Shu Population 2026

Shu has a population of 39,785, making it the #42 biggest city in 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, located in Zhambyl. Roughly 0.2% of Kazakhstan's population lives here. It is about 50× smaller than Almaty, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

39,785

Rank in Kazakhstan

#42

Coordinates

43.61°N, 73.76°E

~461 m elevation · Asia/Almaty

Distance to capital (Astana)

860 km

534 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Zhambyl

City	Population	Rank in Kazakhstan
Taraz	358,153	#6
Karatau	37,881	#43
Zhangatas	33,492	#51
Merke	15,934	#82
Sarykemer	15,132	#83

Cities near Shu

Merke15,934 people · ~94 km away
Sarykemer15,132 people · ~194 km away
Taraz358,153 people · ~209 km away
Burunday20,996 people · ~251 km away
Almaty1,977,011 people · ~257 km away
Otegen Batyra18,864 people · ~264 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Shu?

Shu has a population of 39,785 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #42 biggest city in Kazakhstan.

What region is Shu in?

Shu is located in Zhambyl, Kazakhstan.

Is Shu the capital of Kazakhstan?

No, the capital of Kazakhstan is Astana, about 860 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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