Astana’s core city experienced faster population growth than its commuting zone from 1999 to 2009. Astana’s commuting zone includes 35 rural districts (selski okruga) and 2 posiolki (rural settlements) scattered around a relatively large territory in the Tselinograd, Arshaly and even Ereymentau districts. Two municipalities (corresponding to three settlements on the map below) in the North of Karaganda region are also part of Astana’s commuting zone (see Figure 1.A2.2).