Kazakhstan’s Population Grows Fivefold Over a Century
Kazakhstan’s population has increased nearly fivefold over the past century, rising from 4.3 million in 1897 to 20.3 million as of June 1, 2025, according to data released by the Bureau of National Statistics.
The first general census of the Russian Empire in 1897 recorded 4.3 million residents in the territories that would later comprise Soviet Kazakhstan, including 3.5 million ethnic Kazakhs.
Key demographic milestones reflect the country’s complex historical trajectory. In 1913, the population reached 5.5 million, declining slightly to 5.4 million in 1920 and 5.3 million in 1922 due to political and social upheavals. By 1939, the population had grown to six million.
During the Soviet period, Kazakhstan experienced steady demographic growth: 9.2 million in 1959, 13 million in 1970, 14.6 million in 1979, and 15.6 million in 1984. On the eve of independence in 1991, the population reached 16.4 million.
However, following independence, the country faced significant emigration, particularly among ethnic minorities, leading to a decline to 14.9 million by 2000. Population growth resumed in the subsequent decade, reaching 16.2 million in 2010, 20 million in 2023, and 20.3 million as of mid-2025.
According to demographic forecasts, Kazakhstan’s population may reach 26 million by 2050, driven by natural growth and positive migration dynamics.
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