GeoRealityMatch
Beautiful night view of Astana's illuminated skyline reflecting on the river water.The Pyramid of Peace and Harmony and urban skyline in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan

Asia · Central Asia

High safetyVery affordable cost of livingVery high development

Human development is high, and essential health services reach most people. Few locals speak English well.

BackpackerCombines very affordable cost of living and high safety.
vs Uzbekistan
Safety

44th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.771lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#44 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
2.6per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
54.8Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$13,740national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
10.9New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.9years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 192% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 68% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$25K$50K$44,293 PPP$14,692Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $5,030 a person, $14,966 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2007, $6,449 a person, $16,581 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2008, $8,124 a person, $17,278 at PPP, inflation 17.1%2009, $6,938 a person, $17,389 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2010, $8,793 a person, $18,642 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2011, $11,287 a person, $20,160 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2012, $12,019 a person, $21,367 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2013, $13,478 a person, $23,754 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2014, $12,428 a person, $23,958 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2015, $10,196 a person, $22,484 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2016, $7,476 a person, $23,023 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2017, $8,943 a person, $23,973 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2018, $9,472 a person, $25,096 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2019, $9,457 a person, $28,689 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2020, $8,782 a person, $29,040 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2021, $9,984 a person, $32,946 at PPP, inflation 8%2022, $11,255 a person, $35,889 at PPP, inflation 15%2023, $12,879 a person, $38,547 at PPP, inflation 14.5%2024, $14,155 a person, $40,950 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2025, $14,692 a person, $44,293 at PPP, inflation 11.4%$0$25K$50KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $5,030 a person, $14,966 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2007, $6,449 a person, $16,581 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2008, $8,124 a person, $17,278 at PPP, inflation 17.1%2009, $6,938 a person, $17,389 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2010, $8,793 a person, $18,642 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2011, $11,287 a person, $20,160 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2012, $12,019 a person, $21,367 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2013, $13,478 a person, $23,754 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2014, $12,428 a person, $23,958 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2015, $10,196 a person, $22,484 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2016, $7,476 a person, $23,023 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2017, $8,943 a person, $23,973 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2018, $9,472 a person, $25,096 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2019, $9,457 a person, $28,689 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2020, $8,782 a person, $29,040 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2021, $9,984 a person, $32,946 at PPP, inflation 8%2022, $11,255 a person, $35,889 at PPP, inflation 15%2023, $12,879 a person, $38,547 at PPP, inflation 14.5%2024, $14,155 a person, $40,950 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2025, $14,692 a person, $44,293 at PPP, inflation 11.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
74.5years, at birthModerate
#94 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
83WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
16.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
4.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
88 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
417EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet88 MbpsFast
Mobile99 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaEasy

Minimum income
$3,000 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Unclear
Application fee
$230
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • Apply onlineYes
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official pageImmigration portal
The Pyramid of Peace and Harmony and urban skyline in Astana, Kazakhstan.
How it changed

Kazakhstan's Human Development Index

0.837Very high human development

60th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 14th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #59Panama0.839
  2. #60Brunei0.837
  3. #60Kazakhstan0.837
  4. #62Costa Rica0.833
  5. #62Serbia0.833
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.689 in 1990 to 0.837 in 2023.

0.600.750.900.83719902000201020231990: 0.6891991: 0.6831992: 0.6801993: 0.6731994: 0.6661995: 0.6651996: 0.6691997: 0.6731998: 0.6781999: 0.6832000: 0.6922001: 0.7072002: 0.7202003: 0.7322004: 0.7432005: 0.7542006: 0.7652007: 0.7722008: 0.7712009: 0.7742010: 0.7812011: 0.7902012: 0.7992013: 0.8082014: 0.8132015: 0.8192016: 0.8202017: 0.8242018: 0.8282019: 0.8342020: 0.8262021: 0.8162022: 0.8312023: 0.8370.600.750.9019902000201020231990: 0.6891991: 0.6831992: 0.6801993: 0.6731994: 0.6661995: 0.6651996: 0.6691997: 0.6731998: 0.6781999: 0.6832000: 0.6922001: 0.7072002: 0.7202003: 0.7322004: 0.7432005: 0.7542006: 0.7652007: 0.7722008: 0.7712009: 0.7742010: 0.7812011: 0.7902012: 0.7992013: 0.8082014: 0.8132015: 0.8192016: 0.8202017: 0.8242018: 0.8282019: 0.8342020: 0.8262021: 0.8162022: 0.8312023: 0.837

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
74.5 years2024at birthUp 9.2 years from 65.4 years in 2005
Internet users
93%2024of people onlineUp 90 points from 3% in 2006
Urban population
62%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 54% in 2006
Births per woman
2.982024births per womanUp 0.71 from 2.27 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
2%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
72024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 19 from 26 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
12.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.8 t from 11.8 t in 2005
Forest area
1%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Resource-rich, growing economy, visa-free for many; Central Asia's largest country. The case for living here is very high human development and wide access to essential health services. The case against is little English among locals.

About Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country, a vast Central Asian steppe nation with a nomadic Kazakh culture at its heart, remarkable landscapes from the Altai mountains to the desert-like Mangystau region, and a rapidly modernising capital in Astana. The hospitality traditions of nomadic culture mean guests are treated with genuine generosity, and the country is opening steadily to curious travellers. Those drawn to the unconventional and the vast will find it endlessly surprising.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAstana
  • LanguagesKazakh, Russian
  • CurrencyKazakhstani tenge (KZT)
  • Area2,699,700 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

ChinaKyrgyzstanRussiaTurkmenistanUzbekistan

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Quick answers

What is Kazakhstan's Human Development Index?

Kazakhstan's Human Development Index is 0.837 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #60 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Kazakhstan safe?

Kazakhstan scores 1.77 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #44 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Kazakhstan?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Kazakhstan at 29.8 (New York = 100); that is #27 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Kazakhstan?

Life expectancy at birth in Kazakhstan is 74.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #94 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Kazakhstan?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Kazakhstan at 107.5, ranked #71 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.