Kazakhstan is rapidly embracing cashless payments, with the share of cash withdrawals in card transactions continuing to decline each year, according to data from the National Bank. While the country has not yet reached the levels seen in leading digital economies, recent trends suggest Kazakhstan is closing the gap.
A recent study by analysts at Finprom.kz compares Kazakhstan’s transition to cashless payments with global trends. It highlights the persistent divide between countries where cash is nearly obsolete and those where it remains dominant.
The global variation is illustrated by the Cash Index, compiled by FOREX.se, which ranks 122 countries based on the share of daily transactions made with cash. Using data from Statista, Numbeo, central banks, and other global sources, the index offers an average estimate of cash usage across the world.
According to the Cash Index, countries with the lowest rates of cash use, just 10%, include South Korea, Norway, China, Iceland, and Australia. Similarly low figures are reported for Scotland, England, and Denmark (12% each). Analysts attribute this to strong fintech ecosystems, widespread broadband internet, high smartphone penetration, and robust consumer protection frameworks.
In contrast, cash remains dominant in countries where poverty, limited banking access, and weak infrastructure prevail. In Myanmar, daily cash transactions account for 98% of all payments, followed by Ethiopia and Gambia at 95%. Other high-cash-use countries include Albania, Cambodia, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal, and Pakistan, all averaging around 90%.
While Kazakhstan is not included in the Cash Index due to its tourism orientation, National Bank statistics provide insight into local trends. From January to October 2025, cash withdrawals via Kazakhstani and foreign payment cards totaled $44.37 billion, an 8.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Yet the overall trend favors non-cash transactions. The share of cash withdrawals in total card turnover fell from 13.5% to 12.9% over the year, comparable to figures seen in developed economies. By contrast, in 2019, cash accounted for more than half of card-based transactions. This dropped to 34.1% in 2020 and has continued its steady decline.
Regional data reveal that the shift to cashless payments is uneven across the country. In January-October 2025, the share of cash withdrawals in total card transactions ranged from 8.3% to 27.4%, depending on the region.
The lowest shares were recorded in the Almaty region (8.3%), Almaty city (9%), and the Turkestan region (9.4%). Astana and the Atyrau region followed with 14.4% and 14.8%, respectively. The North Kazakhstan region reported the highest share of cash withdrawals.
