What is the capital of Kazakhstan?

The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana. The city stands on the Ishim River in the northern steppe and is the country’s political center, housing major government institutions such as the Akorda presidential residence and Parliament.

Astana became Kazakhstan’s capital in December 1997, replacing Almaty. The move shifted the seat of government northward and supported the development of a new administrative and economic center. Astana’s planned modern skyline includes landmarks such as the Baiterek Tower, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, and the Khan Shatyr complex.

The city has had several names. Founded as Akmoly in 1830, it later became Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Akmola. It was renamed Astana in 1998; the Kazakh word means “capital.” In 2019 it briefly became Nur-Sultan, honoring former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, before reverting to Astana in 2022.

A common mix-up is answering Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and former capital. Almaty remains the country’s major cultural and commercial hub, but Astana is the national capital.