(25 February 2026 | Source: National Business Kazakhstan)
Expenditure on supporting the activities of akims in Kazakhstan in 2026 ranges from 1.5 billion to more than 5 billion tenge. At the same time, analysis shows: the larger the economic scale of a region, the smaller the share of its budget it allocates to maintaining the administrative apparatus. Analysts suggest evaluating these sums not only in absolute terms, but also in relation to regional budgets.
WHO TOPPED THE RANKING BY TOTAL EXPENDITURE
According to National Business Kazakhstan, first place in terms of expenditure volume is occupied by Almaty Akim Darkhan Satybaldy. More than 5 billion tenge is allocated for supporting the activities of his office. At the same time, the share of these expenses is less than 0.2% of the metropolis's budget.
Second place is taken by the akim of the Almaty Region, Marat Sultangaziev — around 4.3 billion tenge. Third is the akim of the Mangistau Region, Nurdaulet Kilybai, with expenditure of 3.9 billion tenge (around 0.9% of the budget).
3.4 billion tenge is allocated for the offices of the akims of the Kyzylorda Region, Nurlybek Nalibaev (around 0.6%) and the Turkestan Region, Nuralkhan Kusherov (around 0.3%).
Next is the akim of the Abai Region, Berik Uali — 3.1 billion tenge (0.9% of the budget).
Expenditure on supporting the activities of the akim of the Akmola Region, Marat Akhmetzhanov, amounts to 2.9 billion tenge (0.6%). 2.8 billion tenge each has been allocated for Zhenis Kassymbek (Astana, around 0.3% of the budget), Nariman Turegaliev (West Kazakhstan Region, 0.7%) and Beibit Isabaev (Zhetysu Region, 0.6%).
AVERAGE FIGURES FOR MOST REGIONS
Expenditure for most regions falls within the range of 2–3 billion tenge:
- Akim of the Kostanay Region, Kumar Aksakalov — 2.7 billion tenge (0.5% of the budget);
- Akim of the Pavlodar Region, Asain Baikhanov — 2.6 billion tenge (0.5%);
- Akim of the North Kazakhstan Region, Gauez Nurmukhambetov — 2.5 billion tenge (0.6%);
- Akim of Shymkent, Gabit Syzdykbekov — 2.5 billion tenge (0.3%);
- Akim of the East Kazakhstan Region, Nurymbet Saktaganov — 2.3 billion tenge (0.5%).
Lower down the list:
- Serik Shapkenov (Atyrau Region) — 2.1 billion tenge (0.2%);
- Yermaganbet Bulekpaev (Karaganda Region) — 2.0 billion tenge (0.4%).
HIGHEST EXPENDITURE RELATIVE TO BUDGET
In relative terms, the Ulytau Region leads: expenditure on supporting the activities of akim Dastan Ryspekov is set at 1.6 billion tenge — around 1% of the regional budget.
The akim of the Zhambyl Region, Yerbol Karashukeev, is also among those with the lowest costs in absolute figures — 1.6 billion tenge, which amounts to around 0.2% of the budget.
Minimum expenditure is recorded for the akim of the Aktobe Region, Askhat Shakharov — 1.5 billion tenge (0.6% of the budget).
WHY THE SUMS DIFFER
Analysts note: the larger a region's economy, the smaller the share of its budget it allocates to maintaining the akim's office. This is linked to the overall scale of the budgets and the managed economy.
For example, the gross regional product of Almaty is estimated at around $60–65 billion, which constitutes about a fifth of the country's GDP. The city's economy is comparable to the economies of individual European states. In such conditions, absolute spending on governance is inevitably higher, but its share of the budget remains one of the lowest.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN EXPENDITURE ON SUPPORTING THE AKIM'S ACTIVITIES
The budget line "for supporting the activities of the akim" does not represent the personal expenses of a single official. It includes funding for the entire regional administrative apparatus:
- the payroll for employees of the akimat;
- maintenance of administrative buildings and infrastructure;
- official vehicles and business trips;
- digital systems and document flow;
- other operating expenses.
Thus, it is more accurate to view these sums as costs for the functioning of the regional administration as a whole, rather than as expenses on a single executive.
The National Business Kazakhstan study emphasises that the ranking is compiled for informational purposes only and is not an assessment of the effectiveness of the work of state bodies.