Kazakhstan Tops Central Asia in 2026 Legatum Prosperity Index
Kazakhstan ranked first among Central Asian countries in the 2026 Legatum Prosperity Index, placing 66th out of 161 economies worldwide, according to the latest report published by the Prosperity Institute.
The annual index evaluates countries across more than 130 indicators grouped into three broad pillars: prosperity, freedom and society. The 2026 edition introduced an updated methodology that places greater emphasis on balanced performance across all categories rather than allowing strong results in one area to offset weaker performance in another.
Kazakhstan ranked 52nd globally in the Development pillar, 45th in Society and 47th in Integrity of Society. The country recorded its strongest results in Education, where it placed 32nd worldwide, and Integrity of Families, ranking 30th. Kazakhstan also placed 53rd globally for Living Conditions.
Among Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan ranked ahead of the Kyrgyz Republic (87th), Uzbekistan (94th), Tajikistan (129th) and Turkmenistan (150th). It also outperformed Russia, which ranked 103rd.
According to the report, Switzerland ranked as the world’s most prosperous country in 2026, followed by Norway, Ireland, Denmark and Finland. The institute attributed Switzerland’s top position to its consistently strong performance across all major dimensions.
