Astana

Also known as Akmola, Aqmola, Tselinograd, Akmolinsk, Nur-Sultan

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 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.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

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
Settlement.name: Astana
Settlement.settlement_type: Capital city and City of republican significance
Settlement.image_flag: Flag of Astana, Kazakhstan (latin).svg
Settlement.flag_link: Flag of Astana
Settlement.image_shield: Emblem of Astana (latin).svg
Settlement.shield_link: Coat of arms of Astana

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official name: Астана
Population: 697129
Area: 797.33
Elevation: 347
Official website: www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/astana
Image: Trip to Astana (2015-10-24) 01.jpg
Dialing code: 7172
Licence plate code: 01
Flag: flag of Astana

Show 8 more facts

Commons category: Astana
postal code: 010015
Commons gallery: Astana
native label: Астана
time of earliest written record: 1832-00-00
inception: 1830-00-00
P12749: Hamburg-Altstadt
P8168: Gene Simmons

Sources (12)

via Wikidata · CC0

~36 min read

Article

34 sections

Contents

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'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.