What is the capital city of Kazakhstan?

What is the capital city of Kazakhstan? Astana. Astana is Kazakhstan's capital and stands on the Ishim River in the country's northern steppe.

The city has changed names several times. Founded as a Russian fortification in 1830, it became Akmolinsk, then Tselinograd during the Soviet Virgin Lands campaign, and Akmola after Kazakhstan's independence. It replaced Almaty as the national capital in December 1997 and was renamed Astana in 1998, a Kazakh word meaning “capital.”

The name briefly changed to Nur-Sultan in 2019 in honour of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan restored the name Astana in September 2022, so older references and some quiz materials may show Nur-Sultan instead.

Almaty remains Kazakhstan's largest city and its major cultural and commercial centre, which makes it the most common wrong answer. Astana, by contrast, is known for government institutions and striking modern landmarks such as the Baiterek Tower and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation.