Almaty, Astana and Shymkent in the Global Cities Index 2026: Kazakhstan’s Capital Named a “Regional Leader”
22.09.2026
 In September 2026, international consultancy Oxford Economics released the updated Global Cities Index 2026, a global ranking covering 1,000 of the world’s largest cities. The index provides a comprehensive assessment of cities’ positions, competitive advantages and key challenges across five categories: Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance. This approach considers not only the scale and dynamics of urban economies, but also educational and workforce potential, residents’ well-being, environmental conditions and the institutional environment. Kazakhstan’s Cities in the Global Cities Index 2026 Three Kazakhstani cities — Almaty, Astana and Shymkent — are included in the Global Cities Index 2026. Almaty once again achieved the highest ranking among them, placing 265th out of 1,000 cities worldwide. Astana ranked 281st, while Shymkent came in 550th. Compared with last year’s index, all three cities slipped somewhat in the rankings: Almaty fell by 7 places, Astana by 5 and Shymkent by 16. Despite the decline in their overall rankings, Almaty and Astana continue to rank ahead of several major cities in the CIS, including Moscow (313th), Baku (323rd), Tashkent (343rd) and Bishkek (461st). Shymkent, while ranking below these cities, remains ahead of Minsk (604th). Human Capital remains Almaty’s strongest category, with the city ranking 66th globally. Almaty also performs relatively well in Quality of Life, ranking 269th, and Economics, where it places 288th. Its positions are considerably lower in Governance (622nd) and Environment (845th). Astana stands out particularly in Human Capital, ranking among the world’s top 100 cities in this category and significantly improving its position compared with the previous year. The city ranks 264th in Economics, 360th in Quality of Life, 630th in Environment and 622nd in Governance. Of particular note is Astana’s inclusion in the Regional Leaders category. Oxford Economics uses this category for major regional centres that play a significant economic role and tend to stand out for higher incomes, the presence of leading universities and corporate headquarters. Alongside Astana, the category includes cities such as Moscow, Baku and Tashkent, as well as Dubai, Warsaw, Prague, Stockholm and Zurich. Shymkent performs best in Human Capital, ranking 346th. The city places 444th in Quality of Life, 629th in Economics and 622nd in Governance. Environment remains its weakest category, with Shymkent ranking 898th. Rankings of Kazakhstani cities and the world’s Top 10 cities in the Global Cities Index 2026 Which Cities Lead the Global Cities Index 2026? New York and London retained the top two positions in the Global Cities Index 2026, ranking first and second, respectively. New York remains the index’s leading economic centre and one of the world’s major hubs for attracting talent, while London maintains its strong position thanks to its highly developed financial system, leading universities and international business environment. Paris ranks third, combining a strong economic base, well-developed human capital and a high quality of life. The top three therefore remain unchanged from the previous edition of the index. They are followed by two major US technology hubs — Seattle and San Francisco — in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Seattle ranks among the world’s top five cities in Economics, while San Francisco combines strong economic performance with a high level of human capital. Their presence among the leaders reflects the continuing importance of major US innovation hubs in the global urban economy. Dublin ranks sixth, standing out for its combination of a dynamic economy, strong human capital and relatively favourable environmental conditions. Boston takes seventh place as one of the United States’ leading centres for education, research and innovation. San Jose ranks eighth. Located at the heart of Silicon Valley, the city retains its status as one of the world’s key technology hubs and is particularly strong in the Economics category. Tokyo ranks ninth and is the only Asian city in the Top 10 of the Global Cities Index 2026. The Japanese capital maintains its strong position thanks to the scale of its economy, its human capital and its role as one of Asia’s largest business centres. Zurich rounds out the Top 10, distinguished by a balanced combination of economic potential, quality of life and human capital. Overall, the composition of the leading group remains relatively stable: eight of the ten cities that ranked in the Top 10 in 2025 remained there in 2026. Urban Competitiveness Depends on a Balance of Factors The Global Cities Index 2026 demonstrates that the competitiveness of a modern city is shaped by a combination of factors. A strong economy remains an essential foundation, but human capital, quality of life, the urban environment and effective governance are becoming increasingly important. A city’s ability to develop these areas in a balanced and integrated way enables it to strengthen its position, attract talent and investment, and remain an attractive place to live and do business. For Kazakhstan’s cities, the index results highlight both established strengths and areas for further development. Almaty retains its leading position among the country’s cities, Astana is strengthening its standing through its human capital and Regional Leader status, while Shymkent has considerable potential for further development. The next step is to translate these strengths into tangible benefits for residents: a high-quality urban environment, new economic opportunities, attractive living conditions and effective governance. The ability to deliver on these priorities will largely determine how successfully Kazakhstan’s cities strengthen their positions on the global urban map.
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