Kazakhstan: education

How many schools and pupils are there in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan had 8,048 secondary schools with 3,964.2 thousand pupils at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics' education statistics page. There were also 11,909 preschool organisations.

Secondary schools include general schools covering grades 1 to 11 or 12, in state and private ownership. The pupil count is taken at the start of the school year. Technical and vocational colleges admitted 201,978 students in the same year. The Ministry of Enlightenment sets the school calendar.

Official sources: education statistics page

How many universities and students does Kazakhstan have?

Kazakhstan had 116 higher education institutions with 678.1 thousand students at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics' higher education release. 52.5% of students were women, and 208.9 thousand new students were admitted.

49.9% of students were in public institutions and 49.5% in private ones. The number of institutions fell by 4.9% over five years, while student numbers rose by 17.6% since 2021-2022. The institutions employed 38,014 teaching staff. The next release is due on 25 December 2026.

Official sources: higher education release

How many people take the UNT and how many grants are there?

More than 239 thousand people registered for the 2026 Unified National Testing (UNT), almost 200 thousand of them current school leavers, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education told a Government session on 26 May 2026. 89,457 state grants were allocated for 2026-2027, including 75,371 for bachelor's programmes, 11,007 for master's and 3,079 for doctoral programmes.

The UNT ran from 10 May to 10 July 2026. Applicants could sit it twice and apply for a grant with their best score. Grants pay tuition at universities and are awarded by score in competition for each programme.

Official sources: Government session on 26 May 2026

How many students graduate from university in Kazakhstan?

152.8 thousand people completed higher education in Kazakhstan in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics' higher education release, published on 25 December 2025. In the same year 60.9 thousand students arrived from other institutions and 63.3 thousand dropped out.

Graduation counts are for bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes together. 364.5 thousand students were studying outside their home region, and 95.3 thousand of the 115.6 thousand who needed a dormitory place had one. The Bureau reports the figures once a year.

Official sources: higher education release

What is primary school enrolment in Kazakhstan?

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts net primary school enrolment in Kazakhstan at 86.9% in 2019. Since 2005 it has ranged from 86.2% (2013) to 91.1% (2005).

How many children in Kazakhstan go to secondary school?

97.6%: that is gross secondary school enrolment in Kazakhstan for 2025, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 99.0% in 2012 and the low 91.9% in 2020.

How many people in Kazakhstan go to university?

In 2025, gross tertiary enrolment in Kazakhstan was 52.9%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2006 it has ranged from 45.9% (2013) to 62.3% (2020).

How much does Kazakhstan spend on education?

In 2023, government spending on education in Kazakhstan was 4.9% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 6th highest of 16 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.7% of GDP. Of 112 countries with 2023 data, 33rd highest.

What is the pupil-teacher ratio in Kazakhstan?

In 2019, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Kazakhstan was 17, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2017, at 21; its low point was 2012, at 16.

How many children in Kazakhstan complete primary school?

The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2025, is 98.1%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 93.2% (2015) to 103.8% (2011).