Abstract. The author makes an attempt to show the multiplicity of the key macroeconomic indicators measurements as in the case of Kazakhstan. This paper compares two main methods of these indicators calculating – the exchange rate and the purchasing power parity, as well as different assessments of research groups and organizations ranked as the most authoritative sources of international economic information. The study shows how ambiguous the results of the country's development and its positioning at the world and regional level may be when using alternative measurement variations for its economic potential and its economic development level evaluation.