What is the official capital of Kazakhstan?

The official capital of Kazakhstan is Astana.

Astana lies in northern Kazakhstan on the Ishim River and serves as the country’s political and administrative centre. It became the capital in 1997, when Kazakhstan moved its capital from Almaty, the country’s largest city and an important cultural and commercial hub.

The city has had several names. It was called Akmolinsk during the Russian Empire, Tselinograd in the Soviet period, and Aqmola after Kazakhstan became independent. It was renamed Astana in 1998, renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019, and restored to Astana in 2022.

Astana is known for bold modern architecture, including the Bayterek monument and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. Its location also gives it one of the world’s coldest national capitals, with sharply continental winters.