Financial inclusion in the regions of Kazakhstan

Financial inclusion is a concept aimed at ensuring the accessibility of financial services and products to all segments of society, including vulnerable segments of population and rural remote areas. This process is of strategic importance for reducing poverty, improving quality of life and stimulating sustainable economic growth. The relevance of this topic remains despite the significant successes of financial organizations in terms of expanding their capabilities to provide financial services to various categories of clients. Digital technologies play a significant role in this process, thanks to which access to financial services has become more universal and convenient. The article discusses the key aspects of financial inclusion, the methodological basis for assessing the level of financial inclusion, and also analyzes the availability of financial products and services in the regions of Kazakhstan. The main goal of this study is to quantitatively assess the level of financial inclusion in different regions of Kazakhstan for a more detailed study of differences in the level of financial inclusion of territorial units. The study has used data from the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Bureau of National Statistics. Methods of statistical analysis, quantitative analysis of indicators, including the approach of weighted values and data normalization, as well as cartographic analysis of the geographical accessibility of financial services (heat maps) were used. The results obtained make it possible to identify factors affecting the availability of financial products in the regions and offer recommendations for reducing territorial imbalances.