However, the linguistic landscape is more complex:
* Kazakh is the dominant language, spoken by about 65% of the population. It's a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek and Kyrgyz.
* Russian is widely spoken, particularly in urban areas and among older generations. It serves as a lingua franca for inter-ethnic communication.
* Uzbek is spoken by a significant minority, primarily in the south.
* Uighur is spoken in the north-west, particularly in the city of Almaty.
* Other languages are spoken by smaller groups, including German, Korean, and Tatar.
It's important to note that while Russian enjoys widespread use, Kazakhstan is actively promoting the use of Kazakh and aiming to increase its status as the primary language of government and education.