Kazakhstan Climbs to 73rd in Global Economic Freedom Index

Kazakhstan has been ranked 73rd out of 165 countries in the Economic Freedom of the World: 2025 Annual Report, published by Canada’s Fraser Institute.

The report evaluates the degree to which national institutions and policies support personal choice, voluntary exchange, and open markets, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Kazakhstan earned a score of 6.84 out of 10, maintaining a stable position in global rankings compared to previous years. The country showed particular strength in the “Size of Government” category, reflecting moderate public spending and balanced taxation. However, the report noted room for improvement in areas such as the legal system, property rights, and business regulation.

Regional & Global Standing

Kazakhstan outperformed several regional peers:

Kyrgyzstan ranked 88th (score: 6.56)

Russia ranked 148th (5.09)

China ranked 108th (6.13)

Among post-Soviet states, Georgia (25th, 7.69) and Armenia (39th, 7.46) remained regional leaders in economic freedom.

Globally, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand topped the list with scores exceeding 8.3. At the other end, countries such as Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and Sudan scored below 5.1, indicating limited economic freedom.

Methodology

The index is based on data from 2023 and measures five key dimensions of economic freedom:

Size of Government

Legal System & Property Rights

Sound Money

Freedom to Trade Internationally

Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business

Each component is assessed using a combination of statistical indicators, with countries ranked accordingly.

Outlook

Experts note that Kazakhstan’s ranking reflects its continued efforts to build a more open, stable, and diversified economy. While progress has been made in macroeconomic management and trade openness, enhanced judicial independence and regulatory transparency could help the country climb further in future editions of the index.

Earlier this year, Kazakhstan also ranked 30th globally in the CAF World Giving Index 2025, recognizing its commitment to charitable giving and social responsibility.