Kazakhstan’s population surpasses 20.5mn as growth continues

Kazakhstan’s population has surpassed 20.5mn, continuing a steady growth trend, according to updated data released by the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan and reported by Zakon.kz.

At the beginning of 2026, the country’s population stood at 20,499,822, rising to 20,547,909 as of April 1. This reflects an increase of 48,087 people over the first three months of the year.

The majority of growth came from natural increase, which accounted for 42,879 people, while net migration contributed an additional 5,208 people.

Urban residents make up the larger share of the population, with 13,137,950 people living in cities, compared to 7,409,959 in rural areas.

Women continue to outnumber men in the country. The number of women reached 10,503,236, while men accounted for 10,044,673.

Among regions, Almaty remains the most populous city with 2,359,052 residents, followed by Turkistan Region with 2,146,665, and the capital Astana with 1,662,755 people.

The least populated region is Ulytau Region, where 218,420 people reside.

The country also remains ethnically diverse. As of early 2026, ethnic Kazakhs make up the majority with 14,664,202 people, followed by Russians (2,943,022) and Uzbeks (695,557). Other significant groups include Ukrainians, Uyghurs, Germans, Tatars, Azerbaijanis, Koreans, Turks, Dungans, Belarusians, Tajiks, Kurds, and Kyrgyz.

Population growth in Kazakhstan has been consistent in recent years. The country’s population crossed 20mn in 2023, up from around 19.8mn in 2022, reflecting a steady upward trend.

Migration has also contributed positively, though to a lesser extent, with inflows partially offsetting outflows in recent years.

Uzbekistan’s population was also reported to have exceeded 38.23mn at the start of 2026, with births falling to a five-year low in 2025.