Shimkent: population and official figures

In depth

Economy, jobs and prices in Shimkent: The average monthly nominal wage in Shymkent was 312,536 tenge in 2024, 4th lowest of 22 Kazakh cities on this site; the national average was 405,416 tenge (23% below the national average).
Health in Shimkent: Shymkent had 5,614 doctors of all specialities at the end of 2024, 44.7 per 10,000 residents (Kazakhstan: 41.1); 6th highest of 20 regions and cities of republican significance.
Education in Shimkent: Shymkent had 296 general education schools in the 2024/2025 school year, attended by 270,700 pupils and staffed by 22,300 teachers.
Poverty and living standards in Shimkent: 5.6% of the population of Shymkent had incomes below the subsistence level in 2024 (Kazakhstan: 5.0%); in 2020 the share was 5.0%. In 2024 it was 6th highest of 20 regions and cities of republican significance.
Government budget and revenue in Shimkent: Public budgets financed 206.7 billion tenge of investment in fixed assets in Shymkent in 2024: 85.4 billion tenge from the republican budget and 121.3 billion tenge from the local budget, 26.9% of all investment of 768.2 billion tenge.

What is the population of Shymkent?

Shymkent (also written Shimkent) had 1,256,164 residents on 1 January 2025 in the Bureau of National Statistics yearbook (city boundary), 3rd largest of 22 Kazakh cities on this site.

Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copy

Is the population of Shymkent growing?

The population of Shymkent grew from 1,074,221 on 1 January 2021 to 1,256,164 on 1 January 2025, a change of +16.9% in four years.

Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copy

How many men and women live in Shymkent?

The United Nations Demographic Yearbook lists Shymkent with 1,207,132 people on 1 July 2023, the Bureau of National Statistics estimate: 583,072 men and 624,060 women.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division (1 July 2023 estimates of the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan) · saved copy

Are there more women than men in Shymkent?

In 2023 Shymkent had 107 women for every 100 men, 5th fewest women per man of 22 Kazakh cities listed by the United Nations.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division (1 July 2023 estimates of the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan) · saved copy

Who runs Shimkent?

In Kazakhstan, cities and towns are run by regions: Akim appointed by the President, who must propose at least two candidates for a vote of consent by the maslikhat deputies (2026 Constitution); maslikhat directly elected for five years. Regional budgets, development programmes, health, education and infrastructure.

How local power works in Kazakhstan

Cities of a similar size in Kazakhstan

Almaty 2,292,055
Astana 1,528,703
Aktobe 584,700
Karaganda 526,300
Taraz 435,900
Atirau 422,600
Ust-Kamenogorsk 378,200
Pavlodar 370,400
Uralsk 368,900
Kyzylorda 362,300
Semipalatinsk 313,600
Aktau 293,500
Kustanai 272,700
Turkestan 237,500

Up a level: all cities in Kazakhstan · Kazakhstan · government and power

Sources

Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: Demographic Yearbook of Kazakhstan 2021-2025 (English edition), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c2ca14ffe74f…)
United Nations Statistics Division (1 July 2023 estimates of the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan): Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: The regions of Kazakhstan in 2024: Statistical Yearbook (English edition, 414 pages), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3456cb173460…)

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