Young females dominate the entrepreneurial landscape in Kazakhstan in the age group.
Young entrepreneurship blooming in Kazakhstan, with women leading the charge
Crushing stereotypes, Kazakhstan's urban landscapes and rural landscapes alike are witnessing a striking surge in young female entrepreneurs. An eye-opening report by the Institute of Public Policy on April 29 claims that an astonishing 55.4% of all young entrepreneurs below 35 years old are women, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.
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Diving deeper into the statistics, a staggering 55.5% of young women entrepreneurs reside in urban areas, opposed to just 44.5% of men. In the countryside, women still kick butt, accounting for a supporting 54.5% of the total young entrepreneur population.
The number of active individual entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan has been on a roller coaster ride, skyrocketing by a whopping 60.4% since 2020. And guess who's steering this ride? The youth, making up an impressive 40% of all individual entrepreneurs below 35 years old.
From January 2020 to January 2025, the number of young individual entrepreneurs multiplied an impressive 2.4 times, growing from 293,590 to 698,920. The real boom took place in 2022, when youth entrepreneurship experienced a mind-boggling 68% increase!
Three-quarters of these young gunslingers are stationed in cities, mirroring the ongoing urbanization trend. However, it's vital to note that only 4.7% of them are involved in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, while these sectors contribute to 14.2% of the overall population.
Curious about the top zones of this youth entrepreneurial movement? Trade and motor vehicle repair reigns supreme, followed by the provision of various services, and transportation and warehousing. Whatever the direction, anything but farming seems to have won the race!
Looking for a hand up? International organizations like the EBRD are stepping in with their US$20 million Youth in Business program, offering loans and grants to supercharge growth among MSMEs led by the under-35 crowd [3]. Additionally, nationwide AI training programs aim to equip these young entrepreneurs with the technical know-how for their tech-driven ventures [5]. It's game on, folks – let's level up!
Enrichment Data:- Popular areas in youth entrepreneurshipThe top sectors for young entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan under age 35 include trade and motor vehicle repair, service provision, and transportation/warehousing[1]. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries remain underrepresented, accounting for only 4.7% of youth entrepreneurs compared to 14.2% across all age groups[1].
- Growth trends since 2020The number of young individual entrepreneurs (under 35) surged 2.4-fold from 293,590 in Q1 2020 to 698,920 in Q1 2025[1]. A sharp 68% annual increase occurred in 2022, contributing to youth entrepreneurs now representing 40% of all individual entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan[1]. Urban areas dominate, with three-quarters of young entrepreneurs based in cities[1].
- Support mechanismsInitiatives like the EBRD’s US$20 million Youth in Business program target MSMEs led by under-35s, providing loans and grants to bolster growth[3]. Additionally, nationwide AI training programs aim to equip young entrepreneurs with technical skills for tech-driven ventures[5].
- In Kazakhstan, the wave of young entrepreneurship is predominantly driven by women, with an unexpected 55.4% of young entrepreneurs below 35 years old being female.
- An astounding 55.5% of these young, female entrepreneurs reside in urban areas, while in rural landscapes, women still account for 54.5% of the young entrepreneur population.
- The surge in young entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan has been significant, with the number of active individual entrepreneurs soaring by 60.4% since 2020, largely due to the youth's involvement.
- Over the period from January 2020 to January 2025, the number of young individual entrepreneurs has multiplied an impressive 2.4 times, growing from 293,590 to 698,920.
- The trade and motor vehicle repair, service provision, and transportation/warehousing sectors are the top areas for youth entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, while agriculture, forestry, and fisheries remain underrepresented.
- International organizations like the EBRD are supporting young entrepreneurs with their US$20 million Youth in Business program, aiming to fuel growth among small businesses led by individuals under 35 years old. Additionally, nationwide AI training programs help equip these young entrepreneurs with the necessary technical skills for their ventures.
