The map above shows which countries are richer and which are poorer than Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita of $44,446 in PPP $ dollars.
PPP $ dollars measure how far your money goes in a given country rather than official exchange rates.
Here is a list of all countries richer than Kazakhstan based on that measure:
| Country/Territory | IMF 2025 Projection |
|---|---|
| Singapore | $156,755 |
| Luxembourg | $152,915 |
| Macau | $134,042 |
| Ireland | $134,000 |
| Qatar | $121,605 |
| Norway | $107,892 |
| Switzerland | $97,581 |
| Brunei | $95,758 |
| Guyana | $94,258 |
| United States | $89,105 |
| Denmark | $88,934 |
| Netherlands | $84,566 |
| Taiwan | $84,082 |
| San Marino | $83,031 |
| United Arab Emirates | $81,676 |
| Iceland | $81,215 |
| Hong King | $77,942 |
| Malta | $76,705 |
| Belgium | $75,846 |
| Sweden | $74,902 |
| Austria | $74,372 |
| Germany | $72,599 |
| Australia | $72,138 |
| Andorra | $72,059 |
| Bahrain | $67,795 |
| Finland | $66,496 |
| Canada | $65,707 |
| France | $65,626 |
| South Korea | $65,112 |
| Cyprus | $65,088 |
| European Union | $64,545 |
| United Kingdom | $63,661 |
| Italy | $63,076 |
| Saudi Arabia | $61,923 |
| Czech | $59,368 |
| Slovenia | $57,985 |
| Lithuania | $57,196 |
| Spain | $56,555 |
| Israel | $56,436 |
| New Zealand | $55,450 |
| Poland | $55,186 |
| Japan | $54,677 |
| Croatia | $51,442 |
| Kuwait | $50,961 |
| Aruba | $50,896 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,772 |
| Portugal | $50,037 |
| Estonia | $49,671 |
| Russia | $49,383 |
| Romania | $49,213 |
| Hungary | $48,600 |
| Slovakia | $47,425 |
| Greece | $45,048 |
| Latvia | $44,563 |
| Kazakhstan | $44,446 |
However, when looked at in terms of official exchange rates Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita falls to $14,768 per person, which makes it 64th in the world.
Kazakhstan became relatively wealthy due to a combination of natural resource management, particularly oil, gas, and minerals, economic reforms, and geopolitical positioning.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how Kazakhstan did it:
Natural Resources
- Oil and Gas: Kazakhstan has vast oil and natural gas reserves, notably in the Tengiz and Kashagan oil fields. After independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the government rapidly attracted foreign investment, bringing in Western companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil. This led to significant export revenue.
- Minerals: Kazakhstan is rich in minerals including uranium, copper, zinc, coal, iron ore, and gold. It became the world’s leading uranium producer, benefiting significantly from global demand.
Foreign Investment and Privatization
- Early adoption of market-friendly policies and strategic privatization attracted substantial foreign direct investment (FDI). Kazakhstan’s leadership embraced economic reforms earlier than many other post-Soviet countries, encouraging Western investment.
Political Stability and Economic Policy
- Kazakhstan, under President Nursultan Nazarbayev (1991–2019), prioritized stability and economic growth. His regime, though authoritarian, provided predictable conditions for investors.
- The establishment of the National Fund (a sovereign wealth fund) in 2000 helped manage resource revenues responsibly, stabilizing the economy during price fluctuations in oil and gas.
Infrastructure Development and Strategic Location
- Kazakhstan’s geographic position as a bridge between Europe and Asia allowed it to capitalize on transit routes, especially under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Massive infrastructure projects, such as railways and highways, significantly boosted trade revenues.
Diversification Efforts
- Recently, Kazakhstan has made considerable efforts to diversify its economy, investing in technology, finance (Astana International Financial Centre), agriculture, and renewable energy. This has mitigated the risk of dependency on hydrocarbons.
Challenges and issues:
- Despite wealth at the national level, inequality persists; wealth remains concentrated among elites, and rural poverty continues.
- Governance issues and corruption remain significant challenges.
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