Kazakhstan ranked 38th among 70 economies in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking.
With an index score of 65.4, Kazakhstan ranked ahead of Spain, Portugal, Poland, India, and Italy. Singapore took first place, followed by Hong Kong and Switzerland.
The annual ranking assesses economies across four main areas — economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. IMD combines statistical data with a survey of senior executives. Hard data account for two-thirds of the ranking and covered 172 criteria in 2026, while responses from around 6,900 executives were used for another 92 criteria. IMD’s methodology explains that the indicators are designed to measure both quantifiable economic conditions and how businesses view the environment in which they operate.
Kazakhstan’s strongest results came in government and business efficiency, where it ranked 23rd globally in both categories. Tax policy was a particular strength, placing ninth among the 70 economies assessed.
Kazakhstan’s economy expanded by 6.5% in 2025, the sixth-highest growth rate among the economies assessed by IMD. It also ranked sixth among economies with GDP per capita below $20,000.
Kazakhstan is the only Central Asian economy included in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking. IMD relies heavily on internationally comparable statistics and business survey data. Reliable data is essential for judging competitiveness. Kazakhstan leads Central Asia in the World Bank’s Statistical Performance Indicators and, alongside Kyrgyzstan, was one of only two regional governments to meet the U.S. State Department’s 2026 minimum fiscal-transparency requirements.
Kazakhstan has also subscribed to the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard since March 2003. The standard sets requirements for the coverage, periodicity, and timeliness of economic data, as well as public access, integrity and information on methodology.
