Why is Mosque Construction Surging in Kazakhstan?

In 2025, 20 new mosques were opened across the country—a 54% increase compared to the previous year. This marks the highest growth rate in the last decade, according to the First Credit Bureau (FCB).

Historical data indicates a significant upward trend in religious infrastructure construction. Between 2021 and 2025, the average number of new objects reached 17.4 mosques per year, nearly doubling the average of 8.8 per year seen in the previous five-year period.

"It is difficult to directly compare mosques built in different years because data regarding their capacity is not publicly available. However, accessible information on the actual cost of these new temples allows for an indirect comparison," the FCB noted.

According to the Bureau, the nominal financing amount in 2025 nearly tripled compared to the year before, totaling 12.6 billion tenge. While significant, this is not an all-time record. For comparison, in 2022, financing reached a staggering 118.8 billion tenge. However, 97% of that amount (114.9 billion tenge) was concentrated in the capital, Astana, for the opening of the city's Grand Mosque—the largest in Central Asia.

Currently, the Kyzylorda region leads the nation in both the number of new mosques and total expenditure, with 11 mosques valued at 9.7 billion tenge. The region has held this top status for two consecutive years, a stark contrast to the period before 2021, when mosque construction there was virtually non-existent.

Aside from Kyzylorda, new mosques were also commissioned in four other regions in 2025:

• West Kazakhstan
• Aktobe
• Zhambyl
• Akmola