Updated
Overview
Russia has 6.9 times the population of Kazakhstan: 143.51 million people against 20.84 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 8.4 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $2.56T versus $306.24B.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $306.24B | 2025 | $2.17T / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $17,547 | $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 8.7% | 11.4% | 2025 | 6.7% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 33 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $777 | $673 | 2021 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $208 | $181 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 12.3 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $1.21B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 0.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 71,000 | 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 1.0%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 8.7%.
Average monthly earnings favour Russia: $777 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Kazakhstan (74.5 vs 73.4).
Russia is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 6.3 times the size of Kazakhstan: 17,098,242 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Russia spends 123 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $148.97B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Russia is 6.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Kazakhstan?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Kazakhstan?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).