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 January 2026, compared to December 2025, there is a slight increase in the number of registered legal entities (by 0,1%), compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increased by 2,5%. There has been an increase in the number of operating legal entities - by 0,4% compared to December 2025, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increased by 2,8%. 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 February 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 February 1, 2026, the largest number of registered legal entities is in the cities of Almaty (158604 or 28,8%), Astana (107394 or 19,5%), and Shymkent (30269 or 5,5%). The smallest number of registered legal entities falls on the regions of Ulytau (2885 or 0,5%), Abay (8483 or 1,5%) and Zhetisu (8525 or 1,5%).

In January 2026, compared to December 2025, there is a slight decrease in the number of registered individual entrepreneurs (by 1,8%), compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increase by 2,2%. There has been an increase in the number of operating subjects of individual entrepreneurship - by 1,6% compared to December 2025, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increased by 3%. 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 February 1, 2026 was 36,8%. In second place is «Provision of other types of services» (14,7%), in third place is «Agriculture, forestry and fisheries» (13,6%). Together, the share of these three types of activities is 65,1% of all registered subjects of individual entrepreneurship.

As of February 1, 2026, the number of registered branches and subsidiaries of foreign legal entities amounted to 29278 units, including 21715 active ones. The largest number of registered branches and affiliates of foreign legal entities is in the cities of Almaty (3792 or 13%) and Astana (3518 or 12%), and in the Turkistan region (1830 or 6,3%). 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» (12102 or 41,3%), «Wholesale and retail trade; car and motorcycle repair» (3790 or 12,9%) and «Professional, scientific and technical activities» (2150 or 7,3%).

As of February 1, 2026, the number of registered legal entities, branches and subsidiaries of foreign legal entities with a foreign form of ownership increased by 7,9% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year. The number of registered legal entities and branches with joint ownership increased by 0,9%.

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» – 35,8%, «Provision of other types of services» – 14,6%, «Construction» – 9%.

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

As of February 1, 2026, the number of operating SMEs increased by 3% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year. In the total number of operating SMEs, the share of individual entrepreneurs was 70,9%, legal entities of small business – 17,4%, peasant or farm enterprises – 11,5%, 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» – 35,2%, «Provision of other types of services» – 13%, «Agriculture, forestry and fisheries» – 12,2%.

• Age of legal entities

• 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