Kyrgyzstan continues to have the cheapest labour force in the EAEU, despite rising wages

The average monthly nominal wage in Kyrgyzstan for the period January–June 2026 stood at $615. Over the course of the year, the figure rose by $132, or 27.3 per cent, according to data from the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Despite this significant increase, Kyrgyzstan remains the country with the cheapest labour force in the EAEU, based on wage levels.

The most recent period for which data has been published for all five member states of the union is the first quarter of 2026. On average, wages for January–March were as follows:

• Russia – $1,367;
• Belarus – $975;
• Kazakhstan – $927;
• Armenia – $813;
• Kyrgyzstan – $534.

Thus, the average wage in Kyrgyzstan was 34 per cent lower than in Armenia – the country closest to Kyrgyzstan in terms of this indicator – and 61 per cent lower than in Russia.

At the same time, by the middle of the year, the gap with certain countries had continued to narrow. In January–June, the average wage in Kyrgyzstan reached $615, whilst in Armenia it stood at $830 and in Belarus at $1,026. No data is yet available for Kazakhstan and Russia for this period.

Among the three countries that submitted data for the first half of the year, the highest annual growth in dollar terms was recorded in Kyrgyzstan – 27.3 per cent. In Belarus, the figure rose by 25.9 per cent, and in Armenia by 10.2 per cent.

The EEC calculates wages in dollars using the average exchange rates of the national currencies. Consequently, the trend in this indicator is influenced not only by increases in wages but also by fluctuations in exchange rates.