ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 44th among 100 countries in the Opportunities category of the Best Countries 2026 ranking, placing it among the top 50 countries for conditions related to business, employment, education, social protection and access to financial resources.
The country received an average score of 53.9 points in the category, with particularly high assessments for social protection, personal income taxation and educational attainment. Kazakhstan ranked 53rd overall with a score of 53.8 points. The ranking was compiled by U.S.
News & World Report in cooperation with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. This year’s edition assessed 100 countries across eight categories using 100 indicators. Unlike previous editions, which relied on public perception surveys, the 2026 ranking is based on statistical data collected from international organizations and other sources.
Social protection and education among Kazakhstan’s strongest areas The Opportunities category evaluates conditions for entrepreneurship, employment, education, social protection, taxation and access to financial resources. Kazakhstan received 94.1 points out of 100 for social protection, 80.2 points for personal income taxation and 71.8 points for educational attainment.
The country profile also lists an average of 12.5 years of schooling. The scores reflect the ranking’s assessment methodology and should not be interpreted as direct measures of population coverage. For example, the 94.1-point score for social protection does not mean that 94.1% of the population is covered by government programs.
Kazakhstan ranks 50th in healthcare and 54th in infrastructure Kazakhstan placed 50th in the healthcare category, with a score of 64.2 points. The assessment considered access to medical care, life expectancy, the availability of doctors, vaccination and healthcare infrastructure.
The country profile lists 3.8 doctors per 1,000 people and a life expectancy of 74.4 years. In infrastructure, Kazakhstan ranked 54th with 64 points. The category covers access to electricity, transport networks, internet connectivity, water supply, sanitation and energy system resilience.