Why Are Kazakhstanis Leaving Southern Regions In Large Numbers?

Residents are leaving Turkestan, Zhambyl, Zhetysu and Kyzylorda regions in large numbers, with most moving to Astana, Almaty and Shymkent, Orda.kz reports.

There is a mass outflow of population from four regions of Kazakhstan at once. Most of all, 42,649 people left Turkestan region. A significant number of residents also left:

• Zhambyl region — 21,179 people;
• Zhetysu — 13,018;
• Kyzylorda — 11,913.

At the same time, internal migration is growing across the country. The number of people moving within Kazakhstan increased by 13.6% compared with the same period in 2024.

A positive balance of interregional migration was recorded in four regions. Most people moved to Astana — 87,459. The population also actively moved to:

• Almaty — 12,110 people;
• Shymkent — 15,130;
• Almaty region — 33,126.

According to statistics, from January to December 2025, 23,761 people arrived in Kazakhstan, while 7,608 left the country. Net migration growth amounted to 16,153 people. Compared with 2024, the number of arrivals fell by 20.7%, while the number of departures dropped by 40.5%.

At the same time, Kazakhstan’s main migration exchange is with CIS countries. A total of 81.8% of all arrivals came from those states, while 71.8% of those who left chose them as their destination.

Economist Rakhimbek Abdrakhmanov named economic factors as the decisive reason for moving. In his opinion, the main motives are higher salaries, a stronger level of economic development in the destination region or country, career opportunities, access to quality healthcare and lower corruption.

If we compare migration with the economic situation in the regions, an important pattern becomes noticeable: most often, people leave those regions that are more dependent on transfers from the republican budget.the expert said. 

Original author: Raushan Korzhumbekova

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