The share of Kazakhstan's population with incomes below the subsistence minimum (43,400 tenge, approximately USD 83) amounted to 5.4% at the end of the third quarter of 2024. Compared to the beginning of the year, this figure increased by 80 basis points (bps) and by 30 bps from the previous quarter. However, year-on-year, it decreased by 20 bps. The highest proportion of people living below the poverty line is in the Turkestan region—9.3%, according to data from Kazakhstan's Bureau of National Statistics, reports Kursiv.kz.
Between July and September 2024, 189,700 households had incomes below the subsistence minimum, encompassing over 1 million Kazakhstani citizens. Most of these are households with five or more members.
In addition to Turkestan, high poverty rates are observed in Abai (8.6%), Zhambyl (8.1%), and Mangystau (8%) regions. The lowest rates are in Astana (2.8%), Karaganda (3.3%), and Atyrau (3.6%) regions.
Traditionally, rural areas have a higher proportion of citizens with incomes below 43,400 tenge than urban areas, with figures at 7.3% and 4.2%, respectively. The poverty rate in Kazakhstan has remained at an average of 5% since 2020. From 2013, it ranged between 2% and 4%, and since 2001, it has dropped from 46.7% to 5.5%.
The depth of poverty in Kazakhstan averaged 0.9%, while its severity stood at 0.3%. The depth of poverty measures the average deviation of income levels from the subsistence minimum, while its severity indicates the extent of income disparity among the poor relative to their average income.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 12, 2024