Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan. Its modern role began with the transfer of the capital from Almaty in 1997. The city’s earlier settlement history, Soviet-era development and changing names help explain the architecture and institutions seen there today.
Current capital: Astana, Kazakhstan.
Capital since: December 10, 1997. The decision to move the capital was approved on July 6, 1994.
Former name: Nur-Sultan, from 2019 until the name Astana was restored in 2022.
Population: 1,700,385 residents as of September 1, 2026, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.
A New Capital for a New Era
Astana officially became Kazakhstan’s capital on December 10, 1997, when the transfer from Almaty to the city then called Akmola took place. The Supreme Council had approved the move earlier, on July 6, 1994. Akmola was renamed Astana, meaning ‘capital,’ on May 6, 1998. These separate milestones are recorded in the city administration’s history of Astana.
Delving into Astana’s Past
The history of settlement around Astana reaches well beyond the modern capital. On the city’s southwestern outskirts, the Bozok archaeological complex preserves several periods of occupation. The Bozok Museum-Reserve distinguishes an early medieval fortified and religious center, an agricultural settlement of the 10th–13th centuries, and a later necropolis. These layers show that life on the steppe included settled communities as well as nomadic traditions.
The modern city’s origins lie in a Russian military outpost established in 1830, which developed into the town known as Akmolinsk. This 19th-century beginning is distinct from the much older archaeological sites nearby. Kazakhstan’s official historical overview traces the city’s foundation to that garrison.
Astana in the 20th Century and Beyond
Astana’s development accelerated in the 1950s when the region became the center of the Soviet Union’s virgin lands campaign. The city was renamed Tselinograd in 1961 and witnessed the construction of multi-story housing and public buildings and the establishment of large factories for agricultural machinery production.
Kazakhstan became independent on December 16, 1991. The following year, in 1992, Tselinograd was renamed Akmola. Astana’s population reached 1,700,385 residents as of September 1, 2026, according to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics. The city administration also records UNESCO’s recognition of Astana as a city of peace in 1999.
Astana’s Iconic Landmarks
Astana’s rapid development has given rise to numerous architectural marvels, symbolizing the city’s ambition and progress. Some of the city’s most iconic landmarks include:
- Baiterek Tower: A symbol of Kazakhstan’s connection to its past and aspirations for the future.
- National Museum of Kazakhstan: A major museum of the country’s history and cultural heritage.
- Palace of Peace and Accord: A unique venue for international forums and congresses.
- Central Concert Hall “Astana”: A distinctive “flower of the desert” design.
- Entertainment Center “Khan-Shatyr”: An iconic shopping and leisure destination.
- Astana-Arena: A covered stadium with a capacity of 30,000 spectators.
- Ice Palace “Alau”: A venue for speed skating and other winter sports.
Astana also has public green spaces such as Nurzhol Boulevard, the Presidential Park, and the Botanical Garden. An extensive planted green belt surrounds parts of the city. The municipal account of the green belt describes its role in sheltering the capital from wind and providing space for recreation. Its reported area depends on which managed forest and planting zones are included, so a single undated figure can be misleading.
Astana’s Economy and Education
Astana’s economy includes public administration, trade, construction, transport, manufacturing, and other services. Official regional statistics put services at 71.4% of the city’s gross regional product in January–June 2026. The capital is also a center for higher education, with institutions including:
- L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
- Nazarbayev University
- Kazakh National University of Arts
A Capital by Any Other Name
A presidential decree dated March 23, 2019 renamed Astana as Nur-Sultan in honor of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s first president. A later decree dated September 17, 2022 restored the name Astana. Both decrees specified that they took effect upon their first official publication. Astana remains the city’s current name; Nur-Sultan is useful to recognize on older maps, photographs, and travel material.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Kazakhstan?
Astana is Kazakhstan’s capital. It took over that role from Almaty on December 10, 1997, when it was still called Akmola.
Are Astana and Nur-Sultan the same city?
Yes. The capital was renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019 and returned to the name Astana in 2022. Older photographs, maps and travel material may use Nur-Sultan.
Did Kazakhstan become independent in 1991 or 1992?
Kazakhstan became independent on December 16, 1991. The city was renamed from Tselinograd to Akmola in 1992; those are different events.
When was the capital move decided?
The Supreme Council approved the move on July 6, 1994. The actual transfer took place on December 10, 1997.
How many people live in Astana?
The Bureau of National Statistics recorded 1,700,385 residents as of September 1, 2026. This is a dated city population figure, not a real-time estimate.
What Did We Learn Today?
Astana’s history has several distinct timelines: older settlement around Bozok, the 19th-century town, Soviet-era growth, and its role as Kazakhstan’s capital since 1997. Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, the 1994 decision to move the capital, and the 1997 transfer should not be confused. The current name is Astana, and the city’s landmarks, green spaces, universities and service economy reflect its development as the national capital.
Sources & Data Notes
Checked November 9, 2026. Historical decision dates are distinguished from the dates events took effect. Population is dated September 1, 2026; the services share refers to January–June 2026. These statistics are snapshots and can change. Green-belt totals vary by the area being measured, so no undated area figure is presented.
- Astana city administration: the capital-transfer timeline, city names, landmarks and educational institutions. Its historical information is used separately from older undated statistics on that page.
- President of Kazakhstan, country overview: independence on December 16, 1991.
- Bureau of National Statistics, Astana city: dated population and economic figures.
- Bozok Museum-Reserve, archaeological complex: the site’s different periods and functions.
- Kazakhstan embassy historical overview: the 1830 garrison origins of the modern city.
- Astana municipal report on the green belt: planting and its intended environmental and recreational role.
- Presidential decrees dated March 23, 2019 and September 17, 2022: the Nur-Sultan and Astana renamings, effective upon first official publication.
