34.7% of Kazakhstanis said they cannot carry out funeral rites without going into debt or taking out loans. In 2026, the figure remained virtually unchanged compared with previous years. Pensioners proved to be the most vulnerable group.
HOW THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS
According to the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS), since 2023 the share of respondents who can hold a funeral ceremony without debt has been in the range of 63–66%. The share of those who need borrowed funds for such expenses stood at 34–37%.
In 2026, the financial vulnerability rate among pensioners reached 41.2%. This is the highest figure among age groups. In the category of respondents aged 29 to 38, 71.5% said they are able to pay for a funeral without going into debt.
HOW MUCH THE VOLUME OF FUNERAL SERVICES HAS GROWN
The total value of funeral services provided rose from 6.4 billion tenge in 2024 to 22.2 billion tenge in 2025.
In particular, funeral home services in 2025 amounted to 7.4 billion tenge, while burial and cremation services totalled more than 14.8 billion tenge. It is noted that sharp changes in the figures in certain years may be linked to a partial move by funeral-sector entrepreneurs out of the shadow economy.
At the same time, 22.2 billion tenge does not reflect all household spending. The statistics do not include expenditure on burial goods, clothing, carpets and coffins, nor funeral banquets, since the latter are recorded under the catering sector.
HOW PRICES FOR FUNERAL SERVICES HAVE CHANGED
The consumer price index for funeral services rose significantly in 2022 and 2023 — to 114.7% and 120.6% respectively. Growth subsequently slowed: by the end of 2025, the figure stood at 106%, and for January–July 2026 — at 106.6%.
The dynamics vary by region. For example, in the Aktobe region, funeral services rose in price by 20% over January–July 2026. In the Abai, Akmola, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan and Ulytau regions, as well as in Astana, no price increases were recorded during this period.
WHY EXPENSES ARE BECOMING A DEBT BURDEN
The cost of a standard funeral in Kazakhstan's major cities in 2026 is approximately 250–600 thousand tenge. Expenses may be higher, however, if the family organises a memorial gathering with a large number of guests.
At the same time, 17.5% of respondents said they cannot cover even unexpected expenses of 30–40 thousand tenge without financial difficulty. Among pensioners, such respondents account for 21%, compared with 14.2% among those aged 29 to 38.
Thus, the survey data show that for a significant portion of the population, even relatively small unplanned expenses become a financial problem.
CONTEXT
Kazakhstani pensioners also face financial constraints when buying furniture, paying for unexpected expenses, going on holiday, and other spending not related to basic needs. This is evidenced by the results of the sample survey of the population's quality of life for 2026.
