Kazakhstani Tenge
Теңге
Currency Code
KZT
ISO 398
Symbol
KZT
Native: ₸
Decimal Digits
2
Rounding: 0
Countries
KZ
Using this currency
Currency Units
Major Unit
Name: tenge
Symbol: ₸
Minor Unit
Name: tiyn
Symbol:
Value: 0.01
Banknotes
Frequently Used
₸200₸500₸1000₸2000₸5000₸10000₸20000
Coins
Frequently Used
₸1₸2₸5₸10₸20₸50₸100₸200
Plural Forms
English Plural
Kazakhstani tenges
Native Plural
Теңге
Overview
The Kazakhstani Tenge is the currency of Kazakhstan, managed by the National Bank of Kazakhstan. It has experienced volatility due to oil price fluctuations and regional economic challenges, but Kazakhstan's large oil and mineral resources provide underlying economic strength.
Economy
- Kazakhstan is a member of EAEU, CSTO, SCO, CIS, OIC.
- Main industries include: Oil, Natural gas, Mining, Metallurgy, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Construction.
- Kazakhstan is part of the World Trade Organization.
- Imports are machinery, equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, automobiles.
- Major exports include oil and gas, minerals, chemicals, machinery, grain, wool, meat, coal.
- GDP: $220.8 billion (2023 est.).
- GDP per capita: $11,299 (2023 est.).
- Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2023 est.).
- Inflation rate: 15.4% (2023 est.).
- Main trading partners: China, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Turkey, France.
- Trade agreements: EAEU membership, WTO member, Various bilateral agreements.
History
- Previous currencies used: Soviet ruble, Russian ruble (briefly).
- The tenge was introduced in 1993, replacing the Soviet ruble. The name 'tenge' derives from the Russian word for money, which in turn comes from the Turkic 'tangah' meaning stamped coin.
- 1993: KZT introduced, replacing Soviet ruble
- 1995: National Bank of Kazakhstan established
- 1999: Tenge devaluation due to Russian crisis
- 2009: Devaluation due to global financial crisis
- 2014-2015: Significant devaluation due to oil price collapse
- 2017: Currency stabilization efforts
- Exchange rate peg: Free floating since 2015.
General Information
- ISO 4217 Code: KZT
- Symbols: KZT/₸
- Currency Subunits: 100 tiyn
- Central Bank: National Bank of Kazakhstan
- Monetary Policy: Inflation targeting with free-floating exchange rate. Focus on price stability while managing oil revenue volatility.
- Bills: 500 KZT, 1000 KZT, 2000 KZT, 5000 KZT, 10000 KZT, 20000 KZT
- Coins: 1 tenge, 2 tenge, 5 tenge, 10 tenge, 20 tenge, 50 tenge, 100 tenge, 200 tenge
- USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 450-470 KZT per USD)
- Pegged To: None (Floating)
- Capital: Nur-Sultan (Astana)
- Population: 19,543,464 (2023 est.)
- Area: 2,724,900 km²
- Languages: Kazakh (official), Russian (official)
- Time Zones: UTC+5 to UTC+6 (2 time zones)
- Government Type: Presidential republic
- Head of Government: President (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government)
- Independence: December 16, 1991 (from Soviet Union)
- Ethnic Groups: Kazakh 69.6%, Russian 17.9%, Uzbek 3.3%, Ukrainian 1.5%, Uyghur 1.4%, Tatar 1.1%, German 0.8%, Other 4.4%
- Religions: Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2%, Other 0.2%, Atheist 2.8%, Unspecified 0.5%
- Literacy Rate: 99.8% (2018 est.)
- Transport: Nur-Sultan and Almaty airports, extensive rail network, road development, Caspian Sea ports
- Communications: Good telecommunications, 85% internet penetration, widespread mobile coverage
- Energy: Oil and gas 85%, Coal 12%, Hydroelectric 2%, Nuclear 1%
- Countries Using This Currency: Kazakhstan
- Data Sources: Central Bank: National Bank of Kazakhstan (nationalbank.kz), Economic Data: Bureau of National Statistics Kazakhstan, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: Committee on Statistics Kazakhstan, Demographic Data: Bureau of National Statistics Kazakhstan, Geographic Data: Kazhydromet, Historical Data: National Bank of Kazakhstan archives
- Last Updated: 2025