Given its geographic scale, Kazakhstan’s military faces challenges in logistical coordination, rapid mobilization, and communications across isolated regions.
Reserve mobilization is inconsistent, and operational readiness varies significantly across the four military districts.
Conclusion
Kazakhstan is a regional power with credible defensive capabilities, a modernizing force structure, and strong strategic alliances with both Russia and China. Its geographic scale, security architecture, and CSTO alignment make it a key military actor in Central Asia.
However, its ranking of 43rd in the 2025 MPR reflects the limited scope of its military ambitions, lack of strategic autonomy, and its focus on homeland defense rather than global or offensive power projection. Kazakhstan is structured to defend its vast terrain—not to dominate others.
Military Strength and Force Projection:
Active Military Personnel: 40,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 50,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 30,000 (National Guard and Border Guards)
Army Personnel: 30,000
Air Force Personnel: 10,000
Ground Forces:
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 1,200+ (T-72)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 2,000+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 600+
Air Force:
Combat Aircraft: 60+ (SIPRI 2023)
Helicopters: 40+
Transport Aircraft: 20+
Aircraft Breakdown:
Su-30 Fighter Jets: 20
MiG-29 Fighter Jets: 12
C-295 Transport Aircraft: 6
Naval Forces:
Kazakhstan is a landlocked country but maintains a small naval force for patrolling the Caspian Sea:
Patrol Vessels: 12 (Caspian Sea)
Missile Capabilities:
Kazakhstan does not possess strategic missile capabilities but maintains a strong air defense system. Its proximity to Russia ensures access to advanced missile defense systems, which enhance its national defense posture.
Strategic Partnerships:
Kazakhstan plays a key role in Central Asian security and maintains strong military cooperation with Russia through the CSTO and China through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Kazakhstan also cooperates with NATO through the Partnership for Peace program and has sought to balance relations with both Western and Eastern powers.
Kazakhstan – Military History & Combat Experience
Kazakhstan has not engaged in conventional warfare since its independence in 1991, but its military history is rooted in its Soviet inheritance, vast geographic demands, and focus on regional stability through alliances. The Kazakh Armed Forces emphasize border security, internal deployment readiness, and CSTO joint operations.
Soviet Legacy (Pre-1991): Kazakhstan was a major Soviet military region, hosting nuclear test sites, missile bases, and armored divisions. This left a deep institutional framework and infrastructure, but also required large-scale demilitarization after independence.
Post-Independence Stabilization (1990s–2000s): Kazakhstan avoided ethnic or civil conflict during the post-Soviet transition, focusing on building a national military from Soviet units, with early assistance from Russia.
CSTO Peacekeeping Participation: Kazakhstan has taken part in Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) exercises and deployments, including the 2022 Kazakhstan unrest, where CSTO troops (including Russians) were called in to stabilize internal disorder — a rare instance of military-backed domestic intervention.
Counterterrorism and Border Defense: Kazakhstan has conducted regular counterinsurgency operations along its southern borders and in the Fergana Valley, focusing on extremist threats, narco-trafficking, and cross-border instability.
While Kazakhstan lacks modern combat experience, it maintains a defensive posture rooted in post-Soviet doctrine, strategic alliance participation, and internal readiness for rapid crisis response.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~20.1 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~8.3 million (males and females aged 18–49)
Geographic Area: 2,724,900 km² (9th largest globally)
Land Boundaries: 13,364 km
Bordering Countries: China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked, though borders the Caspian Sea)
Climate: Continental; cold winters and hot summers; arid to semi-arid in many regions
Terrain: Vast steppes, deserts, low mountains, and parts of the Tien Shan range
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, uranium (largest global producer), iron ore, copper, zinc, chromium, lead, manganese
Proven Oil Reserves: ~30 billion barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~2.4 trillion cubic meters
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$2.1 billion USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.0%
GDP (PPP): ~$610 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$29,800
External Debt: ~$165 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Steady with moderate increases; modernization programs underway in air defense and mobility
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Mandatory for males (12 months); professional and contract-based service also common
Primary Defense Focus: Border security, internal stability, regional deterrence, CSTO commitments
Military Industry Base: Moderate; includes Kazakhstan Engineering, SRI Granit, and joint ventures with Russia, Turkey, and Israel
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Developing under the Ministry of Defense’s cyber command structure; partnered with Russian and Chinese firms
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (denuclearized in 1990s); formerly hosted Soviet nuclear weapons
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into Regional Commands (South, East, West, Center) under General Staff of the Armed Forces
Missile Inventory Highlights: S-300PS, Buk-M2, OTR-21 Tochka, Shkval MLRS; newer Turkish and Israeli systems under acquisition
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Trained reserve system exists; can be mobilized within 30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~250,000–300,000 (trained conscripts and retired officers)
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: Operated by Kazcosmos; includes KazSat telecom and earth observation satellites
Military Satellite Inventory: Limited; uses dual-use satellites and partners with Russia for ISR capability
Intelligence Infrastructure: National Security Committee (KNB), Military Intelligence Directorate
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Russia (CSTO), China (SCO), Turkey, limited cooperation with NATO under the Partnership for Peace
Airports (Total): ~97 (civilian and military)
Major Military Airports: Almaty, Astana (Nursultan), Aktau, Shymkent, Taldykorgan
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~40 vessels (mostly Caspian Sea-based)
Major Ports: Aktau, Bautino (Caspian Sea ports)
Naval Infrastructure: Small Caspian Sea navy with patrol boats, missile boats, and mine warfare units
Naval Replenishment Capability: Regional; limited to Caspian Sea operations
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~16,000 km
Roadways: ~97,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~1.8 million barrels per day
Energy Imports: Net exporter of crude oil, natural gas, and uranium
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: ~30–45 million barrels (government and industry-managed)
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Produces small arms, artillery, armored vehicles, and upgrades legacy Soviet systems
Military Installations (Domestic): Dozens of garrisons, airbases, training areas, and strategic depots across each regional command
Military Installations (Overseas): None officially; supports CSTO operations and UN peacekeeping missions
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Russian presence at Baikonur Cosmodrome and limited CSTO-affiliated personnel
Defense Alliances: CSTO, SCO, Partnership for Peace with NATO; bilateral defense ties with Turkey, Israel, and China
Strategic Airlift Capability: Operates IL-76, An-26, and C-295 aircraft; sufficient for regional deployments
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Moderate; defense-industrial base capable of supporting long-term national mobilization
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Modest but growing; focused on drones, digital command networks, and secure communications
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: KazMunayGas (energy), Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (rail), Air Astana (aviation), Kazatomprom (uranium/mining), Samruk-Kazyna (state logistics)
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan)
Founding Date: December 16, 1991 (independence from the Soviet Union)
System of Government: Unitary presidential republic with centralized executive authority
