Analysts Record a Sharp Surge in Immigration From China to Kazakhstan
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At the end of 2025, Kazakhstan recorded a sharp increase in immigration from China. A total of 2,600 people moved to Kazakhstan to obtain permanent residency, Orda.kz reports.
This represents a 29% increase compared with the previous period. It is also the highest figure recorded in the past eight years. The chart below shows how immigration from China to Kazakhstan has changed since 2000.
Immigration from China has remained at an elevated level for the second consecutive year, analysts noted. The figure has continued to rise sharply after hitting a long-term low of just 249 people in 2021.
Analysts also pointed out that a similar pattern has been observed before. The previous record of 3,000 people was also reached after a series of sharp increases following a noticeable decline.
At the same time, according to the analysts, historical data show that immigration levels in 2005–2010 were more than 50% higher than the current figure. The largest gap — 2.4 times higher — was recorded in 2008, when 6,300 Chinese citizens moved to Kazakhstan for permanent residency.
Almost all those who arrived from China in 2025 — 99% of the total — are ethnic Kazakhs. In 70% of cases, their place of permanent residence was Almaty and nearby regions: Almaty and Zhetysu. Another quarter settled in Astana. Based on this, it can be assumed that most immigrants prefer not to apply for kandas status. Otherwise, that status would oblige ethnic Kazakhs to settle strictly in eight regions of Kazakhstan: four northern, two eastern, and two western. the analysts added.
In total, by the end of 2025, 23,800 people had moved to Kazakhstan for permanent residence. Alongside China, Uzbekistan and Russia were among the leading countries of origin, with 11,800 and 4,700 people respectively.
Compared with 2024, the number of immigrants from Uzbekistan declined slightly. In the case of immigrants from Russia, the drop was much more significant — 41%.
Original author: Alexander Smolin
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