The World Bank has published an updated global economic forecast, projecting global growth of 2.6% and 2.7% in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Meanwhile, despite relatively strong growth rates in Central Asian countries, the pace of growth will gradually slow, Forbes.kz reports.
According to the report, growth in the region is expected to decline from 5% in 2026 to 4.6% in 2027. Experts attribute this to weakening private consumption due to persistent inflation, a slowing Russian economy, and tightening migration policies, which will negatively impact exports and remittances.
For Kazakhstan, the forecast is particularly cautious: GDP growth is expected to reach 4.5% in 2026 and 3.9% in 2027, significantly below the government's official target of 6.2% for 2026. The decline is due to stabilization of oil production and falling commodity prices.
At the same time, other countries in the region demonstrate more positive prospects:
— Kyrgyzstan: 6.5% (2026) and 6.8% (2027);
— Uzbekistan: 6% and 5.9%;
— Tajikistan: 6.2% and 4.7%.
The report does not include a forecast for Turkmenistan.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 15, 2026