Quick facts
Taraz overview
Taraz (orange) and the other large cities of Kazakhstan
Taraz lies in Zhambyl in Kazakhstan at 42.9°N, 71.37°E, about 611 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Almaty (UTC+5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Karagandy (497,777) and larger than Kyzylorda (354,800). The largest city in Kazakhstan is Almaty with 1,977,011 people; the capital, Astana, has 1,544,142.
The national capital, Astana, is about 921 km away; the nearest large city is Shymkent, 159 km from Taraz.
Kazakhstan as a whole has a live population of 21,153,677 (+1.1% a year) and ranks #65 of 238 countries — see the Kazakhstan population page for the full statistics and the Kazakhstan atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Taraz
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Shymkent Shymkent | 159 km | 1,200,000 |
Largest cities in Kazakhstan
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Taraz?
Taraz has about 358,153 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Taraz the capital of Kazakhstan?
No. The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana (1,544,142 people), about 921 km away. Taraz is the 6th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Taraz compared with the rest of Kazakhstan?
Its 358,153 residents are 1.7% of the 21,153,677 people living in Kazakhstan today. Almaty is larger with 1,977,011 people.
Where is Taraz?
In Zhambyl, Kazakhstan, at latitude 42.9 and longitude 71.37, 611 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Shymkent (159 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Taraz Population 2026 — Kazakhstan. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/kazakhstan/taraz/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/kazakhstan/taraz/">Taraz Population 2026 — Kazakhstan</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.