Capital of Kazakhstan: Astana — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana. Kazakhstan sits in Asia, has a population of 19,397,998, and uses the KZT. Official languages include Kazakh, Russian.
Quick facts
- Capital: Astana
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~19,397,998
- Area: 2,724,900 km²
- Population density: 7.1 people per km²
- Official languages: Kazakh, Russian
- Currency: KZT
- ISO code: KZ
How big is Kazakhstan?
By population, Kazakhstan ranks 66th in the world, holding roughly 0.24% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 9th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Kazakhstan has 7.1 people per square kilometre, which is about 8.3 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Kazakhstan is the 25th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Kazakhstan in population are Chile (19,603,733) and Romania (19,659,267).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Argentina (2,780,400 km²) and Algeria (2,381,741 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Kazakh is listed as an official language of Kazakhstan alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Kazakhstan uses the KZT, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Kazakhstan
Astana means 'capital' in Kazakh, so the name tells you what it is. The city lies on the Ishim River in the north of the country. For the flag, picture an eagle flying under the sun across a clear blue sky.
The flag of Kazakhstan: sky blue and gold
🇰🇿 The flag is a sky-blue flag with a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, and a gold national pattern down the side by the flagpole. Blue stands for the sky and water and for cultural and ethnic unity. The sun stands for wealth and plenty, with rays shaped like grain, and the eagle for freedom, power and the flight to the future.
Region and neighbours
Kazakhstan is a huge landlocked country in Central Asia, with a small part west of the Ural River in Eastern Europe. It shares land borders with 5 countries: Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.
- Russia 🇷🇺 — capital Moscow
- China 🇨🇳 — capital Beijing
- Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 — capital Bishkek
- Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 — capital Tashkent
- Turkmenistan 🇹🇲 — capital Ashgabat
Three facts about Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world.
- Kazakhstan is the world's ninth-largest country by land area.
- Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, was the capital until 1997.
Sources: Wikipedia: Kazakhstan, Wikipedia: Flag of Kazakhstan, Wikipedia: Astana, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Kazakhstan
- Asian capitals quiz — match Kazakhstan to Astana
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Kazakhstan flag among its neighbours
- Landlocked countries quiz — Kazakhstan has no sea coast
Kazakhstan capital quiz
What is the capital of Kazakhstan 🇰🇿?
- Astana
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Astana
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- Vientiane
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Colombo
What is the capital of Syria 🇸🇾?
- Ankara
- Taipei
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Damascus
What is the capital of Cambodia 🇰🇭?
- Kathmandu
- Ramallah
- Colombo
- Phnom Penh
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Phnom Penh
What is the capital of Taiwan 🇹🇼?
- Pyongyang
- Muscat
- Taipei
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Taipei
Kazakhstan in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Kazakhstan belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Kazakhstan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Kazakhstan?
The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana.
What is the population of Kazakhstan?
About 19,397,998, making it the 66th most populous country in the world.
How big is Kazakhstan?
2,724,900 square kilometres, ranking 9th by land area, at a density of 7.1 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Kazakhstan use?
The KZT, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Kazakhstan flag?
The flag of Kazakhstan is a sky-blue flag with a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, and a gold national pattern down the side by the flagpole. Blue stands for the sky and water and for cultural and ethnic unity. The sun stands for wealth and plenty, with rays shaped like grain, and the eagle for freedom, power and the flight to the future.
Which countries border Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan shares land borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
How can I remember the capital of Kazakhstan?
Astana means 'capital' in Kazakh, so the name tells you what it is. The city lies on the Ishim River in the north of the country. For the flag, picture an eagle flying under the sun across a clear blue sky.
More capitals to learn
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