Astana

Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,622,245, it is the second-largest city in the country after Almaty. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim river in the north of Kazakhstan. It was initially founded as Aqmoly in 1830 and has been known by several names, including Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Aqmola, before becoming Astana in 1998, a name meaning "capital" in Kazakh. In 2019, it was briefly renamed Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev but reverted to Astana in 2022.

Since becoming the capital in 1997, Astana has grown rapidly into a modern and planned city designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. Today, it is famous for its futuristic architecture and houses important government buildings such as the Akorda Residence, the Parliament House, and the Supreme Court. The city is also known for its modern landmarks like the Baiterek, the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, and the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia.

Astana has become a key center for culture, education, and commerce. It hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games and Expo 2017, an international exhibition focused on "Future Energy." The city is also home to important events like the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Visitors can enjoy cultural sites such as the Astana Opera and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as parks like Presidential Park.

Astana's transport system includes the Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport and two railway stations, Astana-1 and Astana-Nurly Zhol. The city is also developing the Astana Light Metro to improve public transport. Educational institutions such as Nazarbayev University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, and Astana IT University help make Astana a growing center for learning and innovation.

Names

The city now known as Astana has had many names throughout its history. It was first founded in 1830 as Akmoly, a name that might mean "white grave" in Kazakh. Over the years, it was renamed several times: to Akmolinsk in 1832, then to Tselinograd in 1961, and later to Akmola in 1991. When it became the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997, it was renamed Astana, meaning "capital city" in Kazakh. In 2019, it was briefly called Nur-Sultan before returning to its current name, Astana, in 2022.

Astana holds a record for having the most name changes of any capital city in modern times.

History

Many centuries ago, the Bozok settlement was located where modern Astana stands. It was a military fortress along the Silk Road. The name "Boz" has several meanings in Turkic languages, such as 'untouched earth' or 'virgin soil'. Over time, the area grew and became an important place.

The settlement of Akmoly was founded on the Ishim river in 1830. It became a town called Akmolinsk in 1832. The town grew slowly at first but later expanded quickly. During World War II, Akmolinsk helped move important tools and equipment to keep the country running. After the war, the city became a symbol of recovery. In 1961, the city was renamed Tselinograd to reflect its role in a big farming project. After Kazakhstan became independent in 1991, the city's name changed back to Akmola, and then finally to Astana in 1998 when it became the capital. In 2019, it was briefly renamed Nur-Sultan but returned to Astana in 2022.

Geography

Astana is almost 1,000 km from the country's largest city and former capital, Almaty. The nearest big cities are Karaganda and Omsk in Russia.

Astana is located in central Kazakhstan on the Ishim River in a flat, semi-arid steppe region. The city covers 722.0 square kilometres and sits 347 metres above sea level. Astana experiences a humid continental climate with warm summers and long, cold winters. Summer temperatures can reach 35 °C, while winter temperatures often drop below −30 °C. The river usually freezes from November to early April, and the city is known for its frequent strong winds.

Demographics

As of January 2025, Astana had a population of 1,528,703 people—more than triple the number from 2002. By 2026, most people in Astana were ethnic Kazakhs, making up 83% of the city. Other groups included Russians at 8%, Ukrainians at 1.4%, Tatars at 1%, Uzbeks at 0.6%, and various other groups making up the rest.

The city is known for its mix of religions. Islam and Christianity—especially Russian Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism—are the main faiths. Astana is also home to many other religions, such as Judaism, Lutheranism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Notable buildings include the largest mosque in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, the Astana Grand Mosque, and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, which welcomes leaders of many world religions. The city also has Central Asia's largest synagogue and serves as the headquarters for the Eastern Orthodox Church. The area around Astana, including several districts, is home to about 1.2 million people.

Economy

Further information: Economy of Kazakhstan

Astana's economy is based on trade, industrial production, transport, communication, and construction. The city produces building materials, food, and machinery.

Astana is an important center for the Belt and Road Initiative and has a special economic zone to attract investors. The city has grown quickly since becoming the capital, with many new businesses and jobs created. Tourism is also helping the city's economy grow.

Diplomacy platform

Astana has become an important place for discussions about big global problems. It has hosted talks between the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrian opposition. The city was supposed to host a big meeting for the World Trade Organization in 2020, but this was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2003, Astana has also hosted meetings for leaders of different religions to talk about peace and working together.

Cityscape

See also: List of tallest buildings in Astana

Astana is divided into four districts. Each district has its own area and population, with villages spread throughout.

In 1998, architects from around the world entered a competition to design the new capital. Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa won, and his plan focused on blending the old city with new developments on the south and east sides of the Ishim River.

Important buildings in Astana include the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, which reflect the history of the Eurasian steppes.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Astana

Astana is a city with many sports teams. The most famous football (soccer) team is FC Astana, which has won many titles since it was started in 2009. They play in a big stadium called Astana Arena.

The city also has professional ice hockey teams, such as Barys Astana, and a cycling team called Astana Pro Team that has won big races around the world. There is even a basketball team, BC Astana, which has won several championships. Astana has many places to play and watch sports, including a special arena for speed skating and a martial arts palace that opened in 2019.

Education

Astana is home to many universities and colleges. In the 2013/2014 academic year, over 50,000 students studied at 14 higher education institutions in the city. The largest is the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, which has thousands of students and teachers. Other important schools include Nazarbayev University, known for its research, and the Kazakh University of Economics, Finance and International Trade.

The city also has many schools for younger students, with around 103,000 children attending 83 schools. These include both public and private schools, such as the Miras International School and the Haileybury Astana. There are also special schools for gifted students and international schools that teach in different languages.

Transportation

City transport

Astana has many ways to get around, including buses and taxis. Every day, over 720,000 people ride the buses and taxis. There are more than 60 bus routes with over 1,000 buses on the roads. Share taxis also have set routes and share rides with other passengers.

There used to be trolleybuses, but they stopped running a few years ago. In 2011, a new transport system was started, including bus rapid transit lines. Plans for a light rail system were delayed but started again in 2017. The first line of the Astana Light Metro is set to open in early 2026. There is also a bicycle-sharing program called AstanaBike with many stations and bikes for people to use.

Air

Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport is the main airport in Astana. It is the second-busiest airport in Kazakhstan and handled over 8 million passengers in 2024. The airport has flights to many places inside and outside the country. Air Astana has its second-largest hub here. A new terminal is being built to handle more passengers.

Railway and roads

Astana is a key spot for trains and roads. Astana railway station is the main station, serving about 7,000 people each day. There is also a newer station called Nurly Zhol. The city has major highways that connect it to other places.

River transport

Since 2008, people have been able to travel on the Esil River in Astana. The city started a special program to help with river transport.

Expo 2017

Main article: Expo 2017

In 2010, Astana presented a bid to host the Specialised Expo 2017. The event focused on the impact of energy on society and was titled "Future Energy".

Expo 2017 opened on June 10, 2017, with leaders from many countries attending. It was the first world’s fair held in Central Asia. The main pavilion, Nur Alem, was the largest spherical building in the world, and millions of people visited during the exhibition.

Notable landmarks

Astana is home to many important and beautiful places. Akorda is where the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan lives and works. The Astana Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Central Asia and was finished in 2022. Baiterek is a tall tower that was built in 1996 to celebrate when the capital moved from Almaty to Astana.

Other famous spots include the Gate of Eternal Land, built to honor Kazakhstan’s independence, and the Independence Palace for important events. Kazakh Eli is a big monument with a bird on top, and Khan Shatyr is a huge shopping and entertainment tent, considered the largest in the world. Nurjol Boulevard is a nice walking area with fountains, and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is a special hall for meetings, designed by architect Norman Foster.

Theaters, concert halls, and museums

Astana has many places where people can enjoy music, art, and learn about history. There are libraries, museums, parks, and special buildings for concerts and shows.

Some important places include the Central Concert Hall Kazakhstan for concerts and events, the Astana Opera for music and theater, and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the largest museum in Central Asia. Other interesting spots are the Modern Art Museum, the Presidential Center of Culture, and the Museum of The Future (Nur-Alem Pavilion), where visitors can learn about energy and see ideas for cities in the future.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Kazakhstan

Astana has many friends around the world! It is twinned with cities in many countries. Here are some of its sister cities:

• Amman, Jordan (2005)
• Ankara, Turkey (2001)
• Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (2017)
• Bangkok, Thailand (2004)
• Beijing, China (2006)
• Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2011)
• Damascus, Syria
• Gdańsk, Poland (1996)
• Hanoi, Vietnam (2009)
• Islamabad, Pakistan
• Kazan, Russia (2004)
• Kyiv, Ukraine (1998)
• Manila, Philippines
• Moscow, Russia
• Nice, France (2013)
• Nusantara, Indonesia (2023)
• Oulu, Finland (2013)
• Putrajaya, Malaysia
• Riga, Latvia (1998)
• Saint Petersburg, Russia (1996)
• Seoul, South Korea (2004)
• Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Tbilisi, Georgia (1996)
• Ufa, Russia (2010)
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2019)
• Uşak, Turkey
• Vilnius, Lithuania
• Warsaw, Poland (2002)
• Zagreb, Croatia (2014)

Astana also works with these friendly cities:

• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Belgrade, Serbia
• Berlin, Germany
• Bucharest, Romania
• Budapest, Hungary
• Cairo, Egypt
• Chelyabinsk, Russia
• Chișinău, Moldova
• Kurgan, Russia
• Kursk, Russia
• Minsk, Belarus
• Omsk, Russia
• Penza, Russia
• Saratov, Russia
• Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
• Tomsk, Russia
• Ürümqi, China

Smart city initiative

The Smart Astana project is an effort by the city administration to use technology to improve many areas, such as hospitals, schools, ticket booking, and street lighting. Everything works together through an app called Smart Astana.

Astana also holds an annual event called the Astana Innovations Challenge to highlight smart city ideas. Additionally, the world's first smart sustainable city hub is planned to open in Astana, aiming to bring new startup ideas into Kazakhstan's infrastructure.