Central Asia: 10 Year Challenge

What has changed in Central Asian states since 2009?

First of all, we have grown in numbers. If in 2009 the population of Central Asia was 61.6 million people, in 2019 the number has reached 70.8 million. Tajikistan has shown the fastest rates of growth – the number of its citizens has grown almost by 23% in 10 years.

However, birth rate has fallen in all countries but Kyrgyzstan, which has seen its increase by almost 7%. The largest decline in the birth rate was in Kazakhstan, by 37%.

By 2019, the cumulative GDP of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has been 243.28 billion dollars. The largest growth more than 100% in 10 years has been observed in Turkmenistan.

Before 2016, Uzbekistan had two exchange rates – official and kerb rates. Moreover, it was only a few years ago that national authorities admitted that some figures in the past had been overstated.

Since 2009, Tajikistan’s external debt has doubled, Kyrgyzstan’s increased– by 67% and Kazakstan’s – by 47% per cent. The minimum increase in external debt has been registered in Tajikistan, only 2.2% per cent only. Turkmenistan’s external debt decreased by 20%.

It’s hard to say whether the 10-year-old data are reliable in Uzbekistan, but based on them, the country’s burden has more than doubled.

Just as 10 years ago, the lowest level of average salary is observed in Tajikistan. According to the statistical committee, the best indicators are in Kazakhstan – 493 dollars by 2019. Kyrgyzstan has shown the highest rate in 10 years – the average salary has grown by 61%.

Uzbekistan has the highest unemployment rate in the region. In ten years, this number has grown by 39%. Also, unemployment rate is rising in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, but in Kazakhstan it is decreasing. Since 2009, the number of those unemployed has decreased by 20%.