According to the information portal "Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities" of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan (as of February 14, 2025), the overall share of Kazakhstani people with disabilities living in rural areas stands at 40.1%. However, this figure is significantly higher in some regions. For instance, it reaches 73.6% in Turkestan Region, 81.1% in Almaty Region, 59.3% in Zhambyl Region, and 56.7% in North Kazakhstan Region.
The total number of Kazakhstani citizens with disabilities as of February 14 this year was 738,9 thousand, including approximately 624 thousand adults. Among them, 29,9 thousand individuals use wheelchairs. The number of persons with various musculoskeletal disorders is significantly higher, totaling 206,3 thousand. The latest data from the "Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities" portal reveals that only 42,9 thousand facilities across Kazakhstan have been adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. Of these, only 23 thousand facilities have special equipment providing barrier-free access for wheelchair users, 24,1 thousand facilities are suitable for independent use by individuals with hearing disabilities, and just 23,3 thousand are accessible for citizens with visual impairments.
An interactive accessibility map on the portal highlights regional disparities. Almaty leads with 10,1 thousand adapted facilities. All other major cities and regions lag considerably behind. For example, the capital city offers only 1,7 thousand facilities accessible for people with disabilities, while Shymkent has 2,1 thousand.
