Astana has been the official capital of Kazakhstan since 2022.
The city became Kazakhstan’s capital in 1997, when the government moved the capital from Almaty to the north of the country. Its location was chosen partly for strategic, economic, and geographic reasons, including greater room for urban expansion.
Astana has changed names several times. It was called Akmola before becoming Astana in 1998, Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022, and Astana again after Kazakhstan’s parliament restored the earlier name. These changes can cause confusion in older references and maps.
Almaty remains Kazakhstan’s largest city and an important cultural and financial centre, but it is not the national capital. Astana stands on the Ishim River in the northern part of Kazakhstan and is known for its modern skyline and cold continental climate.