Astana
Sign in to saveAstana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,622,245 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which was the national capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim river in the north of Kazakhstan. It is located within the Akmola Region but administers itself. Initially founded as Aqmoly in 1830, the city was later renamed Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Aqmola before adopting the name Astana in 1998, which means "capital city" in Kazakh. In 2019, the city briefly adopted the name Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursulta
AI overview
Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan, located on the Ishim River in the north of the country, with a population of over 1.6 million people making it the second-largest city after Almaty. The city has served as Kazakhstan's capital since 1997, when the government relocated from Almaty, and was officially named Astana (meaning "capital city" in Kazakh) in 1998.
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Key facts
- Settlement.leader_title
- Äkim
- Settlement.leader_name
- Zhenis Kassymbek
- Settlement.area_total_km2
- 810.2
- Settlement.elevation_m
- 347
- Settlement.population_total
- 1,622,245
- Settlement.population_as_of
- 1 November 2025
- Settlement.population_rank
- 3rd in Central Asia2nd in Kazakhstan
- Settlement.population_density_km2
- auto
- Settlement.population_density_sq_mi
- 4550
- Settlement.population_metro
- 1,650,000
- Settlement.demographics_type2
- GDP
- Settlement.demographics2_title1
- City proper
Article
34 sectionsContents
- Names
- History
- Early years (1830–1918)
- Soviet era (1918–1991)
- Contemporary era (1991–present)
- Geography
- Topography
- Time
- Climate
- Demographics
- Religion
- Metropolitan area
- Economy
- Diplomacy platform
- Cityscape
- Sport
- Education
- Transportation
- City transport
- Air
- Railway and roads
- River transport
- Expo 2017
- Notable landmarks
- Theaters, concert halls, and museums
- Twin towns – sister cities
- Friendly cities
- Smart city initiative
- See also
- Footnotes
- References
- Sources
- Further reading
- External links
Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,622,245 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which was the national capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim river in the north of Kazakhstan. It is located within the Akmola Region but administers itself. Initially founded as Aqmoly in 1830, the city was later renamed Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Aqmola before adopting the name Astana in 1998, which means "capital city" in Kazakh. In 2019, the city briefly adopted the name Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, but it reverted to the name Astana in 2022.
Astana's history is marked by rapid growth, especially after becoming the capital. Its transformation into a modern and planned city was guided by a master plan designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. Today, Astana is renowned for its futuristic architecture, housing key government institutions, including the Akorda Residence, the Parliament House, and the Supreme Court. It has become an important center for culture, education, and commerce in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.