Kazakhstan (US: /kæzækˈstæn, ˌkɑːzɑːkˈstɑːn/*(*listen), UK: /ˌkæzəkˈstɑːn, -ˈstæn/;[8] Kazakh: Қазақстан, tr. Qazaqstan, IPA:*[qɑzɑqˈstɑn]*(*listen); Russian: Казахстан, tr. Kazakhstan, IPA:*[kəzɐxˈstan]), officially the Republic of Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан Республикасы, tr. Qazaqstan Respy'bli'kasy; Russian: Республика Казахстан, tr. Respublika Kazakhstan),[3][9] is the world's largest landlocked country, and the ninth largest in the world, with an area of 2,724,900 square kilometres (1,052,100*sq*mi).[3][10] Kazakhstan is the dominant nation of Central Asia economically, generating 60% of the region's GDP, primarily through its oil/gas industry. It also has vast mineral resources.[11] Some argue that Kazakhstan may be considered a European country because Kazakhstan's Western region is on the European continent and meets the Council of Europe's criteria for European inclusion.[12]