This page presents the main social and financial indicators established in Kazakhstan from 1 January 2017. The material is kept as a historical reference: the 2017 values cannot be used for calculations, fines, benefits, taxes or insurance payments in 2026.
Indicators in force from 1 January 2017
The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 29 November 2016 No. 25-VI “On the Republican Budget for 2017–2019” established the following values:
| Indicator | Amount in 2017 |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | 24,459 tenge |
| State basic pension payment | 12,802 tenge |
| Minimum pension | 28,148 tenge |
| Monthly calculation index (MCI) | 2,269 tenge |
| Subsistence minimum | 24,459 tenge |
What the MCI is used for
The monthly calculation index is used in cases expressly provided for by legislation: to calculate certain benefits, state duties, fines, tax values and other payments. If a document states an amount in MCI, the monetary equivalent is usually determined using the value in force on the date established by law.
For example, 10 MCI in 2017 amounted to 22,690 tenge. But when calculating a similar value for another year, the MCI of that particular year must be used unless a special rule provides for a different procedure.
How the indicators are connected with insurance
Some payment limits, thresholds, liability amounts and conditions for simplified settlement may be expressed in MCI. It is therefore important, when an insured event occurs, to establish the date of the event and the version of the law in force during the relevant period. Mechanically multiplying an old number of MCI by the current value may give an incorrect result.
Services under compulsory types of insurance are provided only by insurance companies that hold the relevant licence. The amount of the premium and of the payment is calculated under the relevant law and the contract; general budget indicators apply only where legislation expressly refers to them.
Comparison with the 2026 indicators
To understand the change in nominal values, the archived data can be compared with the law on the republican budget for 2026–2028. From 1 January 2026 the following have been established:
- minimum wage – 85,000 tenge;
- minimum basic pension payment – 35,596 tenge;
- minimum pension – 69,049 tenge;
- MCI – 4,325 tenge;
- subsistence minimum – 50,851 tenge.
This comparison is for reference only. The growth of a nominal indicator does not in itself reflect a change in real purchasing power: for economic analysis, inflation, the structure of expenditure and the dynamics of income are also taken into account.
How to choose the right indicator for a calculation
- Determine what exactly is being calculated: a duty, a fine, a benefit, an insurance limit or another payment.
- Find the rule that sets the number of MCI or another indicator.
- Establish the date as at which the value applies under the law.
- Check the budget law of the relevant year.
- Record the formula and the source in the calculation.
Typical mistakes
- using a 2017 indicator for a current payment;
- confusing the MCI, the minimum wage and the subsistence minimum;
- applying the current MCI to a historical event without checking the rule;
- referring to an unofficial table instead of the law;
- ignoring amendments and special calculation rules.
How the minimum wage, the subsistence minimum and the MCI differ
These three indicators are often confused, although each has its own purpose. The minimum wage is the lower limit of monthly pay for an employee who has fully worked the standard working time; certain social and tax rules also refer to it. The subsistence minimum characterises the minimum level of income needed to meet basic needs and is used in determining eligibility for certain types of social assistance. The MCI is a conventional calculation unit through which legislation expresses the amounts of duties, fines, benefits and some limits.
In 2017 the minimum wage and the subsistence minimum coincided – 24,459 tenge each. This coincidence does not make the indicators interchangeable: in each document you must apply exactly the indicator named in the rule.
Where to check the official values
The primary source is the law on the republican budget for the relevant three-year period. Its current and historical versions are conveniently viewed in the information and legal system of regulatory legal acts “Adilet” (adilet.zan.kz): it shows what amendments were made and from what date they apply. Third-party tables and news publications are suitable as a quick guide, but for calculations that affect rights and obligations the text of the law is needed.
The meanings of terms found in insurance contracts can be checked in the glossary of insurance terms.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2017 MCI apply to an event that occurred in 2017?
As a rule, yes: if the rule ties the calculation to the date of the event or of the obligation arising, the value in force on that date applies. However, special rules in individual laws may establish a different procedure, so the rule must be read in full.
Do budget indicators affect the cost of a voluntary policy?
Directly – usually not. The premium for voluntary insurance is determined by the insurance company’s rates and the terms of the contract. Indirectly, the level of prices and incomes affects the cost of property, repairs and treatment, and therefore the choice of the sum insured.
What should I do if an old contract states an amount in MCI?
Check as at what date the contract or the law requires the MCI to be converted into tenge. If this is unclear from the text, ask the insurer about the procedure or get a consultation before submitting a claim.
Summary
The 2017 financial indicators are presented here as an archived reference and fully preserve the original values: minimum wage and subsistence minimum – 24,459 tenge, basic pension payment – 12,802 tenge, minimum pension – 28,148 tenge, MCI – 2,269 tenge. For current calculations use the official indicators of the relevant year.