Unemployment rate in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Unemployment rate was 4.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Kazakhstan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Kazakhstan stood at 4.8%.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Kazakhstan peaked at 13.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1991.
Kazakhstan ranks 106th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Kazakhstan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.9% | — |
| 1992 | 1.0% | +11.1% |
| 1993 | 1.1% | +11.0% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | +579.3% |
| 1995 | 11.0% | +45.6% |
| 1996 | 13.0% | +18.0% |
| 1997 | 13.0% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 13.1% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 13.5% | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 12.8% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 10.4% | -18.2% |
| 2002 | 9.3% | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 8.1% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | -8.7% |
| 2009 | 6.5% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -11.9% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 5.3% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 5.2% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +13.9% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 4.8% | -1.3% |
Kazakhstan compared with similar countries
- Kazakhstan's 4.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 85% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Kazakhstan's 4.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Kazakhstan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +579.3% | 1.1% | 7.5% |
| 1995 | +45.6% | 7.5% | 11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.2% | 0.9% | 13.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 6.5% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 4.8% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.8% | 5.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kazakhstan
More work & labour data for Kazakhstan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2152 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2212 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2086 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 15,866 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 7,093 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,815 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,857 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,672 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Kazakhstan?
- Unemployment rate in Kazakhstan was 4.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Kazakhstan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Kazakhstan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1991.
- How does Kazakhstan rank for unemployment rate?
- Kazakhstan ranks 106th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Kazakhstan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kazakhstan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.