Kazakhstan rises in the ranking of the world's largest economies
Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan has ranked 47th among the world’s largest economies by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country's nominal GDP is projected to reach nearly $398 billion by 2026. This marks the highest figure in Central Asia.
The ranking was published by the analytical platform Visual Capitalist. According to its estimates, the global economy will exceed $128 trillion by the end of 2026—approximately $20 trillion more than in 2023.
Methodology of the global economy rankings
Countries were compared based on nominal GDP—the total value of all goods and services produced within a nation over a year. The indicator is calculated in current US dollars at market exchange rates.
While such rankings allow for a comparison of national economies in monetary terms, they do not directly reflect standard of living, household income, or purchasing power.
Which countries Kazakhstan outperformed
Kazakhstan secured 47th place with a nominal GDP of $397.92 billion. It outperformed Nigeria ($386.67 billion), Portugal ($375.2 billion), Finland ($338.56 billion), and Algeria ($331.89 billion).
The top three positions are held by the United States with a GDP of $32.64 trillion, China at $21.55 trillion, and Germany at $5.47 trillion.
Central Asian rankings
While all five Central Asian nations are included in the ranking, Kazakhstan leads its neighbors in economic volume. Uzbekistan ranked 60th ($178.17 billion), Turkmenistan 89th ($83 billion), Kyrgyzstan 124th ($26.69 billion), and Tajikistan 134th ($21.11 billion). Consequently, Kazakhstan’s economy is approximately 2.2 times larger than that of Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan climbs three positions
In February 2026, Kazakhstan held 50th place in a similar ranking by Visual Capitalist. At that time, its projected GDP was $320 billion, placing it at the bottom of the world’s top 50 economies.
Previously, it was reported that Kazakhstan entered the top 40 most competitive global economies. The country ranked 38th in the World Competitiveness Ranking 2026, compiled by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).