Kazakhstan's disabled children count rises 6.8% in a year to 122,500
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The number of people with disabilities in Kazakhstan reached 756,241 as of July 1, 2026, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. The fastest growth was among children under 18, whose count rose 6.8% year-on-year to 122,500. The increase is attributed to wider autism and genetic screening, improved survival of premature infants, and internal migration to cities like Astana.
Key Facts
- The total number of people with disabilities in Kazakhstan reached 756,241 as of July 1, 2026, up about 12,300 from 2025.
- Children under 18 with disabilities increased 6.8% year-on-year to 122,500 by mid-2026, about four times the growth rate among adults.
- Astana saw a 17% rise in disabled children, from 10,900 in 2025 to 12,700 by mid-2026, with children now making up nearly 30% of all disabled residents in the capital.
- Turkestan region has the highest number of people with disabilities at 103,585, followed by Almaty with 59,916 and Karaganda region with 55,540.
- Men account for 55.58% (420,320) and women 44.42% (335,921) of all disabled people in Kazakhstan in 2026.
Child Disability Surge
The number of children with disabilities in Kazakhstan rose from about 114,700–117,000 in 2025 to 122,500 by July 1, 2026. This 6.8% annual increase is roughly four times the growth rate among the adult disabled population. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection attributes the rise partly to wider use of screenings for autism spectrum disorders and genetic abnormalities in young children. Improved medical care now saves more infants with extremely low birth weight, but many later require long-term rehabilitation and are registered as disabled.
Regional Disparities
Turkestan region leads with 103,585 people with disabilities, followed by Almaty at 59,916 and Karaganda region at 55,540. Karaganda's figures are influenced by the region's mining industry and related occupational diseases. The lowest numbers are in Ulytau region with 11,088, North Kazakhstan region with 23,756, and Abai region with 24,087. Internal migration of families with disabled children to cities for rehabilitation and inclusive education is particularly visible in Astana, where the child disability count rose 17% in a year.
Policy Implications
The growing number of disabled children is increasing demand for correctional schools, kindergartens, and special development rooms in Astana and regional centers. Child rehabilitation is becoming a key direction of social policy in Kazakhstan, according to the ministry's data trends.
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Kazakhstan's disabled children count rises 6.8% in a year to 122,500
