While official data shows that the monetary income of Kazakhstani citizens has nearly doubled over the past five years, many citizens report that their day-to-day experiences do not align with the statistics. Analysts at Ranking.kz conducted a study comparing official income data with real purchasing power, highlighting a complex and often uneven picture of economic well-being across the country.
Average vs. Median Income: A Growing Gap
According to the National Statistics Bureau, the average annual per capita income in 2024 exceeded 1.3 million KZT (approximately $2,600), up from 692,000 KZT ($1,384) in 2019, an almost twofold increase. This translates to an average monthly income of 110,700 KZT ($221). However, this figure includes more than just wages: pensions contribute 16.6%, entrepreneurial income 9.2%, and social support less than 4%.
Median income, which more accurately reflects the economic position of the “typical” Kazakhstani, tells a more modest story. In 2024, the median monthly income stood at just 93,300 KZT ($186), and in half of the country’s regions, incomes fell below this level. For example, in the populous Turkestan Region, the median income was just 69,600 KZT ($139). In contrast, major urban centers like Almaty and Astana recorded median incomes more than a third higher than the national average, above 126,000 KZT ($252).
Rising Nominal Wages, Stagnant Real Gains
Over five years, the average nominal monthly wage grew from 186,800 KZT ($374) to 402,600 KZT ($805). Yet, in real terms, after adjusting for inflation, income growth has been subdued. Between 2022 and 2024, real income rose by only 2.7%, compared to 9.1% in 2019.
Inflation has been the primary factor undermining purchasing power. In 2023 alone, inflation surged to 14.5%, effectively eroding most wage gains.
Sectoral Disparities and the Modal Wage
Finance, mining, and IT remain the highest-paying sectors. In 2024, financial sector professionals earned an average of 857,200 KZT ($1,714), followed by mining specialists at 853,100 KZT ($1,706) and information and communications professionals at 715,900 KZT ($1,432). These sectors also saw real income increases, 19.4% in IT and 14.2% in finance.
At the other end of the spectrum, agriculture, water supply, and cultural sectors continue to be among the lowest-paying. Salaries in these fields range from 262,000 to 278,000 KZT ($524-$556). Despite nominal wage increases, the income gap with higher-paying sectors remains substantial. The education sector saw marginal improvement, but real wages declined by 1.2% in 2024.
Notably, the most commonly earned (modal) wage in 2024 was just 97,600 KZT ($195), only 12,600 KZT ($25) above the national minimum wage. This figure represented just 24.2% of the average nominal wage, underscoring a wide disparity between statistical averages and the reality for most workers.
Do the Numbers Reflect Reality?
On paper, Kazakhstan’s income statistics appear encouraging: rising wages, a reduction in social vulnerability, and steady economic indicators. Yet, when inflation, regional inequalities, and the uneven structure of earnings are considered, a more nuanced picture emerges.
The core challenge remains unchanged, ensuring a sustained increase in purchasing power, not just nominal income figures. For many Kazakhstanis, true economic well-being is still a work in progress.
