The problem of unsafe housing in Kazakhstan has reached alarming proportions: last year, the area and number of dilapidated residential buildings increased, increasing the risks to the safety and quality of life of residents, Ranking.kz reports with reference to data from the Bureau of National Statistics.
In 2025, the number of residential buildings in dilapidated condition in the country increased by 7%, reaching 2,600. This increase was observed in both urban areas (up 2.4%) and rural areas (up 11.5%). The total area of unsafe housing increased by 3.2%, reaching 834,000 square meters.
Last year, more than 50,000 people lived in unsafe buildings across Kazakhstan, 5.7% (or 2,700 people) more than in 2024.
The Atyrau region had the highest number of unsafe buildings—705, housing over 13,000 people. The number of such buildings in the region increased by 49 over the year.
In 2025, four regions demonstrated a decrease in the number of residential buildings in dilapidated condition: the Almaty (minus 30) and Karaganda (minus 12) regions, as well as Astana (minus 10) and North Kazakhstan (minus 7) regions. Kazakhstan still has a significant amount of dilapidated housing which is in deplorable condition but is not formally designated as unsafe housing. Residents of such buildings continue living in them without any real mechanisms to resolve the problem. At the same time, officially designating dilapidated housing as unsafe housing opens access to renovation and resettlement programs, increasing residents’ chances of improving their housing conditions.
