Astana
Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan, situated on the banks of the Ishim River in the northern part of the country. With a population of over 1.6 million, it is the second-largest city in Kazakhstan, surpassed only by Almaty, which served as the national capital until 1997. The city lies within the Akmola Region but operates as a self-administering entity. Its history is marked by a series of name changes, beginning with its founding as Aqmoly in 1830, named after a local landmark whose Kazakh meaning, "white grave," is debated. It was later known as Akmolinsk, then Tselinograd during the Soviet Virgin Lands Campaign, and briefly as Aqmola again before being renamed Astana—meaning "capital" in Kazakh—in 1998 after it replaced Almaty as the capital. In 2019, the city was renamed Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, but it reverted to Astana in 2022, earning a Guinness World Record for the most name changes of any capital city in modern times.
The area has ancient roots; centuries ago, the Bozok settlement, a military fortress on the Silk Road, occupied the site. Modern Astana expanded into this territory. The city grew slowly in its early years, with a population of just over 2,000 after three decades, but it increased threefold in the following thirty years. During the Soviet era, it became a hub for the Virgin Lands Campaign, leading to a complete transformation in the 1960s with new housing districts and public buildings. After becoming the capital, the city experienced rapid growth, guided by a modern, planned vision from architect Kisho Kurokawa. Today, Astana is a major center for culture, education, and commerce in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
- country
- Kazakhstan
- time_zone
- UTC+5:00
Lore & Background
Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, lies on the banks of the Ishim River in the northern part of the country. Though situated within the Akmola Region, the city is self-administering. Its population within the city limits is 1,622,245, making it the second-largest city in Kazakhstan after Almaty. The city’s defining characteristic is its rapid, planned transformation after becoming the national capital in 1997, guided by the architect Kisho Kurokawa. This growth has established it as a major center for culture, education, and commerce in both Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The city’s history is reflected in its many name changes: founded in 1830 as Aqmoly (meaning “white grave” in Kazakh), it was later known as Akmolinsk, then Tselinograd (Russian for “City of Virgin Lands”) during the Soviet era, and Aqmola again after independence. It was renamed Astana, meaning “capital” in Kazakh, in 1998. In 2019, it became Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, but reverted to Astana in 2022. This series of renamings holds a Guinness World Record for the capital city with the most name changes in modern times. The site itself has older roots: the Bozok settlement, a 12th-14th century military fortress on the Silk Road, once occupied the territory where Astana now expands.
Reader's Guide
Astana's significance lies in its transformation from a small fortress into a planned modern capital, guided by architect Kisho Kurokawa. The city's history reflects Kazakhstan's shifts from Russian imperial rule through Soviet development to independence, with name changes marking political transitions. As the second-coldest national capital in the world after Ulaanbaatar, Astana's extreme continental climate and location on the Ishim River in a semi-arid steppe region shape its character.
Did You Know?
- Astana holds the Guinness World Record for the capital city with the most name changes in modern times.
- Astana is the second-coldest national capital in the world after Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
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