Astana

Astana
Астана
Capital city and City of republican significance
Downtown Astana with Baiterek tower
Ismim river
Nurjol Boulevard
Nazarbayev University
L. N. Gumilev Eurasian National University
Astana Opera
Flag
Coat of arms
Astana
Astana
Coordinates: 51°8′N 71°26′E / 51.133°N 71.433°E / 51.133; 71.433
Country Kazakhstan
Founded8th century (as Bozok)[2]
1830 (modern settlement)
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • BodyCity Mäslihat
 • ÄkimZhenis Kassymbek[3]
Area
 • City proper
810.2 km2 (312.8 sq mi)
Elevation
347 m (1,138 ft)
Population
 (1 December 2023)[4]
 • City proper
1,423,726[1]
 • Rank3rd in Central Asia
2nd in Kazakhstan
 • Density1,760/km2 (4,550/sq mi)
 • Metro
[5]
1,550,000
Demonym(s)Астаналық, Astanalıq (Kazakh)
GDP (Nominal, 2024)
[6]
 • City properKZT 15,485 billion
(US$ 32.517 billion) · 2nd
 • Per capitaKZT 10,466,300
(US$ 21,980) · 4th
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (Kazakhstan Time)
Postal code
010000–010015[7]
Area code7172[8]
HDI (2018)0.820[9]
high · 5th
License plate01, Z
Websitewww.gov.kz/memleket/entities/astana

Astana[a] is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which was the national capital until 1997.[15] 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.[15] 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.[16][17] Its transformation into a modern and planned city was guided by a master plan designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.[17] Today, Astana is known for its futuristic architecture, housing key government institutions like the Akorda Residence, the Parliament House, and the Supreme Court.[18][19][20] It has become an important center for culture, education, and commerce in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The city is renowned for its modern landmarks, including the Baiterek, which symbolizes Kazakhstan's independence, the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, and the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia. The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, designed to host cultural and interfaith events, highlights the city’s role as a hub for dialogue and cooperation. In 2021, Astana was recognized as one of Kazakhstan's 10 priority tourist destinations. Visitors can explore cultural venues such as the Astana Opera and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, alongside parks like Presidential Park and Central Park, which offer recreational spaces along the Ishim.

Astana gained international recognition when it hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games, an event that showcased the city’s ability to organize large-scale sporting events. The city also hosted Expo 2017, a major international exhibition focused on the theme of "Future Energy," which brought global attention to its commitment to sustainability and innovation. Astana is also home to the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, a prominent event that brings together religious leaders from around the world to foster mutual understanding and peace.

The city’s transport infrastructure includes the Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, a key hub for both domestic and international flights. Astana is also well-connected by two railway stations, Astana-1 and Astana-Nurly Zhol, which provide services to major cities across Kazakhstan and beyond. The city's public transport system includes buses, and the planned Astana Light Metro system, currently under construction, is expected to significantly enhance the city’s transport network, offering efficient and sustainable travel within the city.

Astana is home to notable educational institutions, such as Nazarbayev University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, and Astana IT University, contributing to its role as a hub for education and innovation. These institutions support the city’s growth in technology, research, and higher learning, making Astana an increasingly important center for knowledge and progress in the region.

  1. ^ "Astana city - Statistics of the regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bureau of National statistics".
  2. ^ Pospelov 1993, pp. 24–25.
  3. ^ "О назначении Касымбека Ж.М." (in Russian). akorda.kz. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference stat.gov.kz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference informburo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ DOSM. "Gross domestic product by region for January-December 2024 (GRP)". stat.gov.kz.
  7. ^ "Postal Code for Astana, Kazakhstan". Postal Codes Database. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Kazakhstan Country Codes". CountryCallingCodes.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  10. ^ "ISO Subentity Codes for Kazakhstan". GeoNames.org. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference MerWeb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Astana". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Astana". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Astana" Archived 13 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine (US) and "Astana". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ Hari, Kurniawan (7 July 2017). "Astana, a city of modern structures". Jakarta Times. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  17. ^ a b Moore, Rowan (8 August 2010). "Astana, Kazakhstan: the space station in the steppes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  18. ^ Myers, Steven Lee (13 October 2006). "Kazakhstan's Futuristic Capital, Complete With Pyramid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  19. ^ Moore, Rowan (8 August 2010). "Astana, the futuristic frontier of architecture". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  20. ^ Carrington, Daisy (13 July 2012). "Astana: The world's weirdest capital city". CNN. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.


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