Kazakhstan Population: An Overview of Asia’s Largest Landlocked Nation
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked nation in the world and the ninth largest country in the world in terms of total area. It is located in Central Asia and borders Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan is a relatively young nation, having only declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, the nation has experienced significant population growth and economic development. In this article, we will take a look at the population of Kazakhstan and the various factors that have contributed to its growth.
Kazakhstan’s population is estimated to be 18.2 million as of 2020. This makes it the most populous landlocked nation in Asia and the 64th most populous country in the world. The population is spread out across the country, with the majority of the population living in the cities of Almaty and Astana. The population of Kazakhstan is also ethnically diverse, with Kazakhs making up the largest ethnic group at 63.1%, followed by Russians at 23.7%, Uzbeks at 2.8%, Ukrainians at 2.1%, and Tatars at 1.2%.
Kazakhstan’s population growth rate has been steadily increasing since the nation declared its independence. In the period between 1991 and 2020, it is estimated that the population has grown by an average of 1.2% per year. This growth rate is slightly higher than the global average, but much lower than the growth rate of other countries in the region such as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The main drivers of population growth in Kazakhstan are natural population increase, migration, and government policies.
The natural population increase in Kazakhstan is largely due to the nation’s high fertility rate. As of 2020, the total fertility rate in Kazakhstan was 2.1 children per woman, which is slightly higher than the global average of 2.0. This indicates that the majority of the population growth is due to natural population increase, rather than migration.
Migration is another major factor that has contributed to Kazakhstan’s population growth. The nation has seen an influx of immigrants from neighboring countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. This has helped to offset the effects of natural population decrease due to emigration, and has contributed to the overall population growth.
Finally, the government of Kazakhstan has implemented a number of policies to encourage population growth. These policies include providing incentives for families to have more children, as well as providing financial support for families with multiple children. The government has also implemented policies that make it easier for immigrants to settle in Kazakhstan.
Overall, Kazakhstan’s population is growing rapidly and is expected to continue to do so in the coming years. The nation’s diverse population, high fertility rate, and government policies have all contributed to the population growth. As Kazakhstan continues to develop economically, it is likely that the population will continue to grow at a steady pace.