• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
16 February 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 7

Marriage Trends in Kazakhstan: What Young People Value Most

The Research Center “Youth” has published a survey examining the perspectives of young Kazakhs on marriage and divorce. Ranking.kz analysts analyzed the main points of this research, shedding light on the preferences and values of the younger generation in Kazakhstan. According to the survey, 78% of respondents view formal marriage registration as essential, while only 15% accept civil unions. When selecting a life partner, key considerations included age (53.9%), appearance (45.4%), and nationality (39.4%). Notably, factors such as mutual love and moral values were cited by fewer than 1% of participants. Gender-Based Preferences Women prioritized their partner's age, financial stability (30.6%), career prospects (22.9%), and even gender (18.7%). Men, meanwhile, focused on their partner's physical attractiveness and youth but also emphasized the social status of the future spouse's family (17.1%) and lineage (24.6%). Trends in Marriage and Divorce Kazakhstan has seen a decline in its marriage rate, dropping from 9.9 marriages per 1,000 people in 2013 to 5.7 in the first half of 2024. Analysts attribute this to the smaller generation born between 1995 and 2000, which tends to marry later in life. The average age at first marriage has increased from 26.7 years in 2003 to 27.8 years for men in 2023, and from 23.9 years to 25.2 years for women. Divorce rates have fluctuated over the past 20 years, correlating with marriage statistics. Between 2013 and 2018, over 51,000 divorces were registered annually. However, this number dropped to 40,200 in 2023, before rising again in the first half of 2024 - 2.3 times higher than during the same period in 2023. Causes of Divorce The survey identified adultery (61%), physical violence (51%), and substance abuse (48%) as the leading causes of divorce. Women were more likely to cite physical (62.1%) and psychological (37.7%) violence, as well as gambling addiction (37.1%). Men highlighted personality incompatibility (36%) and lack of love (30.2%). The Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development (KIPD) corroborated these findings, adding a lack of mutual understanding (24%), interference from parents (10.4%), infertility (11%), and cohabitation with relatives (5.6%) as additional factors. Despite these challenges, 14% of respondents stated that divorce is unacceptable under any circumstances.

Uzbekistan Leads Central Asia in World Happiness Report

The World Population Review has announced this year's list of the happiest countries in the world. Since 2002 the World Happiness Report has used statistical analysis to determine the probable wellbeing of countries. To determine the happiest country in the world, researchers analyzed Gallup poll data collected from 143 countries over the past three years. The index looks at six categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity of the general population, and perceptions of internal and external corruption levels. The seven happiest countries in the world for 2024 are all in Europe, with six of them being in Northern Europe. Finland is in first place, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, the Netherlands, and Norway. Afghanistan ranked as the least happy country in 2024, placing 143rd. This is due to factors like low life expectancy, low GDP per capita, and the impact of the Taliban takeover. Uzbekistan takes 47th place in the ranking and is the happiest country in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is next, in 49th place overall, falling from 44th last year. Kazakhstan’s relatively slow population growth will allow the country to continue makihttps://timesca.com/uzbekistan-leads-central-asia-in-world-happiness-report/ng economic progress and reduce poverty in the coming decades. Tajikistan ranks 88th on the list. The World Happiness Report says: “Tajikistan’s population boom threatens its economy and resources. The government has implemented laws in the past to encourage contraception, and while this has helped bring down the birth rate, the country still has a long way to go.” The report doesn’t provide information about Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan this year. According to the most recent data for them, Turkmenistan was 78th in 2022, and Kyrgyzstan was 62nd in 2023.

Kyrgyzstan Introduces Law on Compulsory Home and Car Insurance

From September 2024, when re-registering cars, owners must provide a contract on compulsory civil liability insurance. The same applies to real estate. The law was adopted eight years ago, but has been delayed under public pressure. According to the State Insurance Organisation (SIO), the introductory amount of car insurance is 1,680 KGS ($20). The final amount will be affected by driving experience, driver age, and engine displacement. The legal department of the State Insurance Organization explained to The Times of Central Asia that a vehicle's insurance policy will be required when it is re-registered with the state authorities. “Employees of the State Insurance Organization are at the places of registration of motor vehicles throughout the country and will issue MTPL insurance policies on the spot. The average amount of MTPL insurance for passenger cars will range from 2,000 to 4,000 KGS ($25-45),” said Ulukbek Nishonov, head of the legal department of the State Insurance Organization. Fifteen private insurance organizations will also insure cars. The law on compulsory car insurance in Kyrgyzstan was adopted more than eight years ago. Nevertheless, no sanctions have been imposed for non-compliance with the law. Most Kyrgyz motorists considered compulsory insurance a “waste of money.” Now, the authorities have figured out how to force everyone to insure their cars, even those without insurance policies or car registration. At the same time, ordinary citizens will not be fined for the lack of insurance. Officials claim that compulsory insurance is a social project. It is worth noting that the law on compulsory real estate insurance also came into force on August 26, 2024. Here, just as in the case of car insurance, citizens will be obliged to insure their property against fire and natural disasters only when re-registering housing. In other cases, it can be done voluntarily. At the same time, the state holds a monopoly on residential property insurance.

Live Long and Prosper: Kazakhstan’s Population Ageing

In 2023, life expectancy in Kazakhstan reached a record high of 75.09 years. As stated in a study from Ranking.kz, at the beginning of 2024, the number of adults over the age of 60 in the country exceeded 2.7 million, an increase of 4.2% year-on-year. Life expectancy in Kazakhstan has steadily increased for many years, except in 2020 and 2021, when it declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2022, this indicator began to rise again. The highest life expectancy was recorded in Almaty (78.28 years), Astana (78.09 years), Shymkent (76.32 years), and the Mangistau (75.84 years) and Atyrau (75.29 years) regions. By the beginning of 2024, the number of older people in the total population had reached 13.6%, up from 12% in 2020, and 9.8% in 2010. International and Kazakhstani experts predict that the population's demographic aging will intensify by 2050; the share of people over 60 will reach 16.7%, which means that every sixth resident of the country will be over 60 years old. Population aging has led to a decrease in the potential support ratio of the working-age population (25 to 64 years old) to the number of people over 65 years old. This ratio fell from 7.7 in 2012 to 5.49 in 2023. The ratio will drop to 4 by 2050, significantly increasing the working-age population's burden.

Uzbek Prison Visit by EU, US, and UK Diplomats

At the invitation of Uzbek authorities, UK Ambassador Timothy Smart, EU Ambassador Charlotte Adriaen and US Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Poletes visited a prison colony in the Chirchik district close to Tashkent, on 20 June. As reported by the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan, the visit included a tour of facilities for medical care and therapy, as well as two workshops where prisoners produce garments and furniture. Presentations by staff, provided an insight into the daily lives of prisoners serving their sentences. The visit marks a milestone in engagement between Uzbekistan and the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and the diplomats acknowledged both the openness of the prison staff and  improvements made in recent years. Uzbekistan has announced its intention to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) under which the National Preventative Mechanism will conduct comprehensive and independent reports on detention facilities to support the Uzbek government in forwarding reforms to improve the justice sector. Charlotte Adriaen thanked both the Uzbek government and the administration of prison #13 for enabling the visit and said: “Transparency in the penitentiary system is key to Uzbekistan’s path towards the ratification of OPCAT. In this regard, and considering the positive impression provided by today’s visit, it is my firm belief that openness and cooperation with international and national monitors can only benefit the life of prisoners and Uzbekistan.” Enthused by the visit, Timothy Smart added: “It is encouraging to see Uzbekistan continue its journey towards improving human rights in the country. In the UK we have had many issues with our prisons and through open discussion and independent scrutiny, have been able to improve conditions. I am most grateful to the Uzbek government and authorities of prison #13 for such access.  I was struck by both the quality of the facilities we saw today and the focus on rehabilitation. The life skills provided are invaluable to both the individuals as well as their mahallas”.

A Welcome Expansion of Kazakhstan’s Invataxi Fleet

On 28 May, Kazakhstan Transport Minister Marat Karabaev and Astana’s Mayor Zhenis Kasymbek attended a demonstration of advantages afforded to citizens with special physical needs and impaired mobility by vehicles adapted to serve their needs. Back in 2008, the Saby Charitable Foundation provided 16 Kazakh cities with a fleet of 62 Invataxis. Equipped with wheelchair-friendly hydraulic lifts, the specially adapted minivans have long facilitated travel for adults and children, opened up opportunities for work and study,  and contributed towards their social integration. Since then, the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with local executive bodies,  has continued to expand the fleet across Kazakhstan and this year alone, the number of Invataxis operating in the capital has risen by 26 to 145. A total of 119 Invataxi services with the combined fleet of 760 vehicles currently operate in the country’s regions.