Taraz is a city located in the southern region of Kazakhstan on the Talas (Taraz) River. It serves as the administrative center of the Jambyl Region and is situated near the border with Kyrgyzstan.
The city has experienced significant demographic growth, recording a population of 330,100 during the 1999 census, which represented a 9% increase from 1989. At that time, it was recognized as one of the fastest-growing cities in Kazakhstan, following Astana and Turkistan. The current population of Taraz is 428,000.