ALMATY – Family remains one of the strongest and most stable values in Kazakh society despite gradual demographic and social changes, according to a new study covering 2020–2024 by the Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development (KIPD). The research shows that while Kazakh citizens are increasingly marrying later, sharing family responsibilities more equally and embracing planned parenthood, traditional views on marriage, family hierarchy and childrearing continue to dominate.
According to the study, 92.4% of respondents in 2020 said family was “very important” to them. By 2022, that figure had risen to 93.5%, reflecting the enduring significance of family values despite economic and social transformation. The findings remained largely unchanged in 2024, with differences across most indicators staying within 5%, allowing researchers to estimate overall satisfaction with family life at around 90–95%.
When asked what family means to them, respondents most frequently associated it with happiness and love (44.9%), continuation of the family line (41.7%) and meaning in life (40.7%). The study found that marriage in Kazakhstan continues to be viewed primarily as a family institution rather than simply a legal partnership.
According to KIPD’s 2024 data, 58.5% of respondents defined marriage as a spousal union created for building a family. Another 18.7% described it as mutual consent between people wishing to formalize their relationship, while 10.6% associated marriage mainly with shared household management and finances.
Love remains the main reason for marriage, cited by 59.9% of respondents. Shared values and interests followed at 17%, while 10.7% said having children was the primary motivation. Traditional family roles persist alongside growing partnership dynamics Researchers noted that Kazakhstan’s family model remains largely traditional, though partnership-based decision-making is becoming more common.
In 2020, the overwhelming majority of respondents said the husband was the head of the family, while egalitarian family models accounted for roughly one-quarter of responses. Women were identified as heads of household only rarely. By 2024, around 35% of respondents said important family decisions are made jointly, signaling gradual growth in partnership practices within households.
Nevertheless, nearly 55% still identified the husband as the formal head of the family. The study also showed a mix of traditional and more equal approaches to household responsibilities. In 2022, 47.3% of respondents said family duties should be shared equally, while 28% believed domestic responsibilities remain primarily a woman’s role.
At the same time, women continue to spend more time raising children. According to the findings, 44.5% of women said they are constantly involved in childcare, compared to 25.6% of men.