Annually, there is an increase in the number of registered legal entities by an average of 4,1%, so over the past ten years (2016-2025) their number has increased from 383850 to 549669 (by 165819 units or 43,2%). At the same time, it should be noted that the main growth occurs due to small legal entities, their number is steadily increasing every year by an average of 4,1%. Unlike small ones, the dynamics of medium and large legal entities is not stable. Over the past decade, against the background of the annual growth in the number of medium and large legal entities, in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023 their number was not significant, but decreased (by 1,4%, 3,1%, 0,7% and 0,8%, respectively).

In December, compared to November 2025, there is a slight decrease in the number of registered legal entities (by 0,4%), compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increased by 2,5%. At the same time, there is an decrease in the number of operating legal entities - by 0,4%, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increased by 2,5%. Since the beginning of the year, by type of economic activity, the largest number of registered legal entities remains in the industry «Wholesale and retail trade; car and motorcycle repair», the share of which as of January 1, 2026. amounted to 26,7%. On the second place – «Construction» (13,4%), on the third – «Provision of other types of services» (9,9%). Together, the share of these three types of activities is 50% of all registered legal entities.

As of January 1, 2026, the largest number of registered legal entities is in the cities of Almaty (158032 or 28,8%), Astana (107448 or 19,5%), and Shymkent (30166 or 5,5%). The smallest number of registered legal entities falls on the regions of Ulytau (2876 or 0,5%), Zhetisu (8496 or 1,5%) and Abay (8534 or 1,6%).

In November, compared to November 2025, there is a slight decrease in the number of registered individual entrepreneurs (by 1%), compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increase by 4,8%. At the same time, there is an decrease in the number of operating subjects of individual entrepreneurship - by 1,2%, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increased by 5,5%. Since the beginning of the year, by type of economic activity, the largest number of registered individual entrepreneurs remains in the industry «Wholesale and retail trade; car and motorcycle repair», the share of which as of January 1, 2026 was 36,4%. In second place is «Provision of other types of services» (15,1%), in third place is «Agriculture, forestry and fisheries» (13,3%). Together, the share of these three types of activities is 64,8% of all registered subjects of individual entrepreneurship.

As of January 1, 2026, the number of registered branches and subsidiaries of foreign legal entities amounted to 29476 units, including 21687 active ones. The largest number of registered branches and affiliates of foreign legal entities is in the cities of Almaty (3794 or 12,9%) and Astana (3515 or 11,9%), and in the Turkistan region (1874 or 6,4%). By types of economic activity, the largest number of registered branches and subsidiaries of foreign legal entities belong to the sectors «Provision of other types of services» (12226 or 41,5%), «Wholesale and retail trade; car and motorcycle repair» (3821 or 13%) and «Professional, scientific and technical activities» (2154 or 7,3%).

As of January 1, 2026, the number of registered legal entities, branches and subsidiaries of foreign legal entities with a foreign form of ownership increased by 7,4% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year. The number of registered legal entities and branches with joint ownership increased by 0,5%.

In terms of types of economic activity, the largest share of registered legal entities, branches and subsidiaries of foreign legal entities with foreign and joint ownership falls on the sectors «Wholesale and retail trade; car and motorcycle repair» – 33,9%, «Provision of other types of services» – 12,7%, «Construction» – 8,6%.

* Top 10 countries by the largest number of registered legal entities, branches and branches of foreign legal entities

As of January 1, 2026, the number of operating SMEs increased by 5% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year. In the total number of operating SMEs, the share of individual entrepreneurs was 71,6%, legal entities of small business – 17,1%, peasant or farm enterprises – 11,2%, legal entities of medium business – 0,1%.

In terms of types of economic activity, the largest share of registered small and medium-sized businesses falls on the sectors «Wholesale and retail trade; car and motorcycle repair» – 34,9%; «Provision of other types of services» – 13,3%. «Agriculture, forestry and fisheries» – 12%.

• Age of legal entities
• The number of registered and operating individual entrepreneurs under the age of 35 and legal entities owned (100%) by persons under the age of 35

• Entrepreneurial Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• On taxes and other obligatory payments to the budget (Tax Code)
• On the national registers of identification numbers