15 thousand dollars per capita: Where Kazakhstan stands between developing economies

At the end of 2025, Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita stood at 15,006 dollars, according to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms. By this indicator, the country ranks first in Central Asia.

The latest benchmarks are provided in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) October edition of the World Economic Outlook. The Fund projects Kazakhstan’s economy to grow by 4.4% in 2026.

Regional leader

Turkmenistan is the closest country to Kazakhstan in Central Asia in terms of GDP per capita. According to IMF estimates, its GDP per capita stood at 13,340 dollars. Natural gas exports form the backbone of the neighbouring country’s economy.

Uzbekistan, the region’s most populous country, lags considerably behind on this indicator. According to the Fund, GDP per capita there amounts to 3,510 dollars.

In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, GDP per capita does not exceed 3,000 dollars. The economies of both countries rely on remittances from migrant workers.

Among emerging market economies

The IMF classifies Kazakhstan as an emerging market economy, and the country ranks among the leaders in this group. According to the Fund’s calculations, Kazakhstan has already overtaken China, where GDP per capita stands at 13,690 dollars.

Malaysia is at a similar level with Kazakhstan in the IMF ranking. Türkiye is slightly ahead, with GDP per capita of 16,700 dollars.

According to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), Kazakhstan’s real GDP per capita has more than tripled over the past three decades. Over the same period, emerging market economies recorded an average increase of 2.6 times.

The Gap with Advanced Economies

The gap between Kazakhstan and the world’s leading economies remains substantial. In Japan, GDP per capita is approaching 34,000 dollars according to IMF estimates.

In the United States, the figure reaches 89,000 dollars per capita. Among European countries, Ireland ranks first, with a significant share of its economic activity generated by multinational corporations.

According to the Fund’s projections, Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita will rise to 23,200 dollars by 2031. This would place the country alongside Oman and Türkiye in the global ranking.

The High-Income Threshold

The World Bank classifies economies into four income groups and updates these classifications annually on July,1. As of this summer, an economy is classified as high-income if its gross national income (GNI) per capita exceeds 14,375 dollars.

GNI is calculated differently from GDP, which explains the difference between the two indicators. At the end of 2025, Kazakhstan’s GNI per capita stood at 13,740 dollars. The country therefore remains in the upper-middle-income group.

High-income status is determined solely by income levels. This group includes Russia and the Gulf monarchies, which the IMF nevertheless classifies as emerging market economies. In determining whether an economy qualifies as advanced, the Fund also considers its economic structure and integration into the global financial system.

EDB forecast

Analysts at the Eurasian Development Bank expect Kazakhstan to enter the high-income group in 2028–2029. The forecast is based on projected economic growth and an anticipated increase in the World Bank’s income threshold, adjusted for global inflation.

According to the Bank, attaining this status would enhance Kazakhstan’s investment attractiveness and improve its access to lower-cost financing. It could also contribute to an improvement in the country’s credit rating.