Statistics are an oft-maligned way of representing the truth, sometimes precise, maybe a reasonable indicator, frequently dismissed – yet in many cases, in the absence of anything more objective, the only way we have of knowing.
So, starting with a guess, rather than a stat: ten out of ten journalists keep their eyes on the news, and nine out of ten will have noticed the increasing number of reports in Kazakhstan representing the country’s improvement on many fronts – many of which published over the last month.
Headlining the news with statement word like surge, as well as dynamic verbs such as improve, gain, and rise has become exemplary of Kazakhstan’s 2026 so far, with the country climbing far more than the FIFA world rankings these days.
More Tourism
Stats show that approaching 16 million foreign citizens have visited this country over a 12-month period, the vast majority here for tourism purposes, resulting in a 5-trillion tenge contribution to the economy. The worldwide league table is led by France, as it has been for years, but after an increase of 700,000 from the previous year, a climb of several places to 52nd on the World Economic Forum’s travel and tourism index is encouraging news for the 600,000 people working in the Kazakh industry, who know how good a job they must be doing.
The development of tourism and its infrastructure are considered to be a national priority, and the plan is to become one of the leading destinations across the entire region. That, combined with some of the things visitors can see and do, are in part why Kazakhstan is climbing the league faster than a Chelsea side with Dastan Satpayev leading the line.
Stronger Economy and Better Investment Climate
Following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) projection that Kazakhstan’s economy will grow by 4.6% in 2026, added to which the World Bank expecting stable economic expansion to continue, investment is also increasing, the steady gains propelling the country higher on the global investment risk ranking, a rise of 17 places from the previous year. It is also the leading Central Asian country in this regard, reaching 53rd place on the Safest Countries for Investors 2026 list.
Chances are, there are numerically more tourists than investors interested in the Republic of Kazakhstan, but with both groups increasingly turning their attention to the ninth largest country in the world, it’s easy to see why the only way is up.
Sustainable Development
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index is a worldwide indicator encapsulating a broad range of improvements to society, for instance, the eradication of poverty and hunger, innovation, and a better industrial infrastructure.
A modest climb up the rankings of three places still proves the country is going in the right direction, and outperforming various countries, such as Turkey and Mexico, is a base to build on when legislators seek to improve on the placing of 67th in a ranking which incorporates such a diversity of different commitments.
A story in the Astana Times yesterday informed readers that notable improvements have been made in Post-Shock Risk Assessment, which records a country’s ability to withstand, and recover from, economic and geopolitical shocks.
Switzerland tops the table, while Kazakhstan has climbed 17 places to 53rd, meaning that there is even more progress that could be made on this chart that measures how well a country can respond to difficulties, and how resilient the economic climate proves in the face of market risks.
Contentment
If money doesn’t bring happiness, then neither probably do statistics, but take a moment to smile at the news contained in the latest World Happiness Report which shows that Kazakhstanis share the 33rd happiest nation in the world after another rocket up another table. The rise of ten places in a single year has seen the country take its highest rank since records began.
The English would be keen to remind us that the happiest person in the world is Larry, immortalised by the simile, as happy as Larry, but at this rate of improvement, perhaps a new idiom will be required in a few years time? As happy as Kanat, maybe?
A Stronger Passport
Despite millions of people coming to visit us here, Kazakhstanis are as happy as Larry to learn that their own passport affords them more opportunities for simplified travel, as reported by the Astana Times, who add that Kazakhstanis are now able to travel to 78 destinations worldwide, either visa-free or with easier entry procedures.
The Henley Passport Index is a respected indicator of global mobility, and this country has got into that very spirit by moving up the list to 57th place, and if this makes you as happy as Kanat, consider that in Kazakh, kanat means wing, local people now able to spread theirs and visit more countries than ever before.
The list could continue, but these are headlines from recent days and weeks, the theme coming to define the progress the country has made in many ways.
Sport is one such area, namely chess and table tennis, among many others that are challenging the thesaurus, as journalists seek to find enough synonyms for the word rise, perhaps also why this article can’t include the increase in the number of cafes, restaurants, high-performing students, tourist facilities, world-class artists coming to perform here.
So, even Larry might find it worth paying us a visit, content though he may be where he is.
