Population size and migration

The population of the region as of March 1, 2024 amounted to 693,7  thousand people, including 392,7 thousand people (56,6%) – urban, 301 thousand people (43,4%) – rural residents.

The natural increase in the population in January-February 2024 amounted to 940 people (in the corresponding period of the previous year – 986 people).

In January-February 2024, newborns were registered by 1% more than in January-February 2023, deaths – by 6,9% .

The balance of migration is negative and amounted to – 453 people (in January-February 2023 – -93  people), including in external migration – a positive balance of – 88 people (+129), in internal – negative – -541  people and (-222).

Labor and income

The number of unemployed in the IV quarter of 2023 amounted to 16,9 thousand 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 15367 people, or 4,4% 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 337890 tenge, an increase compared to the IV quarter of 2022 amounted to 12,3%. The real wage index in IV quarter 2023 was 102,2%.

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 189745 tenge, which is 16,4% higher than in IV quarter 2022, the growth rate of real cash income for the specified period is 5,9%.

Industry statistics

The volume of industrial production in January-March 2024 amounted to 942898,1 million tenge in current prices, which is 5,3% more than in January-March 2023.

In the mining industry, production volumes increased by 4,6%, in the manufacturing industry - by 10,5%, in the supply of electricity, gas, steam, hot water and conditioned air there was by 14,9%, in water supply, collection, processing and waste disposal, pollution elimination activities - by 24,4%.

The volume of gross output (services) of agricultural, forestry and fisheries in January-March 2024 amounted to 30374,3 million tenge, or 103,8% by January-March 2023.

The volume of cargo turnover in January-March 2024 amounted to 2619,8 million tkm (taking into account the assessment of the volume of cargo turnover of individual entrepreneurs engaged in commercial transportation), or 97% compared to January-March 2023.

The volume of passenger traffic – 890,3 million pkm, or 87,6% by January-March 2023.

The volume of construction works (services) amounted to 33325,3 million tenge, or 135,5% compared to January-March 2023.

In January-March 2024, the total area of housing put into operation increased by 23,1% and amounted to 80,9 thousand square meters, of which in multi-apartment buildings - by 24,3% (49,6 thousand square meters). At the same time, the total area of individual residential buildings put into operation decreased by 33,2% (56,9 thousand square meters).

The volume of investments in fixed capital in January-March 2024 amounted to 106585,2 million tenge, or 108,5% by January-March 2023.

The number of registered legal entities as of April 1, 2024 amounted to 12480 units and increased by 0,5% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year, including 12142 units with less than 100 employees. The number of operating legal entities amounted to 10261 units, including 9926 units - small businesses. The number of registered small and medium enterprises (legal entities) in the region amounted to 12391 units and increased by 0,4% 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 106,5%. 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 3026 million tenge at current prices. Compared to the corresponding period of January-September 2022, real GRP increased by 6,3%. In the structure of GRP, the share of production of goods amounted to 59,7%, services – 30,4%.

The consumer price index in March 2024 compared to December 2023 was 102%.

Prices for food products increased by 2%, non-food products – by 1,7%, paid services for the population – by 2,4%. The prices of enterprises producing industrial products in March 2024 compared to December 2023 decreased by 1%.

The volume of retail trade in January-March 2024 amounted to 122729,6 million tenge, or 1,3% more than the corresponding period in 2023.

The volume of wholesale trade in January-March 2024 amounted to 109170,1 million tenge, or 100,6% compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

According to preliminary data, in January-Fabruary 2024, mutual trade with the EAEU countries amounted to 115,6 million US dollars and decreased by 20,1% compared to January-Fabruary 2023, including exports – 21,6 million US dollars (by 41,4% less), imports – 93,9 million US dollars(12,8% less).