Updated
Overview
Uzbekistan has about 80% more people than Kazakhstan: 37.05 million against 20.84 million (2025).
Kazakhstan's economy is 2.1 times the size of Uzbekistan's, at $306.24B versus $147.04B.
Per person, Kazakhstan is the wealthier of the two: $14,692 against $3,968 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Uzbekistan | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $147.04B | Higher: $306.24B | 2025 | $114.97B / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | $3,968 | Higher: $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.7% | 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 8.8% | 11.4% | 2025 | 9.6% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $351 | Higher: $673 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $83 | Higher: $181 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 37.05 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 37.02 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | 1.9% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 27.0 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.45 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.5 yrs | Higher: 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 51% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 90% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 447,400 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 82.8/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 139 Mt | 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.8 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.44B | $1.21B | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.9% | 0.4% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 68,000 | 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
Uzbekistan is growing faster: 7.7% annual GDP growth versus 6.5%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 8.8%.
Average monthly earnings favour Kazakhstan: $673 against $351 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Uzbekistan is the younger society: median age 27.0 versus 29.7 years.
Life expectancy is 2.0 years longer in Kazakhstan (74.5 vs 72.5).
Kazakhstan is considerably more urbanized: 62% of people live in cities, against 51%.
Geography
By land area, Uzbekistan is 84% smaller than Kazakhstan: 447,400 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Uzbekistan is far more densely settled: 83 people per km² against 8.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $1.44B (Uzbekistan) and $1.21B (Kazakhstan).
Relative to its economy, Uzbekistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.9% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 68,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Uzbekistan bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Uzbekistan covers 447,400 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Kazakhstan is 6.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan?
- Uzbekistan has the larger population: 37.05 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Uzbekistan richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $3,968. Total GDP tells the same story: $147.04B for Uzbekistan versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan?
- Uzbekistan spends more: $1.44B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).