Population size and migration

The population of the region as of May 1, 2026 amounted to 695 thousand people, including 401,9 thousand people
(57,8%) -urban, 293,1 thousand people (42,2%) - rural residents.

The natural increase in the population in January-April 2026 amounted to 1114 people (in the corresponding period of the previous year – 1422 people).

For January-April 2026 the number of births was 2913 people (7,5% less than in January-April 2025), the number of deaths was 1799 people (4,2% more than in January-April 2025).          

The balance of migration is negative and amounted to – -1726 people (in January-April 2025– -1475 people), including in external migration - a positive balance of –6 people (-18), in internal -negative –- 1732 people and (-1457 people ).

Labor and income

The number of unemployed in the I quarter of 2025 amounted to 15956 people.

The unemployment rate was 4,6% of the labor force.

The number of persons registered with employment agencies as unemployed as of June 1, 2026 amounted
to 17023 people, or 4,9% of the labor force.

The average monthly nominal wages accrued to employees (excluding small enterprises engaged in entrepreneurial activities) in the I quarter of 2026 amounted to 387694 tenge, an increase compared to the I quarter of 2025 amounted to 7,1%.
The real wage index in I quarter 2026 was 96,4%.

In the IV quarter of 2025 the average per capita nominal cash income of the population of the region, according to the estimate, amounted to 225001 tenge, which is 8,9% higher than in IV quarter 2024, decrease in real cash income for the specified period is 2,9%.

Industry statistics

The volume of industrial production in January-May 2026 amounted to 1704222,7 million tenge in current prices, which is 11% less than in January-May 2025.

In the mining industry, production volumes decreased by 12,6%, in the supply of electricity, gas, steam, hot water and air-conditioned air, the decrease in production was 4,2%. In the manufacturing industry increased by 0,2%, in water supply, collection, processing and waste disposal, pollution elimination activities by 16,2%.

The volume of gross output (services) of agricultural, forestry and fisheries in January-May 2026 amounted
to 82277,0 million tenge, or 104,2% by January-May 2025.

The volume of cargo turnover in January-May 2026 amounted to 4783.8 million tkm (taking into account the assessment of the volume of cargo turnover of individual entrepreneurs engaged in commercial transportation), or 96.7% compared to January- May 2025.

The volume of passenger traffic – 1834,5 million pkm, or 107,5% by January-May 2025.

The volume of construction works (services) amounted to 93135,5 million tenge, or 118% compared to
January- May 2025.

In January-May 2026, the total area of housing put into operation ascreased by 1,4% and amounted
to 168,6 thousand square meters, of which in multi-apartment buildings by 1,6% ascreased (84,0 thousand square meters), individual residential buildings ascreased by 1,1% (84,5 thousand square meters).

The volume of investments in fixed capital in January-May 2026 amounted to 235037,1 million tenge, or 114,9%
by January- May 2025.

The number of registered legal entities as of June 1, 2026 amounted to 12560 units and increased by 0,9% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year, including 12207 units with fewer than 100 employees. The number of operating legal entities amounted to 10595 units, including 10242 units - small businesses. The number of registered small and medium enterprises (legal entities) in the region amounted to 10012 units and increased by 0,6% compared to the corresponding date of the previous year.

Economics

The volume of gross regional product for January-December 2025 year amounted to 5021375,2 million tenge at current prices. Compared to the corresponding period of January-December 2024 year, real GRP increased by 1,3%. In the structure of GRP, the share of production of goods amounted to 56%, services - 42%.

The consumer price index in May 2026 compared to December 2025 was 104,6%.

Prices for food products increased by 4%, non-food products - by 4%, paid services for the population - by 6.1%.
The prices of enterprises producing industrial products in May 2026 compared to December 2025 increased
by 9,6%.

The volume of retail trade in January-May 2026 amounted to 247076 million tenge, or 0.8% more than the corresponding period in 2025.

The volume of wholesale trade in January-May 2026 amounted to 232648,4 million tenge, or 100% compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

According to preliminary data, in January-April 2026 mutual trade with the EAEU countries amounted to
186.5 million US dollars and decreased by 32.3% to January-April 2025, including exports – 36 million US dollars
(by 15.5% less), imports – 150.5 million US dollars (35.4% less).