Kazakhstan
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
23 / 100
Not Free
Internet Freedom
37 / 100
Not Free
In Kazakhstan, parliamentary and presidential elections are neither free nor fair. The dominant media outlets are either in state hands or owned by government-friendly businessmen. Freedoms of speech and assembly remain restricted and punished, and corruption is endemic.
Research & Recommendations
Kazakhstan
Not Free
23
100
| PR Political Rights | 5 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 18 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
23
100
Not Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
President Nursultan Nazarbayev ruled Kazakhstan from 1990 until his resignation in 2019. His hand-picked successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, began a program of ostensible reform after peaceful nationwide protests turned violent in January 2022. Parliamentary and presidential elections are neither free nor fair, however, and authorities have consistently marginalized or imprisoned genuine opposition figures. The dominant media outlets are either in state hands or owned by government-friendly businessmen. Freedoms of speech and assembly remain restricted and subject to punishment, and corruption is endemic.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Kazakhstan
Not Free
37
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 14 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 12 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 11 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
34
100
Not Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Political Overview
President Nursultan Nazarbayev ruled Kazakhstan from 1990 until his resignation in 2019. His hand-picked successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, began a program of ostensible reform after peaceful nationwide protests turned violent in January 2022. Parliamentary and presidential elections are neither free nor fair, however, and authorities have consistently marginalized or imprisoned genuine opposition figures. The dominant media outlets are either in state hands or owned by government-friendly businessmen. Freedoms of speech and assembly remain restricted and subject to punishment, and corruption is endemic.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
Kazakhstan
5
100
| DEMOCRACY-PERCENTAGE Democracy Percentage | 4.76 100 |
| DEMOCRACY-SCORE Democracy Score | 1.29 7 |
Last Year's Democracy Percentage & Status
5
100
The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 1 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The Democracy Percentage, introduced in 2020, is a translation of the Democracy Score to the 0-100 scale, where 0 equals least democratic and 100 equals most democratic.
See the methodology.
Executive Summary
Following snap presidential elections in November 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev secured another seven years in office and focused on stabilizing the political and socioeconomic situation in Kazakhstan. President Tokayev faces many domestic and foreign policy challenges. It is important for Tokayev to maintain the loyalty of political and business elites who were previously aligned with former president Nursultan Nazarbayev. President Tokayev adopted a cautious approach to key personnel decisions by maintaining a balance between his own appointees and Nazarbayev allies who retained their posts under the new president. Surrounding himself with trusted people remains a challenging task for Tokayev. Patronage is deeply rooted in public administration, with key figures across the government closely connected through family and personal networks.
Nations in Transit 2024 Policy Recommendations
Ensure that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is soundly defeated.
The future of European democracy and security is now inextricably linked to the fate of Ukraine. European Union (EU) and NATO member states must not only invest far more—and more efficiently—in their collective defense, but also provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to roll back Russian advances and build a durable democracy of its own.
Support democratic renewal and reform.
In addition to defending the international order from emboldened autocrats, democratic governments must attend to democratic renewal within Europe, particularly among nascent democracies.
Provide consistent messaging and support to Europe’s aspiring democracies.
Military aggression from autocracies in the region has underscored the dangers of exclusion from democracy-based organizations like the EU and NATO, galvanizing the political will of policymakers in aspiring member states and generating further public pressure to undertake long-sought democratic reforms.
News and Updates
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
23
/ 100
Not Free
Freedom on the Net Score
37
/ 100
Not Free
Nations in Transit Score
5
/ 100
Population: 19,620,000
Internet Facts
Status
Not Free
Networks Restricted
No
Social Media Blocked
No
Websites Blocked
Yes
Pro-government Commentators
Yes
Users Arrested
Yes
Election Facts
Status
Not Tracked
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
