2009 population census of Kazakhstan


The 2009 population census of Kazakhstan was the second population census in Kazakhstan after it gained sovereignty. It was conducted on February 24–25. Preliminary official results of the census were published on February 4, 2010, on the website of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to the 2009 census, the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan was 16,004.8 thousand people, an increase of 1,022.9 thousand compared to the 1999 census. One of the most unexpected results of the census was a slight decrease in the share of the urban population from 56.3% to 54.0% and the determination of the level of agricultural development.

National composition

The census recorded a trend towards an increase in the number of residents of Kazakhstan, which replaced a period of decline. This is explained by a decrease in the emigration of European ethnic groups, an increase in the growth rate of the number of Kazakhs, including due to the influx of Kazakh repatriates, as well as a decrease in the rate of decline of Russians and Germans. The most numerous nationalities are, as before, Kazakhs and Russians.
The share of Kazakhs in the country's population is 63.1%, Russians - 23.7%, Uzbeks - 2.8%, Ukrainians - 2.1%, Uyghurs - 1.4%, Tatars - 1.3%, Germans - 1.1%, other ethnic groups - 4.5%. As a result of the uneven dynamics of natural movement, as well as the size and direction of migration among different ethnic groups, Ukrainians yielded 3rd place to Uzbeks, and Germans - to Tatars and Uyghurs.
PeopleEstimate on
1.01.2009		%census
25.02.2009		%Estimate as of
01.01.2010
excluding
preliminary
results of the 2009 census.		%Estimate as of
01.01.2010
taking into account
preliminary
results of the 2009 census.		%Correction of the
absolute
number
as a result of
recalculation based on
preliminary
results of the 2009 census.
Total15 776 492100,0016 004 800100,016 036 075100,016 197 000100,0+ 1,0 %
Kazakhs9 540 80660,4710 098 60063,109 801 50161,1210 301 00063,6+ 5,1 %
Russians3 869 66124,533 797 00023,723 848 24624,003 774 00023,3- 1,9 %
Uzbeks463 3812,94457 2002,86475 3542,96470 0002,9- 1,1 %
Ukrainians422 6802,68333 2002,08415 5392,60324 0002,0- 22,0 %
Uyghurs241 9461,53223 1001,39246 4491,54227 0001,4- 7,9 %
Tatars226 8031,44203 3001,272265141,41194 0001,2- 14,4 %
Germans220 9751,40178 2001,11221 8331,38178 0001,1- 19,8 %
Others790 2405,01714 2004,46800 6394,99729 0004,5 — 8,9 %

A significant decrease in the number of a number of nationalities according to the census data in comparison with the data of the current statistical accounting can be interpreted either as a mass departure abroad, which was not recorded by the registration authorities, or a sharp increase in mortality among these nationalities, which was also not previously taken into account by the registration authorities, or, most likely, a change in national identification. The direction of such a change in identification is indicated by the fact that of all the "European" ethnic groups, only Russians showed a moderate correction in numbers according to the census results, which could have been influenced by the fact that a significant proportion of citizens of a number of "European" nationalities could have been counted as Russians in the census.
In some ways, similar processes could be observed in relation to the so-called “Asian” nationalities, only in this case, during the census, a certain portion of citizens of these nationalities could already be counted as Kazakhs.

Religious composition

Kazakhstan became the first state of the former USSR, not counting the Baltic states, to include a question on religion in the census. The population was offered to choose from the following positions: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Refuse to specify, Non-believer.
Respondents' answers
on attitudes towards religion		Absolute
number
Share
in population
%
Muslims11 237,970,19
Christians4 190,126,17
Judaism5,30,03
Buddhism14,60,09
Other religions30,10,19
Non-believer450,52,81
Did not provide an answer81,00,51
Всего16 009,6100,00

Corruption and distortion

1.144 billion tenge were allocated for the population census, of which only 379 million tenge was used directly for the intended purpose; the remaining funds were embezzled by agency officials and heads of private enterprises. The head of the Kazakh statistics agency, Anar Meshimbayeva, was removed from her post, accused of embezzling funds from the population census budget, fled, and was put on the wanted list. She was extradited from Russia, sentenced to 7 years in prison, but served only 4 years. Her deputies Nurman Bayanov and Birlik Mendybayev, as well as the well-known Kazakh businessman Serik Turzhanov were also arrested and accused of embezzlement.
The first preliminary results of the census were announced in April 2009 by the head of the government of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov, with the population being 16 million 304 thousand 840, and the share of Kazakhs in the country's population being 67%. On September 1, 2009, the former President of Kazakhstan Nazarbayev in his address to the people of the country announced a new estimate of the share of Kazakhs - 65%.
Preliminary results of the census became known only on February 4, 2010, after Nazarbayev’s sharp demand to publish at least preliminary results. According to these results, the total population of the country was 16,004.8 thousand people, and the share of Kazakhs in the entire population was 63.1%.
The processing of the 2009 census materials is being delayed due to the lack of funding for these works. Thus, according to the Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Statistics Alikhan Smailov:
Makash Tatimov, demographer and rector of the University of Central Asia, critically assesses the quality of the 2009 census: