Astana named Kazakhstan's smartest city in latest digital ranking

Tengrinews.kz – Astana has topped the list of Kazakhstan's smartest cities, according to a new ranking published by the Ministry of Digital Development, followed by Almaty and Karaganda, while Aktau ranked last.
The ranking evaluates how extensively cities have adopted smart technologies, including online medical appointments, electronic school diaries, real-time bus tracking, and citizen service centers like the 109 hotline. The spread of CCTV surveillance systems is also considered a key metric.
Several regions have begun using artificial intelligence for early cancer detection via medical image analysis. In Almaty and Karaganda, AI is now being used to monitor road conditions and generate digital roadmaps.
Kazakhstan’s top smart cities:

Astana
Almaty
Karaganda
Kostanay
Ust-Kamenogorsk
Uralsk
Kyzylorda
Pavlodar
Taldykorgan
Shymkent
Petropavlovsk
Turkistan
Atyrau
Konayev
Aktobe
Kokshetau
Taraz
Semey
Zhezkazgan
Aktau

The ministry's 2020 version of the ranking assessed cities based on 11 areas and 80 criteria, including digitization in education, healthcare, utilities, transportation, environmental monitoring, and IT accessibility. That year, Astana, Almaty, and Uralsk claimed the top three spots.
The latest report shows continued progress in AI integration and digital services, particularly in major urban centers, though disparities remain in less connected regions.