An evaluation for sustainable urban planning of Qonayev City in Kazakhstan through residents’ perception

This study aims to assess sustainable urban planning in the city of Qonayev, Kazakhstan, the administrative center of Almaty Region in southeastern Kazakhstan, situated near the Ili River and functioning as a rapidly developing urban hub within the greater Almaty metropolitan area, through the lens of residents’ perceptions. Its main objective is to analyze citizens’ views on the city’s sustainability across ecological, social, economic, and political dimensions, as well as to identify their concrete suggestions. The data were collected in 2024 through a survey of 574 respondents, and the statistical analysis, including cluster and factor analysis, was conducted using SPSS and Excel. The results showed that the average sustainability score of Qonayev is 66.76%, categorizing it as potentially sustainable. The social dimension (74.16%) and economic dimension (66.88%) received higher scores, particularly in areas such as access to education for children, water supply, and investment volume. The ecological (58.42%) and political dimensions (58.74%) received lower scores, especially in areas such as waste management, ecological transport, and budget transparency. The study identifies problems associated with low citizen participation and proposes three development scenarios: sustainable, optimal, and regressive. This dataset is valuable as a methodological model for assessing sustainable urban planning in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. It enables policymakers to develop needs-based solutions and allows researchers to analyze the effectiveness of civic engagement. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of empowering local communities to play a more significant role in implementing sustainable development.