Bishkek, Jan. 16, 2026. /Kabar/. Kyrgyzstan, along with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, is projected to be among the top three countries with the highest GDP growth rates among the 22 developing economies in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region in 2026, according to the World Bank's January Global Economic Prospects report.
Central Asia remains the ECA subregion with the highest economic growth rates. In 2025, the combined GDP of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan grew by 6.2%. Growth is expected to slow to 5% in 2026.
Private consumption is projected to weaken in the subregion amid high inflation. Furthermore, slowing Russian economy will likely lead to a decline in exports from Central Asian countries. Russia's tightening migration policy, in turn, will lead to a decline in remittances to the subregion.
More frequent and intense extreme weather events, including heat waves and droughts, pose additional risks to economic growth in the ECA region. They continue to threaten agricultural productivity, water resources, and infrastructure, particularly in Central Asia.
At the same time, deeper regional integration, supported by new international agreements, could facilitate trade and economic growth. Specifically, the report cites the signing of a joint declaration on strategic partnership between the EU and Central Asian countries (Samarkand, April 2025) and a joint statement of intent on economic cooperation between the US and Central Asian countries (Washington, November 2025).
