Nearly Three Quarters of Kazakh Citizens Report Economic Satisfaction and Optimism, World Bank Survey Finds
The World Bank’s Listening to Kazakhstan survey has revealed that nearly 70% of Kazakh citizens are satisfied with their lives, as reported by the bank’s press service.
The survey, which encompassed 1,400 households across urban and rural areas in Kazakhstan, indicated that the overall well-being of the country has been improving. According to Metin Nebiler, the bank’s economist and a team leader for the Poverty and Equity Global Practice in Kazakhstan, the views on the outlook and the government’s performance are stable or trending positive.
Launched in 2020, the Listening to Kazakhstan survey monitors the social and economic well-being of the population through comprehensive face-to-face baseline survey and phone interviews with randomly selected respondents. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s International Development Department.
Public perceptions also indicated the improvement in local economic conditions over the past year. In 2023, more participants expressed confidence in initiating a business, surpassing the sentiments observed in 2021 and 2022. However, this positive outlook experienced a decline in the last quarter of 2023.
The survey also disclosed a surge in endorsement for governmental reforms, reaching 67% with notable emphasis among the youth, elderly, and residents in rural areas. However, the bank also registered concerns, particularly regarding inflation (94%), income inequality (92%), and worries about job loss (over 50%). Additionally, respondents expressed only modest improvements in the government’s openness and anti-corruption efforts, according to the bank’s statement.
