ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 3. The decline in real incomes indicates that economic growth is not yet fully reflected in the well-being of the population, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of National Economy has commented on the downward trend following the release of new statistical data, Trend reports.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the real income index of the population for January-December 2025 stood at 98.9% compared to the previous year. The average per capita income amounted to 238,070 tenge (about $500). Nominal income growth reached 10.2%, while real income, adjusted for inflation, decreased by 1.1%.
“The decline in real incomes indicates that economic growth is not yet fully reflected in the well-being of the population, pointing to an issue of income redistribution. This situation highlights the relevance of measures aimed at expanding employment, creating sustainable jobs, and increasing wages, which are already предусмотрены in the updated Income Growth Program,” the statement said.
The ministry emphasized that only annual data provides an objective picture of real income dynamics, as it smooths out seasonal fluctuations and one-off inflation spikes, reflecting the long-term trend.
It was also noted that one of the key reasons for the decline in the real income index is that wages are growing more slowly than business profits.
According to expert estimates, nearly 50% of companies increase wages by no more than 10% due to cost-saving measures, while some have kept salaries unchanged. This creates a gap, where GDP growth driven by industry, services, and exports does not immediately translate into higher wages for workers.
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