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visas statistics passport

Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Global Passport Power Ranking 2025

Kazakhstan has secured the top spot among Central Asian countries, ranking 52nd globally in the latest Passport Index by Canadian consulting firm Arton Capital. The ranking evaluates passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free or with a visa on arrival. Kazakhstan’s passport allows visa-free travel to 46 countries and visa-on-arrival access to 50 more, totaling 96 destinations. However, Kazakh citizens still require visas for 102 destinations. Uzbekistan ranks 68th, climbing two places from 2024. Uzbek passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 32 countries and can obtain visas on arrival for 46 more. Visas are required for 120 destinations. Kyrgyzstan stands at 78th in the global ranking. Its citizens can travel visa-free to 30 countries and obtain visas on arrival in 48. Like Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz nationals need visas for 120 destinations. Tajikistan ranks 80th, with its citizens able to visit 27 countries visa-free and 46 with a visa on arrival. Tajik nationals require visas for 125 destinations. Turkmenistan is 85th globally, the lowest among Central Asian nations. Turkmen passport holders have visa-free access to 18 countries and visa-on-arrival privileges for 50 destinations but need visas for 130 countries. Globally, the United Arab Emirates retains its position as the most powerful passport, followed by Spain, France, Germany, and Belgium. Several countries share the same rank; for instance, German, Belgian, and Italian citizens can visit 133 countries visa-free and obtain visas on arrival in 45 countries.

Economy statistics Government Shadow Economy GDP

Kyrgyzstan Reports Decrease in Shadow Economy

Kyrgyzstan’s non-observed (shadow) economy, excluding the agricultural sector, accounted for 19.2% of GDP in 2023, marking a 1% decrease from 2022’s 20.2%, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee. The Committee attributes this improvement primarily to reductions in shadow activities within key sectors: wholesale and retail trade and motor vehicle repair by 0.5%, construction by 0.4%, and transportation and cargo storage by 0.2%. Historical data reveals a steady decline in the shadow economy’s share of GDP over recent years, estimated at 20.4% in 2021, 20.1% in 2020, and 22.8% in 2019. Shadow economic activities in Kyrgyzstan are concentrated in sectors such as trade, car repair, transportation, construction, processing industries, hospitality, and various services. Discrepancies persist, however, in shadow economy estimates. In January 2024, Minister of Economy and Commerce Daniyar Amangeldiev noted that international financial institutions assessed Kyrgyzstan’s shadow economy as comprising 60% to 70% of GDP. He explained this divergence by citing differences in methodologies used by the National Statistical Committee and international organizations to calculate the informal economy's size. Although the National Statistical Committee has yet to publish its shadow economy assessment for 2024, Minister Amangeldiyev recently highlighted the positive impacts of a shrinking shadow economy. He credited it, alongside growing trade volumes, with contributing to Kyrgyzstan’s GDP growth last year. For context, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration estimates Kyrgyzstan’s informal economy at 25% to 72% of GDP, underscoring the challenge of accurately quantifying this sector.

Social statistics Quality of Life Society Family

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.

Unemployment Society CIS Social protection statistics

Global Ranking: Kazakhstan Has the Third-Highest Unemployment Rate in Eurasia

In the global ranking of unemployment rates for 2024, prepared by ILOSTAT, Kazakhstan placed 104th out of 187 countries with an unemployment rate of 4.8%. According to analysts from Energyprom.kz, the worst unemployment rates were recorded in Eswatini (34.4%), South Africa (33.2%), and Djibouti (25.9%), while Qatar boasted the lowest rate globally at 0.1%. In the Eurasia region Kazakhstan ranked third highest for unemployment, ahead of only Tajikistan (11.6%) and Azerbaijan (5.6%). The best performers in the region are Moldova (1.4%), Russia (2.5%), and Kyrgyzstan (3.3%). For context, the global average unemployment rate stood at 5%, with the Europe and Central Asia region slightly higher at 5.5%. The Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan (BNS) reported that by the end of Q3 2024, the country had 448,600 unemployed individuals - 0.6% fewer than during the same period in 2023. The official unemployment rate was 4.6%, with parity between urban and rural areas. Family circumstances (100,200 cases), voluntary resignations (95,600 cases), and difficulties in finding employment (92,200 cases) were identified as the primary causes of unemployment. In terms of job-seeking durations: 127,500 individuals searched for less than a month. 113,300 sought work for one to three months. 124,600 for three to six months. 36,800 for six months to a year. 46,000 were unemployed for over a year. A small fraction of the unemployed (332 individuals) had already initiated entrepreneurial ventures or secured employment arrangements.

Shadow Economy Crime Finance money statistics

Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Anti-Money Laundering Efforts

The Basel Anti-Money Laundering Index (AML) has been released. It offers a comprehensive assessment of global efforts to combat money laundering. The index evaluates the risk of money laundering and financial crime across countries and regions, using 17 indicators across five domains to identify key factors that can heighten vulnerability. The indicators are updated annually and reviewed by an independent panel of experts to ensure relevance, methodology integrity, and access to current data. The Index does not measure the actual volume of money laundering activity. Instead, it focuses on the risk factors, scoring countries on a scale from 0 to 10 where 10 represents the highest risk and 0 the lowest. The Times of Central Asia examined this year’s ratings, focusing on the performance of Central Asian nations: Kazakhstan achieved a notable ranking of 111th out of 164 countries, with a score of 4.65. Uzbekistan followed, ranking 81st with a score of 5.27, while Kyrgyzstan placed 45th with 5.95 points. Tajikistan ranked 30th, scoring 6.45, and Turkmenistan recorded the region’s worst result, ranking 23rd with 6.71 points. Globally, the best results were observed in San Marino (2.96), Iceland (3.00), and Finland (3.07).

USA Migrants Deportation statistics Legislation

Deportations of Central Asians from the U.S. Increased in 2024

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released its Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, detailing the agency’s accomplishments over the past year. The report highlights how ICE’s directorates and program offices met their mission objectives. Established in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, ICE is tasked with protecting the American public, ensuring public safety, and promoting national security. According to the report, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deported 271,484 non-citizens with final orders of removal to 192 countries. This total includes 88,763 individuals charged with or convicted of criminal offenses, 3,706 known or suspected gang members, 237 known or suspected terrorists, and eight human rights violators. More than 30% of those deported had criminal histories, with an average of 5.63 convictions or charges per individual. ERO also assisted in identifying and arresting individuals wanted in their home countries for serious crimes, including terrorism and torture. The Times of Central Asia examined the report with a focus on Central Asian countries. In 2024, the US deported 572 Uzbek nationals - a dramatic increase compared to 88 in 2013, 21 in 2021, and 55 in 2022. Deportations of Tajik citizens also surged, reaching 77 in 2024 compared to only four annually in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Kazakhstan saw the deportation of 23 of its citizens this year, up from 14 in 2023. Deportations to Kyrgyzstan also spiked, with 69 individuals removed in 2024. By comparison, only three Kyrgyz citizens were deported in 2020, eight in 2021, one in 2022, and 14 in 2023. Meanwhile, deportations of Turkmen nationals remained low, but still showed an upward trend. In 2024, five Turkmen citizens were deported, compared to four in 2019, one in 2022, and three in 2023.