life expectancy - The Times Of Central Asia

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Longevity

Central Asia’s Longevity Boom: More People Living Past 100

The number of people living beyond 100 continues to rise across Central Asia. Experts attribute the trend to better medical care, declining infant mortality rates, and overall improvements in living standards. However, the distribution of centenarians across the region remains uneven. Tajikistan: A Steady Increase According to the Social Insurance and Pension Agency, 415 citizens over the age of 100 are currently registered in Tajikistan. The country’s average life expectancy has reached 76.6 years. Among Tajikistan’s oldest residents are 120-year-old Marziyamoh Ibodova from Darvaz and 117-year-old Gulrakhat Nazarova from Dangara. Experts say rising life expectancy is closely linked to economic progress, advances in cardiovascular treatment, and improved access to healthcare. Uzbekistan: A Record-Breaking Claim Uzbekistan leads the region with 514 centenarians as of January 1, 2024, comprising 404 women and 110 men. The highest concentration is in the Kashkadarya Region, which is home to 92. One extraordinary case has drawn global attention. Khuvaydo Umarova (Toshmatova), a resident of Karakum mahalla in the Buvayda District, was officially recognized by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice in September 2025 as having turned 130. [caption id="attachment_39103" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Khuvaydo Umarova; image: Uzbekistan Ministry of Justice[/caption] Born on January 1, 1895, her birth had gone unregistered for decades. Following verification of her documents, Khuvaydo-mum is now slated for entry into the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest living person. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: Moderate Numbers Kazakhstan’s oldest known resident is a 115-year-old woman from the Ulytau Region. Most of the country’s centenarians live in Almaty (58), followed by the Turkestan Region (53) and the Almaty Region (37). In Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Health Minister Bubuzhan Arykbaeva reports approximately 300 citizens over 100 years old. This places the country fourth in Central Asia in terms of centenarian population. A Global Phenomenon Globally, an estimated 630,000 people are over the age of 100, according to recent United Nations data. Japan tops the list, accounting for one in five of the world’s centenarians. Life expectancy in Japan is 88 years for women and 82 for men, followed by the United States, China, and India. Doctors emphasize that longevity is often the result of consistent habits: regular physical activity like walking, sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and routine medical check-ups. Avoiding smoking and alcohol is equally critical. Genetics also play a significant role, those with long-lived relatives have a higher chance of living to an advanced age.

Demographics

Kazakhstan’s Aging Population: Analysts Warn of Healthcare and Economic Risks

Kazakhstan is undergoing a rapid demographic shift as its population ages at an unprecedented pace. According to a recent study by Ranking.kz, the number of citizens aged 60 and above is growing by 3-4% annually. As of early 2025, Kazakhstan had 2.8 million residents over the age of 60, an increase of 3.7% compared to the previous year. Seniors now make up 13.9% of the population, up from 12% in 2020 and 9.8% in 2010. The average annual growth rate for this age group has remained steady at around 3.8% since 2010. The gender disparity is notable: 16.4% of women in Kazakhstan are over 60, compared to just 11.3% of men. This demographic shift is largely driven by increasing life expectancy. In 2024, life expectancy in Kazakhstan reached 75.44 years, up from 75.1 the previous year. Women live an average of 79.42 years, while men live 71.33. The only recent decline in life expectancy occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend mirrors global developments. According to data from the IMF, UN, and WHO, global life expectancy has more than doubled over the past century from just 34 years in 1913 to 72 years by 2022 and continues to rise, even as fertility rates fall. When the UN and WHO were founded, children under 15 outnumbered people over 65 by seven to one. By 2050, the two groups are projected to be equal. The proportion of people aged 80 and older is expected to nearly quadruple, reaching 5% of the global population. “These shifts foreshadow a vast array of problems in healthcare, as well as in the social and economic spheres,” IMF analysts caution. Experts warn that aging will reshape Kazakhstan’s labor market, change consumption patterns, and place mounting pressure on the pension system. Like many other countries, Kazakhstan faces the challenge of balancing support for its growing elderly population with the need to sustain long-term economic development.

life expectancy

Kazakhstan Among Top Ten Countries in Reducing Premature NCD Mortality

Kazakhstan has become the first country in Central Asia and one of only ten in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) European Region to meet the target of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025, according to the Ministry of Health. The data is based on the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s latest report, Preventable Mortality, Risk Factors and Strategies for Responding to NCDs. The ten countries recognized for achieving this milestone are Belgium, Denmark, Israel, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, and Estonia. “These countries have implemented the most effective WHO strategies, reduced risk factor prevalence, and strengthened healthcare systems, resulting in a consistent annual decline in deaths from preventable and treatable NCDs, particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancer,” the report states. Kazakhstan’s efforts in these two areas were specifically highlighted. Kazakhstan’s progress has focused on prevention, early diagnosis, expanded treatment access, and improved survival outcomes. WHO monitoring shows the country has implemented 50% of recommended NCD control measures and conducted its first national STEPS survey, a WHO-endorsed standard for assessing NCD risk factors, significantly bolstering public health capabilities. In response to the high burden of cardiovascular disease, Kazakhstan has increased the number of catheterization laboratories from 31 to 49 between 2017 and 2024, and opened 83 stroke centers, substantially reducing stroke-related mortality and disability rates. The country has also made significant progress in high-tech medical interventions. Since 2012, more than 600 ventricular assist devices have been implanted, and in 2025, Kazakhstan performed its 100th heart transplant. In 2024, it became the first country in the CIS and Central Asia to introduce a new technology for treating cardiac arrhythmias. The state health program also includes screenings for eight major diseases, including hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers. By the end of 2024, 70% of the targeted population had been screened for breast and colorectal cancer. As a result of these initiatives, life expectancy in Kazakhstan rose from 74.44 years in 2022 to 75.09 years in 2023. Kazakhstan has also aggressively addressed behavioral risk factors. It enforces some of the region’s strictest anti-smoking laws, including public smoking bans, graphic warnings, tobacco taxes, advertising restrictions, and a complete ban on electronic cigarettes and vapes. Over the past decade, smoking rates have declined by 20%. To reduce sugar consumption, the government banned the sale of sweetened beverages in schools and, in 2024, passed legislation prohibiting energy drink sales to individuals under 21. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan plans to fund health insurance for over one million unemployed citizens starting in 2026.