Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan and Chile are nearly matched in population: 20.84 million versus 19.86 million people (2025).
Chile's economy is 17% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $357.37B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Chile is the wealthier of the two: $17,995 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Chile | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $357.37B | 2025 | $288.41B / $330.27B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $17,995 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 4.2% | 2025 | 8.8% / 4.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.8% | 9.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 48 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $1,024 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | Higher: $530 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.41 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 19.86 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 19.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 36.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.13 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 756,102 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 26.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 79 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $5.11B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 114,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 2.5%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 4.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 48 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Chile: $1,024 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the younger society: median age 29.7 versus 36.9 years.
Life expectancy is 6.8 years longer in Chile (81.4 vs 74.5).
Chile is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 3.6 times the size of Chile: 2,724,900 km² versus 756,102 km².
Chile is far more densely settled: 26 people per km² against 8.
Military
Chile spends 4.2 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $5.11B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Chile carries the heavier military burden: 1.6% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Chile fields the larger armed forces: 114,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Chile?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Chile covers 756,102 km², so Kazakhstan is 3.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Chile?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 19.86 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Chile?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Chile is richer: $17,995 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $357.37B for Chile.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Chile?
- Chile spends more: $5.11B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).