Kazakhstan's shadow economy share falls to 15.69% in 2025
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Kazakhstan's shadow economy shrank to 15.69% of GDP in 2025, down from 17.58% in 2023, the State Revenue Committee reported. Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin chaired a meeting on countering the shadow economy and illegal precious metals turnover. The government also reported 774,200 newly registered self-employed citizens and $168 million in domestic jewelry market turnover.
Key Facts
- The share of the unobserved economy in Kazakhstan's GDP fell from 17.58% in 2023 to 15.69% in 2025, a decline of 1.89 percentage points.
- Over the past five years, 24 regulatory legal acts were adopted and 20 information systems were modernized in the sphere of countering the shadow economy.
- The State Revenue Committee integrated with 45 internet platforms, and 774,200 economically active citizens registered for the first time in a new status.
- The domestic jewelry market reached approximately $168 million in 2025, up 3.4%, while production grew 31% to $7.2 million and exports totaled $65.4 million.
- A total of 922,500 self-employed citizens are officially registered, 94% of whom work through internet platforms and have paid 9.9 billion tenge in social payments.
Shadow Economy Reduction
The State Revenue Committee reported that the share of the unobserved economy in GDP decreased from 17.58% in 2023 to 15.69% in 2025, a reduction of 1.89 percentage points. Over the past five years, 24 regulatory legal acts were adopted and 20 information systems were modernized to counter the shadow economy. Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin chaired the meeting under instructions from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to ensure transparency of economic processes.
Digitalization and Sector Controls
In agriculture, end-to-end control tools are being introduced, including the Veterinary-Sanitary Expertise module, a digital traceability system in crop production, and integration of EASU with the KEDEN system. In the oil and gas sector and energy, raw material balance meters are being installed at refineries, and analytical showcases for fuels and lubricants are being formed. In trade, foreign permit forms have been digitized, navigation seals are used, and the Digital bazaar system is under development. In construction, the Qportal.kz unified portal and a pilot project for checking projects using artificial intelligence were launched this year.
Self-Employment and Jewelry Market
The State Revenue Committee and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection completed integration with 45 internet platforms. A total of 922,500 self-employed citizens are officially registered, with 94% working through internet platforms and having paid 9.9 billion tenge in social payments. The domestic jewelry market reached approximately $168 million in 2025, up 3.4%, while production grew 31% to $7.2 million and exports totaled $65.4 million.