The head of the State Tax Service estimates the shadow economy in Kyrgyzstan as currently standing at approximately 12%.
Almambet Shykmamatov told local media that efforts to bring businesses out of the shadows are ongoing, and that this does not include punitive measures.
According to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee, Kyrgyzstan’s non-observed (shadow) economy, excluding the agricultural sector, accounted for 19.5% of GDP in 2024, marking a 0.3% increase from 2023’s 19.2% but a 0.7% decrease from 2022’s 20.2%.
There are no available data on the shadow economy for 2025 as yet.
The Committee reports a steady decline in the shadow economy’s share of GDP over recent years, estimated at 20.4% in 2021, 20.1% in 2020, and 22.8% in 2019.
Shadow economic activities in Kyrgyzstan are mainly concentrated in sectors such as trade, car repair, transportation, construction, processing industries, hospitality (hotels and restaurants), and various services.
