West Kazakhstan Region: population, GRP, wages, unemployment, poverty, health, schools and investment
West Kazakhstan Region is a region of Kazakhstan, number 16 of 20 by population. West Kazakhstan Region had 695,649 residents at the end of 2025, 3.4% of the 20,499,822 people of Kazakhstan; it is ranked 5th smallest of 20 regions and cities (the 17 regions and 3 cities of republican significance are ranked together).
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in West Kazakhstan Region: The economy of West Kazakhstan Region produced 4.72 trillion tenge of gross regional product (GRP) in 2024, 3.5% of Kazakhstan's 136.69 trillion tenge; it is ranked 9th lowest of 20 regions and cities (current prices).
- Health in West Kazakhstan Region: Life expectancy at birth in West Kazakhstan Region was 74.9 years in 2025 (69.8 for men and 80.0 for women), ranked 7th lowest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 76.0 years).
- Education in West Kazakhstan Region: In the 2024/25 school year West Kazakhstan Region had 377 general education schools with 126,000 pupils, an average of 334 pupils per school (Kazakhstan: 493).
- Poverty and living standards in West Kazakhstan Region: 4.2% of people in West Kazakhstan Region had incomes below the subsistence level in 2024, ranked 8th lowest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 5.0%); this is the Bureau of National Statistics poverty measure.
- Government budget and revenue in West Kazakhstan Region: Investment in fixed assets in West Kazakhstan Region funded from budgets was 178.4 billion tenge in 2024: 83.8 billion tenge from the republican (national) budget and 94.6 billion tenge from the local budget; this is 23.8% of all investment in West Kazakhstan Region (Kazakhstan: 21.6%).
Is the population of West Kazakhstan Region growing?
The population of West Kazakhstan Region grew from 683,327 at the end of 2021 to 695,649 at the end of 2025, a change of +1.8% in four years (Kazakhstan: +5.1%).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow many people live in rural areas of West Kazakhstan Region?
On 1 January 2025, 398,389 people (57.2%) in West Kazakhstan Region lived in urban areas and 297,599 in rural areas; across Kazakhstan 63.0% of people are urban.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyWhat is the age structure of West Kazakhstan Region?
At the end of 2025 West Kazakhstan Region had 486 children below working age and 254 people above working age for every 1,000 people of working age (Kazakhstan: 527 and 218); in all, 740 dependants per 1,000 workers.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyWhat is the birth rate in West Kazakhstan Region?
The total fertility rate in West Kazakhstan Region was 2.46 children per woman in 2025, ranked 9th lowest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 2.57; in 2021 it was 3.14 in West Kazakhstan Region).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow many babies are born each year in West Kazakhstan Region?
In 2024 there were 16.0 births and 8.1 deaths per 1,000 residents of West Kazakhstan Region, a natural increase of 7.9 per 1,000 (Kazakhstan: 18.1 births, 6.6 deaths).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyAre people moving to West Kazakhstan Region?
In 2024 the population of West Kazakhstan Region changed by 2,726 people: natural increase 5,472 and net migration -2,746 (more people left than arrived), based on registered births, deaths and migration.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow big is West Kazakhstan Region?
West Kazakhstan Region covers 151,339 square kilometres and had 4.6 people per square kilometre in 2025 (Kazakhstan: 7.5); ranked 6th least densely populated of 20 regions and cities (the three cities are small areas and rank highest).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow regions are governed in Kazakhstan
Regions (oblys, 17) and cities of republican significance (Astana, Almaty, Shymkent). Akim appointed by the President, who must propose at least two candidates for a vote of consent by the maslikhat deputies (2026 Constitution); maslikhat directly elected for five years. Regional budgets, development programmes, health, education and infrastructure.
Every tier of government in Kazakhstan
Other regions of Kazakhstan
- Almaty City 2,348,103
- Turkistan Region 2,149,205
- Astana 1,639,176
- Almaty Region 1,596,532
- Shymkent 1,294,050
- Zhambyl Region 1,215,656
- Karaganda Region 1,131,353
- Aktobe Region 955,970
- Kyzylorda Region 846,312
- Kostanay Region 821,473
- Mangystau Region 819,824
- Akmola Region 789,608
- Pavlodar Region 745,243
- East Kazakhstan Region 718,995
- Atyrau Region 716,071
- Jetisu Region 687,701
- Abai Region 595,720
- North Kazakhstan Region 514,132
- Ulytau Region 219,049
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Sources
- Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: Demographic Yearbook of Kazakhstan 2021-2025 (English edition), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c2ca14ffe74f…)
- Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: Education in the Republic of Kazakhstan 2019-2023: statistical compilation (English edition), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5341ced12209…)
- Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: The regions of Kazakhstan in 2024: Statistical Yearbook (English edition, 414 pages), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3456cb173460…)
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