By the end of 2024, the non-observed economy in Kyrgyzstan amounted to 308 billion soms ($3.52 billion), or 19.5% of the country's GDP. Data from the National Statistical Committee reveals which sectors of the economy contain the largest concentrations of "shadow" activity, Economist.kg reports.
Informal activity predominates in the "shadow" economy, accounting for 15.7% of GDP, while the hidden economy accounts for 3.8%, down from 4.5% in 2023. Meanwhile, the share of the informal sector increased, from 14.7% to 15.7%.
The growth rate of the non-observed economy is outpacing the official economy. In 2024, real GDP increased by 11.5%, while the shadow economy grew by 12.9% in comparable prices.
The highest level of informal activity is recorded in other services, accounting for 69.4% of the industry's added value. High shares are also observed in automobile trade and repair (65%), the hotel and restaurant business (43.9%), and transportation (35.5%).
In construction, the share of the informal sector is 21.9%, and in manufacturing, 20.2%, indicating the penetration of informal practices even into the manufacturing sector.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 23, 2026