Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has once again highlighted a defining trend of recent years: Astana is rapidly transforming into one of the most dynamic megacities in the region - not only in terms of construction activity, but also in the quality and structure of its economic growth. According to him, by the end of 2025 the capital’s gross regional product (GRP) could reach $34–35 billion, equivalent to 17 trillion tenge or more, DKNews.kz reports.
“Overall, Astana is moving forward with confidence, demonstrating impressive growth rates. At the same time, there are unresolved issues. Today, we will discuss the city’s most pressing challenges,” the President noted.
An economy growing faster than expected
One of the key indicators - the short-term economic index - reached 118.6% over the first 11 months of 2025. For a capital city with an already high economic base, this is a particularly strong signal. Astana continues to lead the country in investment, construction, and the development of small and medium-sized businesses - a result, as the President emphasized, of deliberate and consistent policy rather than coincidence.
Akorda
The construction sector stands out in particular. By the end of the year, housing completions in Astana are expected to reach around 5 million square meters. This accounts for roughly a quarter of all housing commissioned nationwide and exceeds comparable figures in the capitals of neighboring Central Asian countries by several times.
Industry and trade: capital-scale figures
Astana’s economy has long since moved beyond a purely administrative function. Over the first 11 months of 2025, manufacturing output totaled 2.8 trillion tenge, reflecting 7.2% growth. In dollar terms, that is about $6 billion - a solid result even by the standards of major regional hubs.
Trade figures are equally striking. During the same period, trade turnover exceeded 10.8 trillion tenge, posting 8.4% growth, or approximately $22.5 billion.
“Trade volume for the first 11 months of 2025 exceeded 10.8 trillion tenge. Growth stands at 8.4%, which is roughly 22.5 billion dollars,” Tokayev said.
Taxes and fiscal impact
Economic expansion is directly reflected in budget revenues. According to the President, tax payments totaled 4.3 trillion tenge.
“As I was informed today, 4.3 trillion tenge in taxes have been paid. That is a substantial amount,” he noted.
For a city with an official population of 1.6 million people, this translates into exceptionally high fiscal returns per capita - a figure that positions Astana as a major financial contributor at the national level.
From $32 billion to $35 billion - in just one year
For context, in 2024 Astana’s gross regional product stood at just over 15 trillion tenge, or about $32 billion. By the end of 2025, the capital could add another $2–3 billion, pushing its GRP to $34–35 billion.
“By the end of 2025, we expect 34 billion dollars, and possibly up to 35 billion dollars,” the President said.
What this means in practice
In effect, today’s Astana represents the economy of a mid-sized country concentrated within a single city. Rapid construction, expanding manufacturing, large-scale trade, and record tax revenues are shaping a new profile for the capital: a city that is not merely consuming resources, but actively generating them.
The key question going forward is whether Astana can sustain this momentum while simultaneously addressing infrastructure and social challenges. Judging by the numbers and current dynamics, however, one conclusion is clear: the capital is already operating by the rules of major global cities - both in scale and in economic logic.
