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Shymkent, Kazakhstan

Major city · Population 1.2M

Shymkent is the 2nd largest city in Kazakhstan with a population of approximately 1,200,000 people as of 2026. This makes it the 435th largest city in the world, accounting for 5.83% of Kazakhstan's total population of 20.6M. Shymkent is classified as a major city and operates in the Asia/Almaty timezone. The average annual temperature is 13.5°C with 702 mm of rainfall per year. The city sits at an elevation of 507 meters above sea level.

Population

1,200,000

Global Rank

#435

Country Rank

#2

% of Kazakhstan

5.83%

Avg Temperature

13.5°C

Annual Rainfall

702 mm

Elevation

507 m

Timezone

Asia/Almaty

Shymkent on the Map

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Climate in Shymkent

Shymkent's warmest month is Jul and the coldest is Dec. The wettest month is Mar with 122 mm of rainfall.

Average Monthly Temperature

3°C
Jan
1.7°C
Feb
7°C
Mar
14.5°C
Apr
18.7°C
May
25.8°C
Jun
26.7°C
Jul
26.3°C
Aug
19.3°C
Sep
12.9°C
Oct
7.6°C
Nov
-2°C
Dec
-2°C26.7°C

Monthly Rainfall

89 mm
Jan
48 mm
Feb
122 mm
Mar
74 mm
Apr
115 mm
May
1 mm
Jun
24 mm
Jul
0 mm
Aug
16 mm
Sep
71 mm
Oct
77 mm
Nov
65 mm
Dec

Kazakhstan at a Glance

Country Population

20,592,571

Capital

Astana

Region

Central Asia

Major Cities

23

GDP per Capita

$14,155

Life Expectancy

74.4 years

Urban Population

62.1%

Growth Rate

0.01%

Other Major Cities in Kazakhstan

Almaty
2.0M
Aktobe
501K
Karagandy
498K
Taraz
358K
Kyzylorda
355K
Astana
346K
Oral
330K
Pavlodar
329K
Ust-Kamenogorsk
319K
Semey
293K

Nearest Major Cities

Closest cities to Shymkent with over 100,000 people

Cities closest to Shymkent by distance
CityPopulationDistance
Chirchiq162,80094 km
Yunusobod352,000108 km
Chilanzar260,700119 km
Tashkent1,978,028121 km
Sergeli105,700128 km
Angren191,300151 km
Turkestan227,098155 km
Taraz358,153159 km

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Shymkent?

The population of Shymkent, Kazakhstan is approximately 1,200,000 people, making it the 435th largest city in the world and the 2nd largest in Kazakhstan.

Is Shymkent the capital of Kazakhstan?

No, the capital of Kazakhstan is Astana. Shymkent is the 2nd largest city in the country.

What is the climate like in Shymkent?

Shymkent has an average annual temperature of 13.5°C and receives 702 mm of rainfall per year. The warmest month is Jul and the coldest is Dec.

What timezone is Shymkent in?

Shymkent is in the Asia/Almaty timezone.