<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000910322</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001622494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Donlon Hugh J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE ASTORIA BANK PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE SUCCESS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>US 11042</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr EVP and CLO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5100.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10200.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>RSA Vest</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1886.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3214.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.565</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40995.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28387.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>RSA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5460.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>RSA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents one-third vesting of a previous award of restricted stock pursuant to the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation, or the 2014 Plan. The restricted stock vested and was distributed on December 14, 2016. The transaction represents a change in the form of beneficial ownership from indirect to direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents award of restricted stock dated February 1, 2016 pursuant to the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation (the 2014 Plan). The shares of restricted stock will vest as follows: 5,100 shares on December 14, 2017 and 5,100 shares on December 14, 2018 or if earlier, upon the death, Disability or Change in Control (as such terms are defined in the 2014 Plan) or pursuant to the terms of his employment agreements with the Company and Astoria Bank (the Bank) upon his termination of employment by the Company or the Bank prior to the end of the term of such employment agreements without Cause, as defined therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares were withheld for taxes at vest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents value of restricted stock at time of vesting and is the value of services rendered by the Reporting Person to the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents award of restricted stock dated October 15, 2014 pursuant to the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation (the 2014 Plan). The shares of restricted stock will vest as follows: 28,387 shares on October 1, 2017 or, if earlier, upon the death, Disability or Change in Control (as such terms are defined in the 2014 Plan) or, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreements with the Company and Astoria Bank (the Bank), upon his termination of employment by the Company or the Bank prior to the end of the term of such employment agreements without Cause, as defined therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents award of restricted stock dated April 27, 2015 pursuant to the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation (the 2014 Plan). The shares of restricted stock will vest as follows: 5,460 shares on December 14, 2017 or if earlier, upon the death, Disability or Change in Control (as such terms are defined in the 2014 Plan) or pursuant to the terms of his employment agreements with the Company and Astoria Bank (the Bank) upon his termination of employment by the Company or the Bank prior to the end of the term of such employment agreements without Cause, as defined therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>POWER OF ATTORNEY


I hereby authorize and designate Monte N. Redman,
Alan P. Eggleston, David J. DeBaun, Michele M. Weber,
Theodore S. Ayvas, Frank E. Fusco, Yvonne Schade,
Javier Evans, and Deborah J. Dusel, or any one of them
acting as agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of
substitution, to:

          (1)  prepare and sign on my behalf any Form 3,
          Form 4 or Form 5 pursuant to Section 16 of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
          and file the same with the Securities
          Exchange Commission, NYSE, and
          each stock exchange on which Astoria
          Financial Corporation's common stock or
          other securities are listed, as required by law;

          (2)  prepare and sign on my behalf any Form 144
          pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
	  amended, and file the same with the Securities
          Exchange Commission, NYSE, and
          each stock exchange on which Astoria
          Financial Corporation's common stock or
          other securities are listed, as required by law;
          and

          (3) do anything else necessary or proper in
          connection with the foregoing.

This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by my subsequent
disability or incompetence.

Date:    August 24, 2016

Hugh J. Donlon</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Hugh J. Donlon by Deborah J. Dusel, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
