The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) lowered its base rate by 50 bps to 16.25% at its September 2026 meeting, surprising markets that had widely expected policymakers to cut borrowing costs by 25 bps. The decision followed July’s 25 bps cut, as annual inflation eased for an eleventh consecutive month to 9.8% in August, marking the lowest reading since February 2025. The central bank has lowered rates by a total of 175 bps since June, bringing the policy rate to its lowest level since February 2025. However, the NBK noted that the external environment remains unstable amid high energy prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and increasing external inflationary pressures. The central bank revised its inflation forecast for 2027 to 6.5%-8.5% from 5.5%-7.5% previously due to rising external inflation and an increase in fiscal stimulus. “However, given intensifying inflationary factors and risks, the scope for further cuts is limited,” the regulator said. source: National Bank of Kazakhstan

The benchmark interest rate in Kazakhstan was last recorded at 16.75 percent. Interest Rate in Kazakhstan averaged 20.41 percent from 1992 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 300.00 percent in March of 1994 and a record low of 5.50 percent in August of 2012. This page provides the latest reported value for - Kazakhstan Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Kazakhstan Interest Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on September of 2026.

The benchmark interest rate in Kazakhstan was last recorded at 16.75 percent. Interest Rate in Kazakhstan is expected to be 16.25 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Kazakhstan Interest Rate is projected to trend around 15.00 percent in 2027 and 14.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-05 07:00 AM Interest Rate Decision 17% 18% 18% 18.0%
2026-07-24 07:00 AM Interest Rate Decision 16.75% 17% 17% 17%
2026-09-04 07:00 AM Interest Rate Decision 16.25% 16.75% 16.5% 16.5%
2026-10-23 07:00 AM Interest Rate Decision 16.25%
2026-12-04 07:00 AM Interest Rate Decision


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Banks Balance Sheet 75643464000.00 74226775000.00 KZT Thousand Jul 2026
Central Bank Balance Sheet 17651275.00 18708677.00 KZT Million Aug 2026
Interest Rate 16.25 16.75 percent Sep 2026


Kazakhstan Interest Rate
In Kazakhstan, interest rates decisions are taken by The National Bank of Kazakhstan. The National Bank of Kazakhstan official interest rate is the overnight policy rate. Policymakers set the overnight repo rate as the new benchmark on September 2nd, 2015, instead of the refinancing rate, after abandoning the currency peg in August.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
16.25 16.75 300.00 5.50 1992 - 2026 percent Daily

News Stream
Kazakhstan Unexpectedly Cuts Rates by 50 Bps to 16.25%
The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) lowered its base rate by 50 bps to 16.25% at its September 2026 meeting, surprising markets that had widely expected policymakers to cut borrowing costs by 25 bps. The decision followed July’s 25 bps cut, as annual inflation eased for an eleventh consecutive month to 9.8% in August, marking the lowest reading since February 2025. The central bank has lowered rates by a total of 175 bps since June, bringing the policy rate to its lowest level since February 2025. However, the NBK noted that the external environment remains unstable amid high energy prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and increasing external inflationary pressures. The central bank revised its inflation forecast for 2027 to 6.5%-8.5% from 5.5%-7.5% previously due to rising external inflation and an increase in fiscal stimulus. “However, given intensifying inflationary factors and risks, the scope for further cuts is limited,” the regulator said.
2026-09-04
Central Bank of Kazakhstan Cuts Rates Again
The National Bank of Kazakhstan lowered its base rate by 25bps to 16.75% at its July 2026 meeting, surprising markets that had widely expected policymakers to leave borrowing costs unchanged. The decision followed June's surprise 100bps cut, as annual inflation eased for a ninth consecutive month to 10.3% in June. Policymakers said disinflation continued to be supported by tight monetary policy, a stronger tenge, moderating consumer demand, and government anti-inflation measures, although recent monthly inflation data suggested the slowdown in price pressures may be losing momentum. The central bank also highlighted resilient economic activity, with GDP expanding 4.1% in the first half of 2026, supported by strong growth in construction, manufacturing, transportation, and investment. Despite the rate cut, policymakers reiterated that inflation risks remain tilted to the upside and emphasized that future policy decisions will remain data-dependent.
2026-07-24
Central Bank of Kazakhstan Lowers Interest Rate
The Central Bank of Kazakhstan lowered its key policy rate by 100bps to 17% at its June 2026 meeting, marking the first reduction in borrowing costs since mid-2024 and surprising markets, which had broadly expected rates to remain unchanged. Policymakers noted that inflation continued to ease, slowing to 10.4% in May. The central bank revised its 2026 inflation forecast downward to 9–11% from 9.5–11.5%, due to a faster-than-expected deceleration in price growth, the limited pass-through of the VAT increase to consumer prices, and the appreciation of the tenge. Inflation is now projected to slow further to 5.5–7.5% in 2027 and converge to the central bank's 5% target in 2028. Meanwhile, the GDP growth forecast for 2026 was upgraded to 4.5–5.5%. Despite the rate cut, policymakers emphasized that monetary conditions must remain moderately restrictive to ensure inflation falls into single digits this year and returns to the medium-term target
2026-06-05