Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, has earned a place among the world's safer cities after being ranked near the low-crime end of the Crime Index by City 2026 Mid-Year report.

According to the latest global ranking, Astana placed 304th out of 401 cities, recording a Crime Index of 33.3 and a Safety Index of 66.7, reflecting relatively low perceived crime levels, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The ranking places Astana alongside well-known cities such as Izmir, Basel, Adelaide, Montreal, and Osaka in terms of safety, underscoring the Kazakh capital's reputation as a secure urban destination.

The Crime Index is based on public perceptions of crime rather than official statistics. It evaluates concerns including theft, robbery, assault, corruption, drug-related offenses, and overall feelings of personal safety.

At the opposite end of the global ranking, Pretoria in South Africa recorded the highest perceived crime level, followed by Caracas, Pietermaritzburg, Port Moresby, and Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, cities in the Gulf region dominated the list of the world's safest urban centers. Ajman ranked as the safest city overall, followed by Abu Dhabi, while Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Doha, and Dubai also posted exceptionally high safety scores.