ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s external debt rose 7.5% year on year to $182.8 billion as of April 1. The National Bank defines external debt as debt obligations of Kazakhstan’s residents to nonresidents. The figures show that most of Kazakhstan’s external liabilities remain outside the government balance sheet. Kazakhstan’s external debt is predominantly long term, with 87.1% carrying an original maturity of more than one year. Despite having by far the largest external debt stock in Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s general government debt burden remains comparatively moderate.