Population size and migration

The population of the Kostanay region as of March 1, 2024 amounted to 829.3 thousand people, including 518.3 thousand people (62.5%) – urban, 311 thousand people (37.5%) – rural residents.

The natural increase in the population in January-February 2024 amounted to 166 people (in the corresponding period of the previous year – 159 people).

The number of births  as January-February 2024 amounted to 1639 people (at the lever of January-February 2023), the number of deaths amounted to 1473 people (0.5% less than in January-February 2023).

The balance of migration is negative and amounted to 905 people (in January-February 2023 – -416 people), including in external migration – 74 people (-2 people), in internal migration – -979 people (-414 people).

Labor and income

The number of unemployed in the IV quarter of 2023 amounted to 21950 people.

The unemployment rate was 4.8% of the labor force.

The number of persons registered with employment agencies as unemployed as of April 1, 2024 amounted to 7826 people or 1.7% of the labor force.

The average monthly nominal wages accrued to employees (excluding small enterprises engaged in entrepreneurial activities) in the IV quarter of 2023 amounted to 335404 tenge, an increase compared to the IV quarter of 2022 amounted to 19%.

The real wage index in IV quarter 2023 was 108.1%.

In the IV quarter of 2023 the average per capita nominal cash income of the population of the region, according to the estimate, amounted to 194325 tenge, which is 15.2% higher than in IV quarter 2022, the growth rate of real cash income for the specified period is 104.6%.

Industry statistics

The volume of industrial production in January-March 2024 amounted to 660780 million tenge in current prices, which is 4.7% more than in January-March 2023.

In the mining and mine workings industry, production volumes increased by 1.3%, in the manufacturing industry – by 1.3%, in the supply of electricity, gas, steam, hot water and conditioned air there was by 15.9%, in water supply; sanitation, collection, processing and waste disposal, pollution elimination activities – by 2.8%.

The volume of gross output of agricultural products (services) in January-March 2024 amounted to 36349 million tenge or 100% by January-March 2023.

The volume of cargo turnover in January-March 2024 amounted to 6253.4 million tkm (taking into account the assessment of the volume of cargo turnover of individual entrepreneurs engaged in commercial transportation) or 90.1% compared to January-March 2023.

The volume of passenger traffic – 375.9 million pkm or 109.9% by January-March 2023.

The volume of construction works (services) amounted to 27206.9 million tenge or 108.8% compared to January- March 2023.

In January-March 2024, the total area of housing put into operation increased by 3.3% and amounted to 117.7 thousand square meters, of which in multi-apartment buildings - by 19.4% (83.8 thousand square meters). At the same time, the total area of individual residential buildings put into operation decreased by 23.1% (33 thousand square meters).

The volume of investments in fixed capital in January-March 2024 amounted to 104914.1 million tenge or 100.3% by January-March 2023.

The number of registered legal entities as of April 1, 2024 amounted to 14829 units and decreased by 0.4% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year, including 14434 units with less than 100 employees. The number of operating legal entities amounted to 13021 units, including 12628 units - small businesses. The number of registered small and medium enterprises (legal entities) in the region amounted to 11499 units and decreased by 0.9% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year.

Economics

The short-term economic indicator for January-March 2024 compared to January-March 2023 amounted to 104.7%. The calculation of the short-term economic indicator is carried out to ensure efficiency and is based on changes in output indices for basic sectors: agriculture, industry, construction, trade, transport and communications, accounting for over 60% of GDP.

The volume of gross regional product for January-September 2023 amounted to 2711574.2 million tenge at current prices. Compared to the corresponding period in 2022, real GRP increased by 100%. In the structure of GRP, the share of production of goods amounted to 47.6%, services – 44.1%.

The consumer price index in March 2024 compared to December 2023 was 102.2%.

Prices for food products increased by 2.2%, non-food products – by 1.6%, paid services for the population – by 2.8%. The prices of enterprises producing industrial products in March 2024 compared to December 2023 increased by 0.2%.

The volume of retail trade in January-March 2024 amounted to 131329.9 million tenge by 8.8% more than the corresponding period in 2023.

The volume of wholesale trade in January-March 2024 amounted to 158300.4 million tenge or 101.5% compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

According to preliminary data, in January-February 2024, mutual trade with the EAEU countries amounted to 233.3 million US dollars and decreased by 9.5% compared to January-February 2023, including exports – 87 million US dollars (by 16.4% more), imports – 146.3 million US dollars (20% less).