The ethnolinguistic patchwork of Central Asia in later soviet times(1992)
Central Asia is a diverse land with many ethnic groups, languages, religions and tribes. This article discusses all of the above, and includes the demographics of the nations of the five former Soviet republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, a group which has a total population of about 61 million. When Afghanistan, which is not always considered part of the region, is included, then Central Asia has a total population of about 90 million as of 2010. It is to be noted that Pakistan has a large population of Central Asian peoples. [1] Although most central Asians have belonged to religions which were introduced into the area within the last 1,500 years,[2] such as Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Ismaili Islam, Tengriism, and Syriac Christianity, Buddhism was introduced to Central Asia over 2,200 years ago, and Zoroastrianism, over 2,500 years ago.[3]
Ethnic groups in Central Asia [4] [edit]
Below is information on the demographics of ethnic groups in Central Asia
| Ethnic Group |
Center of population in Central Asia |
Total roughly estimated population in Central Asia |
| Uzbek |
Uzbekistan |
27,000,000-30,000,000 |
| Tajik |
Tajikistan and Northern Afghanistan. It includes Pamiri people, who are officially categorized as Tajiks in Tajikistan. |
15,000,000 |
| Kazakh |
Kazakhstan |
11,500,000 |
| Kyrgyz |
Kyrgyzstan |
4,100,000 |
| Russians |
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan |
7,000,000 [5][6][7][8] |
| Ukrainian |
Northern Kazakhstan |
700,000 [9][10][11] |
| Turkmen |
Turkmenistan |
6,500,000 |
| Volga German |
Kazakhstan |
350,000[12][13] |
| Uyghur |
Eastern Kazakhstan |
300,000 |
| Dungan and or Hui |
Kyrgyzstan |
100,000 |
| Bukharian Arab |
Uzbekistan |
? thousands |
| Bukharian Jew |
Uzbekistan |
1,000 |
| British People[14] |
Afghanistan or perhaps Kazakhstan |
1,500-2,000 |
| Kurds |
Afghanistan |
250,000-300,000 |
| Tatar |
Uzbekistan |
700,000 |
| Karakalpaks |
North western Uzbekistan |
500,000 |
| Lakai sometimes considered to be Uzbeks |
Uzbekistan |
NA |
| Bashkirs |
Kazakhstan |
30,000 |
| Meskhetian Turks |
Kazakhstan |
200,000 |
| Armenians |
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
100,000 |
| Altai |
Northern Kazakhstan |
10,000 |
| Pashtun |
Southern Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan |
12,500,000 |
| Hazara |
Central Afghanistan |
3,500,000 |
| Baloch |
Southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan |
600,000 |
| Brahui |
Southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan |
250,000 |
| Aimak |
Central and Northwest Afghanistan |
1,500,000 |
| Nuristani |
Far eastern and northern Afghanistan |
200,000+ |
| Belorussians |
Northern Kazakhstan |
100,000-200,000 [15] |
| Bulgarians |
Kazakhstan |
10,000 |
| Romanians |
Kazakhstan |
20,000 |
| Greeks |
Kazakhstan |
30,000 |
| Mordvins |
Kazakhstan |
20,000 |
| Moldovans |
Kazakhstan |
25,000 |
| Chechens |
Kazakhstan |
40,000 |
| Poles |
Northern Kazakhstan |
50,000-100,000 |
| Azeri |
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan |
100,000-200,000 |
| Recent Iranians |
Turkmenistan? |
? hundreds or thousands |
| Recent Indian subcontinental |
Afghanistan |
4,000 |
| Pakistani |
Kirghistan |
2,000 |
| Koreans |
Uzbekistan |
200,000-300,000 |
| Chuvash's |
Northern Kazakhstan |
35,000 |
| Other native groups in central Asia |
NA |
NA |
| Others (Various Eurasian groups) |
Kazakhstan? |
NA |
Religions in Central Asia [16] [edit]
| Religion |
Total roughly estimated Population in Central Asia |
Center of Population in Central Asia |
| Eastern Christianity |
7,000,000 |
Northern Kazakhstan |
| Western Christianity |
510,000 |
Kazakhstan |
| Judaism |
27,500 |
Uzbekistan |
| Shia Islam |
4,000,000 |
Central Afghanistan |
| Sunni Islam |
28,000,000 |
Southern Central Asia (Most dense in Afghanistan) |
| Atheism and Irreligion |
2,500,000 -? Millions |
throughout the region |
| Buddhism |
260,000 |
Most common in Kazakhstan and Afghanistan |
| Zoroastrianism |
10,000 |
Historically Northern Afghanistan |
Works Cited [edit]
