Map of South Kazakhstan
South Kazakhstan is a first-level division of Kazakhstan. Its largest mapped city is Shymkent, with about 465,392 people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on South Kazakhstan, and the tables list its 5 mapped cities along with the World Heritage Sites nearest to them.
- Cities Mapped
- 5
- Largest City
- Shymkent
- Country
- Kazakhstan
Interactive Map of South Kazakhstan
About South Kazakhstan
Turkistan Region, formerly known as South Kazakhstan Region from 1992 to 2018 and Chimkent Region from 1963 to 1991, is the southernmost region of Kazakhstan, bordering Uzbekistan. It had a population of 2,088,510 as of the 2022 Kazakhstan census.
The region's capital is Turkistan, formerly Shymkent until 2018. Other cities in the region include Sayram, Kentau, Arys, Shardara, Zhetisai, Saryagash, and Lenger.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Turkistan Region (CC BY-SA 4.0).
South Kazakhstan in Depth
History
The region had a population of 2,088,510 as of 2022; 2,469,367 (2009 census results); 1,978,339 (1999 census results).
The Region was created as South Kazakhstan Oblast in Kazakh SSR of Soviet Union. Between 1962 and 1992 it was named Chimkent Oblast. The administrative center of the Region was Shymkent. On 19 June 2018 Shymkent was taken out of the Region and subordinated directly to the government of Kazakhstan, the administrative center moved to Turkistan, and the Region renamed Turkistan Region.
Geography
This region and Atyrau Region are Kazakhstan's two smallest regions; both are about 117,300 square kilometers in area.
Turkistan Region borders the neighboring country of Uzbekistan (and is also very near the Uzbekistan capital Tashkent), as well as three other Kazakhstan regions: Karaganda Region (to the north), Kyzylorda Region (to the west), and Jambyl Region (to the east).
The Syr Darya passes through the region on its way to the Aral Sea. An oil pipeline runs from Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan to Omsk, Russia (where it connects with a larger, Siberian pipeline) through South Kazakhstan. Oil, lead and zinc are refined in Shymkent.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Turkistan Region (CC BY-SA 4.0).
South Kazakhstan: Key Facts
| Population | 1,929,000 (2018) |
|---|---|
| Area | 116,902 km² |
| Capital | Turkistan |
| Head of government | Zhanseit Tuymebayev |
| Established | 10 March 1932 |
Facts from Wikidata Q815330 (CC0).
History of South Kazakhstan: Empires and States
The atlas records 22 polities whose mapped territory included part of South Kazakhstan, from White Huns in 490 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here |
|---|---|
| White Huns | 490–560 CE |
| Göktürk Khaganate | 561–586 CE |
| Western Göktürks | 587–660 CE |
| Turks | 666–754 CE |
| Türgesh | 705–749 CE |
| The Abbasid Caliphate | 755–885 CE |
| Samanid Empire | 886–999 CE |
| Kara-Khanids | 1000–1045 CE |
| Western Karakhanid Khanate | 1046–1084 CE |
| Great Seljuk Empire | 1085–1146 CE |
| Kara-Khitans | 1147–1215 CE |
| The Mongol Empire | 1220–1368 CE |
| Chagatai Khanate | 1294–1394 CE |
| Vassalage of Kingdom of Georgia to Timurid Empire | 1395–1406 CE |
| Timurid Empire | 1395–1515 CE |
| Vassalage of Qara Qoyunlu to Timurid Empire | 1407–1467 CE |
| Kazakh Khanate | 1475–1808 CE |
| Shaybanids | 1497–1511 CE |
| Khanate of Kokand | 1809–1863 CE |
| The Russian Empire | 1864–1916 CE |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | 1922–1991 CE |
| Kazakhstan | 1992–2024 CE |
Historical Maps of South Kazakhstan
South Kazakhstan on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Largest Cities in South Kazakhstan
5 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shymkent | 465,392 | South Kazakhstan | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Turkistan | 97,360 | South Kazakhstan | Populated place |
| 3 | Kentau | 57,408 | South Kazakhstan | Populated place |
| 4 | Arys | 42,648 | South Kazakhstan | Populated place |
| 5 | Lenger | 23,058 | South Kazakhstan | Populated place |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Kazakhstan
1 World Heritage Site mapped. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi | 2003 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (iv) |
South Kazakhstan: Quick Answers
- Where is South Kazakhstan?
- South Kazakhstan is a first-level division of Kazakhstan, in Asia. Its mapped cities centre on 42.7530° N, 69.0109° E.
- What is the largest city in South Kazakhstan?
- Shymkent is the largest city mapped in South Kazakhstan, with a metropolitan population of about 465,392.
- How many cities are in South Kazakhstan?
- YearMaps maps 5 cities and towns in South Kazakhstan, with a combined metropolitan population of about 685,866. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.