The results of a sociological survey conducted by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) in October 2025 indicate a high level of public support for the parliamentary reform, whose key elements include the transition to a unicameral Parliament and the formation of the legislative body exclusively through party lists.
According to the study, a total of 68.3% of citizens of Kazakhstan view the idea of a unicameral Parliament positively. At the same time, the level of support varies depending on the respondents’ gender and age. Among men, this indicator stands at 71.1%, while among women it is 66.1%. The highest level of approval is recorded among young people aged 18–29 (72.9%), reflecting the interest of the most active and socially engaged group in renewing the political system.
As for the transition to a proportional electoral system, it is supported by 63.6% of respondents. Men demonstrate a slightly higher level of approval (65.4%) compared to women (62.2%). Support is especially notable among young people: 71% of respondents aged 18–29 have a positive view of forming the Parliament exclusively through party lists. This trend reflects the growing political awareness of young citizens and their interest in systemic forms of political participation.
The level of education also plays an important role. The highest level of support for the transition to a unicameral Parliament is observed among citizens with an academic degree (75.4%) and those with higher education (71.7%). This indicates that the reform is perceived as a step toward improving the quality of the legislative process and optimizing the structure of government. Similarly, supporters of the proportional system are more often respondents with higher education (67.5%), which confirms the tendency of more educated population groups to view party-based representation mechanisms as an instrument for modernizing the political system.
Territorial differences are also noteworthy. Residents of rural areas generally show a higher level of support for parliamentary reform compared to urban residents. The transition to a unicameral Parliament is viewed positively by 72.8% of rural residents, while among urban residents the indicator is 65.4%. Similar differences are observed regarding the formation of the Parliament through party lists: 67.8% of rural respondents and 60.8% of urban residents support this initiative. This dynamic may be explained by stronger trust in government initiatives among the rural population, as well as the expectation that simplifying the parliamentary structure will increase its efficiency and transparency.
Overall, data of KazISS demonstrate a high level of public consensus regarding the parliamentary reform. The prevailing support for a unicameral Parliament and the transition to a party-based representation system indicates the readiness of Kazakh society for institutional changes aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the legislative branch and developing political culture.
* The sociological survey was conducted by order of KazISS from October 3 to November 5, 2025. The sample size was 8,000 respondents. The survey included respondents aged 18 and older from 17 regions and 3 cities of national significance – Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.
