Aktau Population 2026

Aktau has a population of 147,443, making it the #18 biggest city in 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, located in Mangystau. Roughly 0.7% of Kazakhstan's population lives here. It is about 13× smaller than Almaty, the country's biggest city.

Location of Aktau (capital Astana shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

147,443

Rank in Kazakhstan

#18

Coordinates

43.66°N, 51.17°E

~16 m elevation · Asia/Aqtau

Distance to capital (Astana)

1,731 km

1,075 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Mangystau

City	Population	Rank in Kazakhstan
Zhanaozen	103,598	#23
Mangistau	31,368	#55

Cities near Aktau

Mangistau31,368 people · ~12 km away
Zhanaozen103,598 people · ~141 km away
Balykshi19,260 people · ~383 km away
Atyrau290,700 people · ~387 km away
Qulsary51,216 people · ~428 km away
Shalkar27,072 people · ~517 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Aktau?

Aktau has a population of 147,443 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #18 biggest city in Kazakhstan.

What region is Aktau in?

Aktau is located in Mangystau, Kazakhstan.

Is Aktau the capital of Kazakhstan?

No, the capital of Kazakhstan is Astana, about 1,731 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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