Pension sizes in Kazakhstan: The Ministry of Labor provides a summary
In Kazakhstan, the pension system is designed to provide financial support for its elderly population. As of the current date, there are 2 million 489 thousand pensioners in the country, with the average total pension amount standing at 143,529 tenge.
The pension system in Kazakhstan is structured around two main components: the basic pension and the solidarity pension. The basic pension is calculated based on an individual's participation in the pension system, particularly the length and nature of their pension contributions. On the other hand, the solidarity pension depends on the labor experience before 1998 and the average monthly income in the pre-retirement period.
Since 2023, a five-year plan to increase the basic pension is being implemented in Kazakhstan. The basic pension stands at 47,617 tenge, while the solidarity pension is 95,912 tenge. Notably, since January 1, 2025, pensions have been increased: the basic pension by 6.5%, and the solidarity pension by 8.5%. As a result, the minimum basic pension amount is now 32,360 tenge, while the maximum is 50,851 tenge.
The calculation of the basic pension in Kazakhstan depends significantly on an individual’s participation in the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF). Monthly pension benefits are calculated based on the individual’s accumulated pension savings in the UAPF. The pension payment from the UAPF cannot be less than 70% of the subsistence minimum, ensuring a basic level of pension income regardless of savings size.
For each additional year, an additional 2% is added to the basic pension payment, up to a maximum of 110% of the subsistence minimum for 30 years or more of participation. In the calculation, only one month is counted towards the participation period, even if MPC are paid several times in a month.
Individuals with disabilities or those who worked in hazardous conditions with compulsory occupational pension contributions (COPC) for at least 60 months receive correction factors that increase their monthly pension. The highest adjustment factor is applied if multiple qualifying conditions exist.
The solidarity pension increase is 2 percentage points above the inflation rate. However, the calculation of the solidarity pension was not detailed in the provided information.
From January to June 2025, 2 trillion 98.6 billion tenge was allocated from the republican budget for citizens' pension provision in Kazakhstan. A total of 678.7 billion tenge was allocated for basic pension payments, and 1 trillion 419.9 billion tenge was allocated for solidarity pension. The goal of this plan is to raise the minimum basic pension to 70% of the subsistence minimum, and the maximum to 120%.
In summary, the more and longer an individual participates in the pension system—through accumulation in UAPF and COPC—the higher their calculated basic pension will be, with additional factors increasing benefits for vulnerable or high-risk groups. The system also ensures a minimum pension tied to the subsistence level and adjusts pensions relative to prior earnings to maintain income replacement.
The pension system in Kazakhstan includes both the basic pension and the solidarity pension, which are calculated based on personal-finance aspects such as an individual's participation in the pension system, contributions, and work history. To increase the basic pension, individuals are encouraged to contribute to the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) over a longer period, as the payment is tied to an individual's accumulated savings and cannot fall below 70% of the subsistence minimum.
