Kazakhstanis die on average at a rate of 613.5 cases per 100,000 people — this is the country's overall standardised mortality rate for 2025. The three main causes of death account for almost two-thirds of all deaths, and each is well known to doctors, but, apparently, still poorly controlled at the prevention level.
HEART, BRAIN, NERVES — THE TOP THREE
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the leading cause of death for Kazakhstanis in 2025 was diseases of the circulatory system: 136.6 cases per 100,000 people. This includes ischaemic heart disease (45.1 cases) and cerebrovascular diseases — that is, strokes and related conditions (43.9). Together, they account for almost two-thirds of all cardiovascular mortality.
Next comes a surprisingly high figure: diseases of the nervous system claimed 108.7 lives per 100,000. This is the second leading cause in the mortality structure. Cancer is in third place: 60.8 per 100,000, the vast majority of which are malignant neoplasms (62.6).
Rounding out the top of the ranking are diseases of the respiratory system (62.4 cases) and diseases of the digestive system (49.2). All of these are diseases largely linked to lifestyle, diet, and how promptly people seek medical advice.
MEN DIE ALMOST TWICE AS OFTEN
The gap between the sexes is one of the most striking findings in the statistics. The overall mortality rate among men is 829.9 cases per 100,000 people, while for women it is 451.6. The difference is almost twofold.
The gap is particularly pronounced for specific causes. Men die from diseases of the circulatory system at a rate 2.3 times higher (199.4 cases versus 88.1). For respiratory diseases, the rate is 2.5 times higher (97.5 versus 39.7). Suicides among men are recorded at a rate 5.5 times higher: 12.2 versus 2.2 per 100,000.
RURAL AREAS DIE FASTER THAN CITIES
The mortality rate for the rural population is 667.4 cases per 100,000, compared to 585.7 for the urban population. The gap of 82 units can likely be explained primarily by access to healthcare, as rural residents undergo check-ups less frequently and seek help later.
REGIONS: WHO IS IN THE DANGER ZONE
The highest overall mortality rates are observed in Ulytau Region (7.77 cases per 1,000 people), North Kazakhstan Region (7.72), and East Kazakhstan Region (7.49). The lowest rates are in Astana (5.28 cases) and Almaty (5.32). The capitals, where the best medical infrastructure is concentrated, predictably appear more prosperous.
Karaganda Region stands out for mortality from diseases of the nervous system — 231.5 cases per 100,000 people, which is double the national average. Akmola Region and Ulytau Region lead for cardiovascular diseases (233.7 and 221.7, respectively).
It is no coincidence that the FBRK editorial team has been reporting for the fourth year running on which drugs are used for disinsection in the regions of Kazakhstan and what risks they may pose to people and the environment. After all, it is often the use of chemical insecticides that affects public health, particularly the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of humans. This year, for example, such a toxic drug is being used in the urban environment of Zhetysu Region.
WHAT THIS MEANS
The three main killers of Kazakhstanis — heart disease, nervous system disorders, and cancer — share one thing in common: they are all largely preventable with early detection. The gap between city and countryside, and between men and women, speaks not so much to biology as to access to healthcare and the culture of seeking medical help. Men typically go to the doctor later, rural residents less often. Until at least these two habits change, the statistics will likely reproduce themselves year after year.
The gap between the capitals and other regions may additionally point to inequalities in medical infrastructure: where it is developed, people live longer — and this is a direct argument in favour of expanding state programmes to ensure the availability of primary healthcare outside major cities.