Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has 2.8 times the population of Kyrgyzstan: 20.84 million people against 7.34 million (2025).
Kazakhstan's economy is 14 times the size of Kyrgyzstan's, at $306.24B versus $22.62B.
Per person, Kazakhstan is the wealthier of the two: $14,692 against $3,081 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $306.24B | $22.62B | 2025 | $288.41B / $17.48B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $14,692 | $3,081 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 6.5% | Higher: 11.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 8.2% | 2025 | 8.8% / 10.8% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 33 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $673 | $329 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $181 | $29 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 7.34 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 6.22 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 25.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 74.5 yrs | 72.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 35% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 92% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 199,951 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 36.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 12 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 1.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $473.05M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 3.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 21,000 | 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
Kyrgyzstan is growing much faster: 11.1% annual GDP growth versus 6.5%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 8.2%.
Average monthly earnings favour Kazakhstan: $673 against $329 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kyrgyzstan is the younger society: median age 25.4 versus 29.7 years.
Life expectancy is 2.1 years longer in Kazakhstan (74.5 vs 72.4).
Kazakhstan is considerably more urbanized: 62% of people live in cities, against 35%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 14 times the size of Kyrgyzstan: 2,724,900 km² versus 199,951 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Kyrgyzstan is far more densely settled: 37 people per km² against 8.
Military
Kazakhstan spends 2.6 times as much on defence as Kyrgyzstan: $1.21B versus $473.05M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Kyrgyzstan carries the heavier military burden: 3.0% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 21,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Kyrgyzstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Kyrgyzstan covers 199,951 km², so Kazakhstan is 14 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 7.34 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Kyrgyzstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $3,081. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $22.62B for Kyrgyzstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan?
- Kazakhstan spends more: $1.21B versus $473.05M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).