Region of Astana sets attendance record with influx of visitors
In the first half of 2025, Astana has witnessed a significant increase in internal migration, surpassing Almaty as the main magnet for labor from economically weaker regions with high birth rates but limited local employment options.
According to data reported by Liter.kz, citing DATA HUB, Astana attracted approximately 36.8 thousand internal migrants in the first half of the year, more than double the approximately 16.9 thousand migrants who moved to Almaty during the same period.
The significant internal migration to Astana is driven by several factors. Astana, as the capital city and a major economic center, provides more diverse employment opportunities compared to regional areas. This economic pull is stronger in Astana than in Almaty.
Regions like Turkestan, Mangistau, and Shymkent have high birth rates, contributing to a young and growing labor force. However, these areas lack sufficient economic development and jobs, pushing young people to seek work in big cities, mainly Astana and secondarily Almaty.
Astana acts as a center of human capital redistribution, concentrating labor resources from the "donor" regions with weaker economic bases. This leads to increased competition for jobs in Astana but also a shortage of workers in those home regions.
The overall internal migration in Kazakhstan grew by 20.6% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, indicating an intensification of these migration trends towards major urban centers.
The highest internal outflow to Astana is from the Akmolinskaya region, with 11.5 thousand people moving to Astana. The number of new Astana residents in the first half of 2025 is the highest absolute value for the past 15 years, with 80.4 thousand people arriving and registering as new permanent residents.
For the first time in January-June, the number of new Astana residents exceeded 80 thousand, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous year. In 2024, the number of new Astana residents increased by 75% compared to the previous year.
This trend of internal migration towards Astana is expected to continue as long as the city offers more job opportunities and acts as a magnet for labor from economically weaker regions. The influx of new residents is shaping Astana's future demographic and economic landscape.
[1] Liter.kz, DATA HUB, Internal migration in Kazakhstan: trends and dynamics, June 2025. [2] Liter.kz, DATA HUB, Astana surpasses Almaty as the main magnet for internal migration, June 2025. [3] Liter.kz, DATA HUB, External immigrants prefer Almaty over Astana, June 2025. [4] Liter.kz, DATA HUB, Overall internal migration in Kazakhstan grows by 20.6% in the first half of 2025, June 2025.
- The surge in internal migration in Kazakhstan's urban centers, particularly Astana, has turned politics into a key concern, with debates focusing on housing, job creation, and social infrastructure to accommodate the growing population.
- The general-news landscape in Kazakhstan has been dominated by developments related to internal migration, as the trend of moving from economically weaker regions to cities like Astana continues to shape the nation's demographic and economic dynamics.
