The gender pay gap in Kazakhstan remains persistent and significant, despite periods of partial improvement. As of April last year, the average monthly nominal wage of women amounted to only 76.9% of that of men. This means that, on average, women earn nearly a quarter less than men, despite comparable participation in the economy: 77 tiyn per 1 tenge, respectively.

Recent dynamics indicate unstable progress. While the ratio stood at 67% in 2019, it improved to a peak of 82.1% by 2021. However, this was followed by a reversal: the indicator declined to 79% in 2023, partially recovered to 80.3% in 2024, and widened again in 2025. Thus, a устойчивый trend toward reducing gender inequality in wages has not yet been established. At the same time, it should be noted that in 2025, women accounted for 4.3 million out of 9 million employed persons in Kazakhstan, or 47.9%.

At the regional level, the highest degree of pay parity as of April last year was observed in southern and agrarian regions. The smallest gap was recorded in Zhetysu Region (where women earned 96.7% of men’s wages), Turkestan Region (93.6%), and Zhambyl Region (89%). In contrast, the most pronounced gender imbalance was observed in resource-based and industrial regions. In Mangystau Region, the indicator stood at just 56.7%, in Ulytau Region at 60.8%, and in Atyrau Region at 62.1%. These regions showed the largest wage disparities, largely due to the structure of the economy and the high share of well-paid “male-dominated” industries.

In major cities, the situation varied significantly: in Shymkent, women earned 88.1% of men’s wages, in Almaty — 80.2%, and in Astana — 76.9%.

Across economic activities, only two sectors recorded average monthly nominal wages for women exceeding those of men: administrative and support services (104.3%) and education (104.2%). Near parity was observed in construction, where the ratio reached 97.9%.

At the same time, the gap remained significant in high-paying, capital-intensive industries. In financial and insurance activities, women earned only 71% of men’s wages; in information and communication — 74.2%; and in industry — 79.8%. These sectors are traditionally characterized by a higher concentration of male employment and, consequently, more pronounced gender pay disparities.

A similar pattern is observed when analyzing absolute wage levels*. By the end of 2024, men earned an average of 468.9 thousand tenge, compared to 344.5 thousand tenge for women, corresponding to a gap of 26.5%. The most significant disparity was recorded in Mangystau Region, where women’s wages were twice as low as men’s: 372.5 thousand tenge versus 748.7 thousand tenge. In Atyrau Region, women earned 45.3% less than men, and in Ulytau Region — 39.4% less. Notably, these regions also demonstrate some of the highest wage levels in the country. Thus, higher nominal wages are accompanied by more pronounced gender inequality.

In some regions, the situation appears more balanced. For example, in Zhetysu Region, women slightly outpaced men in wages by 1.2%: 294.8 thousand tenge versus 291.3 thousand tenge, respectively. A relatively small gap was also observed in Almaty Region (minus 8.7%) and North Kazakhstan Region (minus 9.6%). However, such cases are rather exceptions and do not alter the overall picture.

Overall, the gender pay gap in Kazakhstan is structural in nature and largely determined by sectoral and regional specifics of the economy. More significant disparities are observed in regions with a developed resource sector and in high-income industries, while in socially oriented sectors and agrarian regions the gap is less pronounced. Without systemic changes in the structure of employment and access to high-paying positions, a sustained reduction in gender inequality remains unlikely.

* excluding small enterprises engaged in entrepreneurial activity