Kazakhstan’s GDP growth accelerates to 6%

The country’s gross domestic product has been surging this year, following weaker performance in 2024 / Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Milosh Muratovskiy

Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by 6% from January to April, according to preliminary data revealed by the Ministry of National Economy, marking an acceleration from the first three months, when the figure stood at 5.8%.

«Preliminary results of the country’s social and economic development over the period from January to April 2025, based on the projection data from the Bureau of National Statistics, show a 6% growth of the GDP. The accelerated pace of development is evident in key economic sectors, such as transport (22.4%), trade (7%), agriculture (3.9%) and telecommunications (2.6%),» the agency said in a statement on its website.

In the transport sector, growth was driven by expansion in cargo shipments via railway and pipeline transports, accounting for 20.5% and 19.6% of the sector’s total volume, respectively. Strong positive dynamics were reported in the Turkestan (21.8%), Zhambyl (11.2%) and Abay (14.9%) regions.

The construction sector also reported a 16.2% increase in tangible output volume driven by a seasonal spike in construction activity. However, local executive bodies across the country were instructed to provide necessary on-site coordination to prevent project cost increases, the ministry said.

The trade sector also reported an acceleration in growth from 6.3% in Q1 to 7% in April. The rate for wholesale increased to 7.4%, and to 6.1% for retail. Regions demonstrating strong positive dynamics include the Turkestan region, accounting for 60.4%, backed by companies selling fruit, vegetables and pharmaceutical goods; the Akmola region reported 44%, thanks to enterprises selling grain, seeds and animal fodder; and Shymkent reported a 19.8% growth, driven by companies selling diesel fuel, pharmaceutical goods and scrap ferrous and non-ferrous metals and their waste.

The production growth rate in the industrial sector reached 6.4%. An increase was recorded in the mining sector, reaching 7.1%, particularly due to a boost in coal extraction (11.2%). The processing industry reported 7.2%, including growth in food production (12%), tobacco products (26.3%), chemical products (11.2%) and machine construction (11.2%).

The least significant growth was recorded in agriculture and telecommunications, at 3.9% and 2.6%, respectively. According to the ministry, the government has been closely monitoring these processes to ensure the proper implementation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions aimed at boosting the country’s socio-economic development.

According to preliminary data from the Bureau of National Statistics, the GDP growth rate reached 5.8% in Q1 2025, as reported by the government’s press service. This growth was driven in particular by surging activity in the transport (21%), construction (16.9%), manufacturing (16.9%) and trade (6.3%) sectors.

The World Bank estimates that Kazakhstan’s GDP may grow by 4.7% in 2025 and by 3.5% in 2026, thanks to the implementation of the Future Growth Project at the Tengiz oil field. Tengiz has been reporting increased oil output since late January 2025.

In 2024, Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by 4.8%, a weaker result even compared to 2023, when the economy grew by 5.1%. To boost economic growth, President Tokayev has instructed the cabinet to ensure that GDP increases by 6% annually through 2029.