Kazakhstan Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Kazakhstan's unemployment rate was 4.77% in 2025, ranked 80th globally. This represents a 2.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Kazakhstan's unemployment rate stood at 4.77% in 2025, a rise of +0.12pp from 2024. The IMF projects 4.64% by 2025. Kazakhstan ranked 80th globally.
Kazakhstan’s unemployment rate has risen from a historic low of 0.90 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 13.46 % in 1999, reflecting the severe labour market shock that followed the post‑Soviet transition, before gradually declining to 4.77 % in 2025, placing the country at rank 80 globally. The recent figure is virtually identical to the United Kingdom’s 4.75 % and only marginally lower than Paraguay’s 4.80 %, suggesting that Kazakhstan’s labour market performance now aligns with a diverse set of advanced and emerging economies. Over the 35‑year coverage period, the downward trajectory from the 1990s peak has been steady, driven by structural reforms, diversification away from hydrocarbons, and modest job‑creation programmes. Continued investment in skills development and the expansion of non‑extractive sectors will be crucial to sustain the current decline, while any slowdown in global demand for commodities could reverse the modest progress achieved.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 4.40% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 4.44% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 4.49% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 4.53% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 4.57% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 4.64% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.77% | +0.12pp | #80 |
| 2024 | 4.83% | +0.11pp | #87 |
| 2023 | 4.84% | −0.04pp | #88 |
| 2022 | 4.86% | −0.04pp | #86 |
| 2021 | 5.57% | +0.64pp | #88 |
| 2020 | 4.89% | +0.09pp | #63 |
| 2019 | 4.80% | −0.05pp | #84 |
| 2018 | 4.85% | −0.05pp | #82 |
| 2017 | 4.90% | −0.07pp | #82 |
| 2016 | 4.96% | −0.01pp | #76 |
| 2015 | 4.93% | −0.15pp | #72 |
| 2014 | 5.06% | −0.19pp | #76 |
| 2013 | 5.20% | −0.10pp | #76 |
| 2012 | 5.29% | −0.11pp | #80 |
| 2011 | 5.39% | −0.39pp | #80 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kazakhstan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2010. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kazakhstan's unemployment rate was 4.77% in 2025. Ranked 80th globally. This represents a 2.6% increase from the previous year.
Kazakhstan's unemployment rate peaked at 13.46% in 1999.
The lowest unemployment rate in Kazakhstan was 0.90% in 1991.
Kazakhstan ranks 80th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kazakhstan's unemployment rate is projected to reach 4.64% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Kazakhstan in 2025 was 4.77%. This ranks 80th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kazakhstan_unemployment-rate,
title = {Kazakhstan Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kazakhstan/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}