Young females reign supreme in Kazakhstan's startup landscape, demonstrating high entrepreneurial vigor in the nation's youth segment.
Women Entrepreneurs Rule in Kazakhstan's Youth Business Scene
According to a recent report by the Institute of Public Policy, women represent a staggering 55.4% of young business owners in Kazakhstan, with urban areas witnessing an even higher percentage of 55.5% for women, compared to 44.5% for men. And it's not just in urban settings where women are dominating - they also lead in rural areas, accounting for 54.5% of the total young entrepreneurs in these regions.
This isn't just a recent phenomenon. The number of individual entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan has been on a steady rise since 2020, with youth accounting for 40% of all these entrepreneurs under the age of 35. From the first quarter of 2020 to the same period in 2025, the number of young individual entrepreneurs has nearly doubled, increasing from 293,590 to 698,920. The surge in 2022 saw a massive 68% increase in youth entrepreneurship.
Three-quarters of these young entrepreneurs are based in cities, reflecting the urbanization trend. However, only 4.7% of them are involved in agriculture, forestry, or fisheries, compared to 14.2% across all age groups.
So, what industries are these youth entrepreneurs focused on? The top three areas of interest include trade and repair of motor vehicles, provision of various types of services, and transportation and warehousing.
Looking at broader trends and regional programs, it’s possible that youth entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan is being shaped by a focus on technology, innovation, e-commerce, and sustainability. Similar trends are visible in neighboring countries, with tech-based industries and green transitions being prioritized.
However, it's important to note that while young women are leading the charge in entrepreneurship, they face significant structural barriers such as resource gaps and limited mentorship opportunities. Efforts are being made to address these disparities, with initiatives focusing on vocational training, mentorship, and financial access for women returnees and entrepreneurs.
The lack of Kazakhstan-specific data highlights the need for improved monitoring of youth entrepreneurship metrics, particularly gender-disaggregated indicators. Strengthening collaboration between public and private sectors and implementing gender-responsive policies are key recommendations for continued improvement.
Entrepreneurship among women in Kazakhstan's youth business scene is striking, with women representing 55.4% of young business owners nationwide, and an even higher percentage of 55.5% in urban settings. This trend extends to rural areas as well, where women account for 54.5% of the total young entrepreneurs. The number of young individual entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, under the age of 35, has nearly doubled from 2020 to 2025, reaching 698,920.
Interestingly, these youth entrepreneurs show a preference for certain industries. The top three areas of focus include trade and repair of motor vehicles, provision of various types of services, and transportation and warehousing. The future of youth entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan may be shaped by a focus on technology, innovation, e-commerce, and sustainability, as evidenced by regional programs.
Despite these advancements, young women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan face significant structural barriers, such as resource gaps and limited mentorship opportunities. Efforts are being made to address these disparities, through initiatives that focus on vocational training, mentorship, and financial access for women returnees and entrepreneurs in the health-and-wellness, science, and finance sectors, including women's health.
Improved monitoring of youth entrepreneurship metrics, particularly gender-disaggregated indicators, is crucial for a better understanding of this growing phenomenon in Kazakhstan's small-business landscape. Strengthening collaboration between public and private sectors, and implementing gender-responsive policies, are key recommendations for continued improvement and growth in this area.
