Taraz Population 2026

Taraz has a population of 358,153, making it the #6 biggest city in 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, located in Zhambyl. Roughly 1.7% of Kazakhstan's population lives here. It is about 5.5× smaller than Almaty, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

358,153

Rank in Kazakhstan

Coordinates

42.90°N, 71.37°E

~611 m elevation · Asia/Almaty

Distance to capital (Astana)

921 km

572 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Zhambyl

City	Population	Rank in Kazakhstan
Shu	39,785	#42
Karatau	37,881	#43
Zhangatas	33,492	#51
Merke	15,934	#82
Sarykemer	15,132	#83

Cities near Taraz

Sarykemer15,132 people · ~17 km away
Karatau37,881 people · ~81 km away
Turar Ryskulov18,421 people · ~93 km away
Aksu26,115 people · ~137 km away
Lenger21,238 people · ~146 km away
Merke15,934 people · ~149 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Taraz?

Taraz has a population of 358,153 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #6 biggest city in Kazakhstan.

What region is Taraz in?

Taraz is located in Zhambyl, Kazakhstan.

Is Taraz the capital of Kazakhstan?

No, the capital of Kazakhstan is Astana, about 921 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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