Kazakhstan’s urban population to reach 70% by 2050

Kazakhstan’s urban population is set to reach 70% by 2050, Bolat Zhamishev, the Minister for Country’s Regions Development told a briefing at the Public Communications Service. “In line with the global trend towards urbanization, the urban population in Kazakhstan will grow from the current 55% to around 70%”, the Minister said. “The way urbanization will grow within the following 15-20 years will define the economic development of the nation”, he believes. He elaborated that urban areas account for growth of the non-petroleum GDP and is its major driving force. As of September 1, 2013, the country’s population stood at slightly over 17 million. The urban population stood at 9 million 384 thousand people.