Kazakhstan changed its capital’s name from Nur-Sultan back to Astana in 2022.
Astana is Kazakhstan’s capital and lies on the Ishim River in the northern part of the country. The city became the national capital in 1997, replacing Almaty, which remains Kazakhstan’s largest city and an important cultural and economic centre.
The capital was called Astana until 2019, when it was renamed Nur-Sultan in honour of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s first president. In September 2022, Kazakhstan’s parliament approved restoring the name Astana. The change took effect during a period of constitutional and political reforms.
Astana is known for highly modern architecture, including the Bayterek monument, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, and the Khan Shatyr entertainment centre. The name Astana means “capital” in Kazakh, making it a particularly direct city name.