Kazakhstan

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Kazakhstan
Population: 19,205,000
Principal Languages: Kazakh, Russian
Literacy Rate: 100% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Sebeok 1963
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Kazakhstan is 15. All are living languages. Of these, 4 are indigenous and 11 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 9 are developing, 2 are in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 32 unestablished languages.

Languages

Armenian, Western hyw: Users: 16,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Avar ava: Users: 1,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Avar-Andic, Avar
Azerbaijani, North azj: Users: 62,600 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 85,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
Bashkort bak: Aqtobe, Batys Qazaqstan, Qostanay, and Soltustik Qazaqstan regions: scattered. Users: 27,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Belarusian bel: Users: 8,660 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 66,500 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Bulgarian bul: Users: 7,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Chechen che: Users: 24,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 31,400 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 4,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chuvash chv: Users: 14,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Bolgar
Crimean Tatar crh: Users: 1,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern
Czech ces: Users: 1,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Dargwa dar: Users: 1,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Dargi
Dungan dng: Jambyl region: Korday and Jambyl districts. Users: 50,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2009 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Huizu Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Scattered. Users: 1,870,900 in Kazakhstan, all users. L1 users: 900 in Kazakhstan (2017 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 1,870,000 (2009 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Erzya myv: Users: 18,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mordvin
Estonian, Standard ekk: Users: 2,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Finnic
Georgian kat: Users: 6,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
German, Standard deu: Akmola, East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, and Pavlodar regions. Users: 30,400 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 178,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch, Nemetskiy Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Users: 14,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Ili Turki ili: Scattered. Users: 120 in Kazakhstan (2001 J. Leclerc). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: T’urk, Taranchi, Tuerke Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Ingush inh: Scattered. Users: 20,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Ghalghaj Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Karachay-Balkar krc: Users: 4,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian
Karakalpak kaa: Users: 1,800 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Kazakh kaz: Widespread. Users: 9,980,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 10,100,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 12,695,140. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(1)). Alternate Names: Kaisak, Kazak, Kosach Autonym: казақ тілі‎ (Qazaq tili), казақша‎ (Qazaqşa) Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Komi-Permyak koi: Users: 1,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Permian, Komi
Korean kor: Users: 36,100 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 100,000 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Users: 34,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 38,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Kyrgyz kir: Users: 17,200 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 23,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Latvian, Standard lvs: Users: 2,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Lezgi lez: Users: 5,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic
Lithuanian lit: Users: 8,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Mari, Eastern mhr: Users: 7,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mari
Ossetic oss: Users: 2,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern
Plautdietsch pdt: Almaty region: beyond Tashkent, China border area. Users: 39,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Low German Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Polish pol: Users: 3,160 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 34,100 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Sinte rmo: Almaty City. Users: 6,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Manouche, Manuche, Romanes, Sinte, Sinti, Tsigane Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romanian ron: Users: 23,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Akmola, East Kazakhstan, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and West Kazakhstan regions. Users: 16,800,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 World Factbook), all users. L1 users: 3,750,000 (2009 census). Ethnic population: 3,790,000 (2009 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(2)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Russian Sign Language rsl: Scattered. Users: 56,000 in Kazakhstan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 37,000–74,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of the general population. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: RSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Tajik tgk: Almaty, East Kazakhstan, Jambyl, and South Kazakhstan regions. Users: 33,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 36,300 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Tajiki Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Tatar tat: Scattered. Users: 104,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 204,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Turkish tur: Almaty, Jambyl, Kyzylorda, and South Kazakhstan regions. Users: 90,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 97,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Türkçe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Turkmen tuk: Users: 1,800 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian
Udmurt udm: Users: 11,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Permian
Ukrainian ukr: Akmola, Aktobe, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and West Kazakhstan regions. Users: 52,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 333,000 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Uyghur uig: Almaty region. Users: 191,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 225,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Novouygur, Uighur, Uiguir, Uygur Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Uzbek, Northern uzn: Jambyl and South Kazakhstan regions. Users: 436,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 457,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: oʻzbek, oʻzbek tili, oʻzbekcha Classification: Turkic, Eastern

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Kazakh

[kaz] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(1)). 9,980,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 10,100,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 12,695,140.

Russian

[rus] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(2)). 16,800,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 World Factbook), all users. L1 users: 3,750,000 (2009 census). Ethnic population: 3,790,000 (2009 census).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,870,900 in Kazakhstan, all users. L1 users: 900 in Kazakhstan (2017 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 1,870,000 (2009 census).

5 (Dispersed)

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 30,400 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 178,000 (2009 census).

Ingush

[inh] 5* (Dispersed). 20,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Romani, Sinte

[rmo] 5* (Dispersed). 6,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Tajik

[tgk] 5* (Dispersed). 33,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 36,300 (2009 census).

Tatar

[tat] 5* (Dispersed). 104,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 204,000 (2009 census).

Turkish

[tur] 5* (Dispersed). 90,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 97,000 (2009 census).

Uyghur

[uig] 5* (Dispersed). 191,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 225,000 (2009 census).

Uzbek, Northern

[uzn] 5* (Dispersed). 436,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 457,000 (2009 census).

5 (Developing)

Russian Sign Language

[rsl] 5 (Developing). 56,000 in Kazakhstan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 37,000–74,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of the general population.

7 (Shifting)

Dungan

[dng] 7 (Shifting). 50,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2009 census).

Plautdietsch

[pdt] 7 (Shifting). 39,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

8a (Moribund)

Ili Turki

[ili] 8a (Moribund). 120 in Kazakhstan (2001 J. Leclerc).

Unestablished

Armenian, Western

[hyw] Unestablished. 16,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Avar

[ava] Unestablished. 1,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Azerbaijani, North

[azj] Unestablished. 62,600 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 85,300 (2009 census).

Bashkort

[bak] Unestablished. 27,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Belarusian

[bel] Unestablished. 8,660 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 66,500 (2009 census).

Bulgarian

[bul] Unestablished. 7,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Chechen

[che] Unestablished. 24,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 31,400 (2009 census).

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 4,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Chuvash

[chv] Unestablished. 14,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Crimean Tatar

[crh] Unestablished. 1,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Czech

[ces] Unestablished. 1,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Dargwa

[dar] Unestablished. 1,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Erzya

[myv] Unestablished. 18,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Estonian, Standard

[ekk] Unestablished. 2,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Georgian

[kat] Unestablished. 6,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 14,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Karachay-Balkar

[krc] Unestablished. 4,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Karakalpak

[kaa] Unestablished. 1,800 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Komi-Permyak

[koi] Unestablished. 1,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 36,100 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 100,000 (2009 census).

Kurdish, Northern

[kmr] Unestablished. 34,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 38,300 (2009 census).

Kyrgyz

[kir] Unestablished. 17,200 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 23,300 (2009 census).

Latvian, Standard

[lvs] Unestablished. 2,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Lezgi

[lez] Unestablished. 5,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Lithuanian

[lit] Unestablished. 8,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Mari, Eastern

[mhr] Unestablished. 7,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Ossetic

[oss] Unestablished. 2,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 3,160 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 34,100 (2009 census).

Romanian

[ron] Unestablished. 23,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Turkmen

[tuk] Unestablished. 1,800 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Udmurt

[udm] Unestablished. 11,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).

Ukrainian

[ukr] Unestablished. 52,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 333,000 (2009 census).

Maps

Kazakhstan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Kazakhstan with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Kazakhstan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Kazakhstan with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Kazakhstan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Kazakhstan in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Kazakhstan ($149.95, 23 page PDF)

Kazakhstan

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Kazakhstan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action