Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Wages but Records Decline in Purchasing Power

By Ayana Birbayeva in Nation on 29 October 2026

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranks third among six Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries with available data for monthly employer labor costs, behind Belarus and Moldova, according to the CIS Statistical Committee. In 2024, labor costs in Kazakhstan reached 878 euros (US$1,015) per employee per month, significantly exceeding the figures recorded …

How Career Priorities Reveal Gender Inequality in Kazakhstan’s Families

By Alina Zhalmaganbetova in Editor’s Picks,Society on 29 October 2026

Tokayev’s Ambitious Construction Push Draws Optimism, Questions Over Implementation

By Assel Satubaldina in Nation on 28 October 2026

President Tokayev Proposes SME Inspection Moratorium in State-of-Nation Address

By Aida Haidar  in Editor’s Picks,Nation on 28 October 2026

Tokayev Arrives in Ankara for Official Visit, Set to Attend Turkic States Summit

By Aida Haidar in Editor’s Picks,International on 29 October 2026

Tokayev’s Vision of Strong Cities and Regions Requires Nationwide Development, Analyst Says

By Aida Haidar in Editor’s Picks,Nation on 29 October 2026

Most Popular Stories
Day | Week | Month

Videos

Tokayev in Brussels, China Ties & Eurasia’s Future | Kazakhstan News Digest

After Strait of Hormuz — Who Controls Next Supply Chains?

Exploring Tashkent: History, Food, Markets and Modern Life

Why World Depends on Kazakhstan for Uranium | Explainer

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

More videos

Videos

Tokayev in Brussels, China Ties & Eurasia’s Future | Kazakhstan News Digest

After Strait of Hormuz — Who Controls Next Supply Chains?

Exploring Tashkent: History, Food, Markets and Modern Life

Why World Depends on Kazakhstan for Uranium | Explainer

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

More videos

Editor's Picks

Tokayev’s Vision of Strong Cities and Regions Requires Nationwide Development, Analyst Says

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA — Improving cities, modernizing infrastructure and raising living standards have been recurring priorities in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation addresses....

Tokayev Arrives in Ankara for Official Visit, Set to Attend Turkic States Summit

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Ankara on Oct. 28 for an official visit to Türkiye, where he...

Digital Government Should Not Leave People Behind

BY Alikhan Orazaly

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

How Career Priorities Reveal Gender Inequality in Kazakhstan’s Families

BY Alina Zhalmaganbetova

ASTANA – A woman receives a long-awaited promotion, but accepting it means moving to another city. Her husband has a...

Tokayev Calls for AI-Driven Digital Economy, Technology Push Across Industry

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA — Kazakhstan must build a digital economy, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in his state-of-the-nation address on Oct. 28, calling...

Tokayev Urges Higher Taxes on Wealthy, Calls on Banks to Boost Business Lending

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan should consider raising taxes on wealthy individuals, revise parts of its new Tax Code to address business...

President Tokayev Proposes SME Inspection Moratorium in State-of-Nation Address

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a new three-year moratorium on inspections of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and called...

Tokayev Pledges $14 Billion for Infrastructure, Sets 2029 Energy Surplus Target

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will allocate 6.5 trillion tenge (US$14.3 billion) from the National Fund by the end of 2029 to...

Kabul’s Qosh Tepa Canal and Water Security Challenges for C5

BY Hamzah Rifaat 

Domestic political, economic and security dynamics in Afghanistan directly impact countries in close proximity to Kabul. This includes Central Asian...

Kazakhstan Maps Water Risks Through 2040 as Regional Cooperation Takes Center Stage

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is seeking to make water-sharing across Central Asia more transparent through real-time monitoring and shared data as...

Fuel Disruptions in Russia Create Opening for Kazakhstan, but Refineries Aren’t Enough

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is seeking to turn its refining capacity into a competitive advantage in regional fuel markets as disruptions...

Kazakhstan, Belgium Look to Expand Cooperation Following Royal State Visit, Kazakh Ambassador Says

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Belgium are looking to expand cooperation in trade, transport, critical minerals, education and advanced technologies, following...

More stories

Editor's Picks

Tokayev’s Vision of Strong Cities and Regions Requires Nationwide Development, Analyst Says

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA — Improving cities, modernizing infrastructure and raising living standards have been recurring priorities in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation addresses....

Tokayev Arrives in Ankara for Official Visit, Set to Attend Turkic States Summit

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Ankara on Oct. 28 for an official visit to Türkiye, where he...

Digital Government Should Not Leave People Behind

BY Alikhan Orazaly

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

How Career Priorities Reveal Gender Inequality in Kazakhstan’s Families

BY Alina Zhalmaganbetova

ASTANA – A woman receives a long-awaited promotion, but accepting it means moving to another city. Her husband has a...

More stories

Opinions

Digital Government Should Not Leave People Behind

BY Alikhan Orazaly

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Kabul’s Qosh Tepa Canal and Water Security Challenges for C5

BY Hamzah Rifaat 

Domestic political, economic and security dynamics in Afghanistan directly impact countries in close proximity to Kabul. This includes Central Asian...

Why the Age of AI Needs Academic Libraries More Than Ever

BY Saqib Raza

Universities are racing to embrace artificial intelligence. But who is helping students decide when its answers deserve to be trusted?...

Republic Day Is Reminder That Kazakhstan Belongs to Its People

BY Aida Haidar

Every year, as Kazakhstan marks Republic Day on Oct. 25, we return to a moment in our history that is...

Kazakhstan’s Recycling Problem Is Not Lack of Willingness

BY Samat Tulepbayev

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

C5+1 at Ten: How Central Asia Turned Diplomatic Dialogue Into Strategic Partnership

BY Sapargali Shalgimbayev

The Samarkand meeting marks a decade of engagement between the United States and Central Asia, reflecting the region’s growing strategic...

Turkic World: From Shared History to Shared Future

BY Kubanychbek Omuraliev

There are critical moments in the life of nations and states when shared history ceases to be merely a memory...

CICA’s Moment to Turn Confidence Building into Secure Connectivity

BY Eldaniz Gusseinov, Andrew Kuchins

The seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku on Oct.15 adopted...

From Transit to Trade: Economic Opportunity After Avaza

BY Bauyrzhan Auken

The eighth Consultative Meeting in Avaza, Turkmenistan, on Oct. 8 was the first regular summit since Azerbaijan became a full...

Kazakhstan Cannot Wait 202 Years For Gender Parity

BY Adilya Tugel

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Satellite Solutions for Food Security

BY Kareff May Rafisura, Richard Pearce Tonkin, Ladislav Charouz

Global food security faces a number of pressures, including conflict, climate change, pollution and overexploitation. North and Central Asia is...

Norway, Central Asia: Interests, Engagement and Strategic Capacity

BY Glenn Agung Hole

Norwegian companies are finding customers in Kazakhstan. The relationship now includes a bilateral business council, regular commercial missions and exchanges...

More stories

Opinions

Digital Government Should Not Leave People Behind

BY Alikhan Orazaly

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Kabul’s Qosh Tepa Canal and Water Security Challenges for C5

BY Hamzah Rifaat 

Domestic political, economic and security dynamics in Afghanistan directly impact countries in close proximity to Kabul. This includes Central Asian...

Why the Age of AI Needs Academic Libraries More Than Ever

BY Saqib Raza

Universities are racing to embrace artificial intelligence. But who is helping students decide when its answers deserve to be trusted?...

Republic Day Is Reminder That Kazakhstan Belongs to Its People

BY Aida Haidar

Every year, as Kazakhstan marks Republic Day on Oct. 25, we return to a moment in our history that is...

More stories

Infographics