Poverty and living standards in Shymkent, Kazakhstan: official figures
5.6% of people in Shymkent had incomes below the subsistence level in 2024, ranked 6th highest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 5.0%); this is the Bureau of National Statistics poverty measure.
Is poverty falling in Shymkent?
The share of people below the subsistence level in Shymkent was 5.0% in 2020, 5.5% in 2021, 6.6% in 2022, 6.4% in 2023 and 5.6% in 2024 (Kazakhstan: 5.3% in 2020, 5.0% in 2024).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow deep is poverty in Shymkent?
The depth of poverty (how far below the subsistence level poor households are, on average) was 1.6% in Shymkent in 2024 and the severity of poverty 0.6% (Kazakhstan: 0.8% and 0.2%).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow many people live in poverty in Shymkent?
Applying the 2024 poverty rate of 5.6% to the 1 January 2025 population of 1,256,164 suggests roughly 70,300 people in Shymkent lived below the subsistence level (an estimate calculated from the two published figures).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyIs income enough to live on in Shymkent?
Household income used for consumption in Shymkent was 148% of the subsistence minimum in 2024, ranked 3rd lowest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 194%).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow many people in Shymkent cannot afford enough food?
0.7% of people in Shymkent had incomes below the cost of the food basket in 2024 (Kazakhstan: 0.1%), the stricter food-poverty line.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyWhich households are poor in Shymkent?
82.1% of the people below the subsistence level in Shymkent in 2024 lived in households of five or more people (Kazakhstan: 85.5%).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Shymkent?
Police registered 6,052 crimes in Shymkent in 2024, 48 per 10,000 residents, ranked 5th lowest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 65); in 2020 the figure was 11,347.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow Shymkent compares with other city of republican significances
Share of people with incomes below the subsistence level (2024)
Shymkent ranks 6 of 20, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people with incomes below the subsistence level |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Abai Region | 7.3% |
| 4 | Mangystau Region | 7.3% |
| 5 | Ulytau Region | 5.7% |
| 6 | Shymkent | 5.6% |
| 7 | Zhambyl Region | 5.5% |
| 8 | Akmola Region | 5.0% |
| 9 | Kyzylorda Region | 5.0% |
Depth of poverty (2024)
Shymkent ranks 2 of 20, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Depth of poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abai Region | 1.6% |
| 2 | Shymkent | 1.6% |
| 3 | Jetisu Region | 1.1% |
| 4 | Mangystau Region | 1.1% |
| 5 | Turkistan Region | 1.1% |
| 6 | Akmola Region | 1.0% |
| 7 | Ulytau Region | 1.0% |
Household income used for consumption as a share of the subsistence minimum (2024)
Shymkent ranks 18 of 20, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Household income used for consumption as a share of the subsistence minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Zhambyl Region | 171% |
| 15 | Almaty Region | 168% |
| 16 | Atyrau Region | 168% |
| 17 | Abai Region | 163% |
| 18 | Shymkent | 148% |
| 19 | Turkistan Region | 142% |
| 20 | Mangystau Region | 131% |
Registered crimes per 10,000 residents (2024)
Shymkent ranks 16 of 20, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Registered crimes per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | West Kazakhstan Region | 62 |
| 14 | Ulytau Region | 59 |
| 15 | Jetisu Region | 48 |
| 16 | Shymkent | 48 |
| 17 | Mangystau Region | 43 |
| 18 | Kyzylorda Region | 35 |
| 19 | Zhambyl Region | 34 |
More on Shymkent: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · Kazakhstan
Sources
- 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 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3456cb173460…)
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