Astana: population, GRP, wages, unemployment, poverty, health, schools and investment
Astana is a capital city of Kazakhstan, number 3 of 20 by population. Astana had 1,639,176 residents at the end of 2025, 8.0% of the 20,499,822 people of Kazakhstan; it is ranked 3rd largest of 20 regions and cities (the 17 regions and 3 cities of republican significance are ranked together).
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Astana: The economy of Astana produced 15.05 trillion tenge of gross regional product (GRP) in 2024, 11.0% of Kazakhstan's 136.69 trillion tenge; it is ranked 2nd highest of 20 regions and cities (current prices).
- Health in Astana: Life expectancy at birth in Astana was 78.8 years in 2025 (76.4 for men and 81.6 for women), ranked 2nd highest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 76.0 years).
- Education in Astana: In the 2024/25 school year Astana had 194 general education schools with 286,900 pupils, an average of 1,479 pupils per school (Kazakhstan: 493).
- Poverty and living standards in Astana: 2.7% of people in Astana had incomes below the subsistence level in 2024, ranked the lowest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 5.0%); this is the Bureau of National Statistics poverty measure.
- Government budget and revenue in Astana: Investment in fixed assets in Astana funded from budgets was 580.7 billion tenge in 2024: 419.8 billion tenge from the republican (national) budget and 160.9 billion tenge from the local budget; this is 29.1% of all investment in Astana (Kazakhstan: 21.6%).
Is the population of Astana growing?
The population of Astana grew from 1,295,711 at the end of 2021 to 1,639,176 at the end of 2025, a change of +26.5% in four years (Kazakhstan: +5.1%).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow many people live in rural areas of Astana?
On 1 January 2025, 1,528,703 people (100.0%) in Astana lived in urban areas and 0 in rural areas; across Kazakhstan 63.0% of people are urban.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyWhat is the age structure of Astana?
At the end of 2025 Astana had 501 children below working age and 150 people above working age for every 1,000 people of working age (Kazakhstan: 527 and 218); in all, 651 dependants per 1,000 workers.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyWhat is the birth rate in Astana?
The total fertility rate in Astana was 2.06 children per woman in 2025, ranked 8th lowest of 20 regions and cities (Kazakhstan: 2.57; in 2021 it was 2.97 in Astana).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow many babies are born each year in Astana?
In 2024 there were 19.3 births and 3.9 deaths per 1,000 residents of Astana, a natural increase of 15.4 per 1,000 (Kazakhstan: 18.1 births, 6.6 deaths).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyAre people moving to Astana?
In 2024 the population of Astana changed by 98,598 people: natural increase 22,744 and net migration 75,854 (more people arrived than left), based on registered births, deaths and migration.
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow big is Astana?
Astana covers 797 square kilometres and had 1,987.4 people per square kilometre in 2025 (Kazakhstan: 7.5); ranked 2nd most densely populated of 20 regions and cities (the three cities are small areas and rank highest).
Source: Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan · saved copyHow capital citys are governed in Kazakhstan
Regions (oblys, 17) and cities of republican significance (Astana, Almaty, Shymkent). Akim appointed by the President, who must propose at least two candidates for a vote of consent by the maslikhat deputies (2026 Constitution); maslikhat directly elected for five years. Regional budgets, development programmes, health, education and infrastructure.
Every tier of government in Kazakhstan
Other capital cities of Kazakhstan
- Almaty City 2,348,103
- Turkistan Region 2,149,205
- Almaty Region 1,596,532
- Shymkent 1,294,050
- Zhambyl Region 1,215,656
- Karaganda Region 1,131,353
- Aktobe Region 955,970
- Kyzylorda Region 846,312
- Kostanay Region 821,473
- Mangystau Region 819,824
- Akmola Region 789,608
- Pavlodar Region 745,243
- East Kazakhstan Region 718,995
- Atyrau Region 716,071
- West Kazakhstan Region 695,649
- Jetisu Region 687,701
- Abai Region 595,720
- North Kazakhstan Region 514,132
- Ulytau Region 219,049
Up a level: Kazakhstan · government and power in Kazakhstan · cities
Sources
- Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: Demographic Yearbook of Kazakhstan 2021-2025 (English edition), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c2ca14ffe74f…)
- Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: Education in the Republic of Kazakhstan 2019-2023: statistical compilation (English edition), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5341ced12209…)
- Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of Kazakhstan: The regions of Kazakhstan in 2024: Statistical Yearbook (English edition, 414 pages), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3456cb173460…)
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