Ankara vs Astana
Ankara leads Astana by 1 points on the TRAIL Index, 53 to 52. Ankara grades better on 3 measures, Astana on 9; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: Ankara 53, Astana 52
- OECD: Ankara 54, Astana 57
- UN Tourism: Ankara 57, Astana 61
- UNDRR: Ankara 49, Astana 47
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Ankara 50, Astana 35
- Economy and jobs: Ankara 75, Astana 88
- Climate and hazards: Ankara 45, Astana 65
- Water and environment: Ankara 56, Astana 81
- Community and housing: Ankara 50, Astana 0
- Access and continuity: Ankara 54, Astana 50
Where Ankara is stronger
- Income per head: 45,288 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı AFAD, Ankara İl Afet Risk Azaltma Planı (İRAP), 2022–2026). Grade 3/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye, Law No. 7183 on the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, 2024–2026). Grade 2/4.
Where Astana is stronger
- Unemployment rate: 4.2 % of the labour force (Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana City Regional Statistics, Q2 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Extreme heat days: 1.8 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Tropical nights: 3.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
- Country disaster risk: 2.6 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (UNECE, Smart Sustainable Cities Profile Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 2021). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 141.3 kg per resident per year (Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan via Finprom, 2025). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
- Green space: 20 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Smart Sustainable Cities Profile: Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 2021). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (The Astana Times, 'Kazakhstan Builds Resilient System to Protect Citizens Abroad', 2024–2026). Grade 1/4.
- Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Turkey: #36 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Kazakhstan: #56 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Ankara in full · Astana in full
The TRAIL Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · TRAIL Studio · Put your city in the pilot