Kazakhstan
Asia · Central Asia
Resource-rich, growing economy, visa-free for many; Central Asia's largest country.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Kazakhstan's Human Development Index
0.802
Very High human development#66 of 191 countries worldwide, #16 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 66% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Ninth largest country in the world — bigger than Western Europe.
- First country to voluntarily give up nuclear weapons after inheriting them from the USSR.
- The word 'tulip' comes from the Kazakh steppe, where they grew wild.
Quick Facts
Capital
Astana
Languages
Kazakh, Russian
Currency
₸ KZT
Area
2.70M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
88Mbps
Mobile
99Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$3,000/mo
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Unclear
Application Fee
~$230
GDP / Capita
$15K
PPP / Capita
$44K
Inflation
11.4%
Unemployment
4.8%
Innovation (GII)
26.3
GNI / Capita
$14K
Tax Revenue
11.9%
FDI Inflows
-0.3%
Education Spend
4.9%
Cost of Living
29.8
Price Level Index
78th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.672 → 0.802 (+0.130)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Kazakhstan for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Kazakhstan head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Kazakhstan's Human Development Index?
Kazakhstan's Human Development Index is 0.802 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #66 of 191 countries.
Is Kazakhstan safe?
Kazakhstan scores 1.77 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #44 of 160 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.