ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 30. The number of payment cards issued by international systems has grown in Kazakhstan by March 1, 2025, and Visa and MasterCard differ markedly in popularity.
Data obtained by Trend from the National Bank (NBK) shows that, as of March 1, 2025, the number of Visa International debit cards has reached 35.4 million, an increase of 0.4 million compared to the same period in 2024. On the other hand, the number of MasterCard debit cards in circulation has risen to 14.5 million, an increase of 3.7 million over the past year.
Moreover, in the credit card segment, however, the trend is reversed: Visa remains the leader, despite a slight drop in the number of credit cards, from 717,000 to 643,000. In contrast, MasterCard has seen a significant decline, with the number of its credit cards falling from 159,000 to 121,000.
Overall, while the total number of cards in Kazakhstan continues to grow, the clear distinction in Visa and MasterCard preferences reflects both card features and the personal choices of Kazakhstani consumers.
