Kazakhstan Economy Posts Record 9.6% Growth in January–August

Kazakhstan’s short-term economic indicator, a measure of monthly GDP growth, contracted by 2.8% year-on-year in January 2026, reversing the four-month high of 9.4% growth recorded in the previous month. It marked the first economic contraction since March 2021, primarily driven by declines in industry (-6.6% vs 7.5%) and mining and quarrying (-19.9% vs 9.4%). Growth also slowed in several other sectors, including manufacturing (4.4% vs 6.4%), agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.6% vs 5.9%), construction (14.4% vs 15.9%), wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (2.9% vs 8.9%), and transportation and storage (5.9% vs 20.4%). Regionally, economic activity fell most sharply in Atyrau (-33.2%), Batys Kazakhstan (-20.1%), Akmola (-10.0%), and Shygys Kazakhstan (-1.6%). In contrast, the strongest growth was recorded in Turkistan (20.2%), Zhetisu (14.2%), and Soltustik Kazakhstan (13.1%).

Kazakhstan’s short-term economic indicator, a measure of monthly GDP growth, rose by 9.4% year-on-year from January to December 2025, accelerating from a steady 9.1% increase recorded over the previous three months and remaining well above the 6.2% growth seen in the same period of the previous year. This marked the fastest pace of expansion since August, primarily driven by strong performance in transportation and storage (20.4%), construction (15.9%), trade (8.9%), and industry (7.5%). Meanwhile, the weakest growth was observed in the communication (3.6%) and agriculture (5.9%) sectors. Regionally, economic activity expanded most rapidly in Astana City (17.6%), Shymkent City (16.7%), Turkistan Region (13.9%), and Soltustik Kazakhstan Region (13.8%). In contrast, activity in the Shygys Kazakhstan Region contracted (-0.9%).

Kazakhstan’s short-term economic indicator, a measure of monthly GDP growth, rose 9.1% year-on-year in the period from January to November 2025, holding this pace for three consecutive months and well above 5.6% increase in the same perios of lasr year. The advance was led by transport and storage (+20.3%), construction (+14.7%), wholesale and retail trade (+8.8%), and industry (+7.4%). Regionally, growth was strongest in Astana (+18.6%), Atyrau (+14.7%), Turkistan (+14.4%) and Shymkent (+14.2%), while activity in the Shygys Kazakhstan region contracted slightly (-1.0%).