Where in Kazakhstan Do People Live the Poorest: New Statistics

According to the results of the third quarter of 2025, the share of Kazakhstan’s population with incomes below the subsistence minimum was 5.3 percent. Compared to the same period last year, this indicator decreased by 0.1 percentage points. This was reported by the Bureau of National Statistics based on a sample survey of households.

The statistical agency explained that the poverty level has a pronounced seasonal dynamic, as household incomes and expenses are unevenly distributed throughout the year. Despite the overall decrease, regional disparities remain.

The lowest share of people with incomes below the subsistence minimum was recorded in Astana, at 2.7 percent, nearly half the national average. Meanwhile, in some regions, the indicator exceeds the country’s average. In certain oblasts, the share of people with incomes below the subsistence minimum reaches 8–9 percent, highlighting persistent inequalities in living standards across regions.

The Bureau of National Statistics reminded that Kazakhstan uses the concept of absolute poverty. The main criterion is the subsistence minimum, reflecting the minimum income needed to cover basic human needs. This indicator is calculated based on the cost of the minimum consumer basket.

The food component of the basket includes 43 food items, adjusted for seasonal factors. Food expenses account for 55 percent of the total subsistence minimum. Previously, the basket included only 20 items.

When calculating the poverty level, consumption-based income is taken into account, including consumer expenditures, the value of self-produced goods, and in-kind transfers consumed by households. Calculations use an income equivalence scale that considers cohabitation of household members.

In addition to the main indicator, the Bureau also calculates poverty depth and severity coefficients, which assess how far low-income citizens’ incomes fall below the subsistence minimum and how unevenly incomes are distributed within this group.

The data are based on a survey of about 12,000 households across the country and are used both for analyzing socio-economic conditions and monitoring the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.