Kazakhstan entered the top 40 most competitive economies in the world

Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan has entered the top 40 most competitive economies in the world. The World Competitiveness Ranking 2026 was prepared by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
The ranking evaluates the ability of nations to create environments conducive to sustainable economic and business development. Kazakhstan ranked 38th overall.
Where Kazakhstan excelled
The study assesses national competitiveness across four main categories: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. The ranking is compiled using a combination of statistical indicators and executive opinion surveys.
IMD's profile for Kazakhstan highlights the country's performance across twenty sub-categories. Among its highest-ranking areas are:

tax policy — 9th place;
international trade — 19th place;
labor market — 20th place;
management practices — 20th place;
attitudes and values — 20th place;
employment — 26th place;
institutional framework — 29th place;
productivity and efficiency — 32nd place;
domestic economy — 33rd place.

IMD Ranking
Among countries with populations exceeding 20 million, Kazakhstan ranked 15th. Within the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, the republic secured the 25th position.
Kazakhstan's economic indicators
The authors of the World Bank study also provide key macroeconomic data for the country. In 2025, Kazakhstan's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was valued at $306.2 billion, with real GDP growth reaching 6.5 percent. In terms of economic growth rates, Kazakhstan ranked 6th among the evaluated economies.
GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) stood at $45,286. The labor force was estimated at 9.77 million people, with an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent.
Experts identified several key objectives for Kazakhstan for 2026, including the integration of artificial intelligence into public administration, attracting high-quality investment into modern high-tech manufacturing, developing the country's transit potential, reforming vocational education, and transitioning to a modern AI-driven water resource management system.
The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking has been published for 38 years. The assessment incorporates statistical data from international, national, and regional organizations, as well as results from business executive surveys. Approximately 6,900 top managers participated in the 2026 survey.
Earlier, S&P Global Ratings announced an improvement in its Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment (BICRA) for Kazakhstan. The "industry risk" score was upgraded from "7" to "6." Additionally, the "economic risk" outlook was revised from "stable" to "positive."