The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its forecast for Kazakhstan’s economy in 2026. According to the IMF’s latest review, Kazakhstan’s nominal gross domestic product is expected to reach approximately $360 billion, which would rank the country 49th among the world’s largest economies.
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By comparison, the IMF’s October 2025 forecast projected Kazakhstan’s GDP at $320 billion, placing the country 50th globally.
Kazakhstan projected to surpass several European economies
According to the updated estimates, Kazakhstan’s economy is now projected to be larger than those of several European countries. The country’s expected GDP exceeds that of Finland, forecast at $338 billion, New Zealand at $279 billion and Hungary at $271 billion.
Global economy expected to reach $126 trillion
Overall, the IMF expects the global economy to reach $126 trillion in 2026, with worldwide growth estimated at 3.1%.
Notably, nearly half of global economic output is generated by just five countries.
The U.S. is expected to remain the world’s largest economy, with projected GDP of $32.38 trillion. It is followed by China at $20.85 trillion, Germany at $5.45 trillion, Japan at $4.38 trillion and the United Kingdom at $4.26 trillion.
In Central Asia, Kazakhstan is expected to remain the region’s largest economy.
