Why Are Kazakhstanis Leaving Southern Regions In Large Numbers?
Photo: pixabay
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
Read also:
Latest news
- Kazakhstan’s People’s Party Gets New Leader Ahead Of Kurultai Elections
- Kazakhstan To Check All Plastic Surgery Clinics After Patient Deaths
- Kazakhstan Proposes Extending Beef Export Limits For Another Six Months
- Almaty To Open Public Debate On Ecology In New Master Plan
- Kyrgyzstan Gasoline Shortage Raises Smuggling Risk For Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan Meets Most Food Needs But Import Gaps Remain
- Kazakhstan May Require Younger Students To Hand In Smartphones During Classes
- Is Kazakhstan’s New Adilet Party Entering Atameken’s Field With Its Own Business Council?
- National Bank Says Digital Tenge Is Helping Kazakhstan Track Public Spending
- Kazakhstan Made New Tenge Bills Smaller To Fit Wallets And Cut Costs
- Kazakhstan Could Host One-Gigawatt AI Data Center From Singaporean Investor
- Kazakhstan Says Gas Supplies Are Stable After Karachaganak Output Cut
- Every Child in Kazakhstan Has Earned $370 From the National Fund
- UAE and Kazakhstan Sign Mutual Driver's License Recognition Deal
- Kazakhstan Updates Subsidies for Green Vehicle Producers
- West Kazakhstan To Spend Billions On Waste: What Will Change By 2030?
- EAEU May Extend Zero Fuel Duties as Russian Refineries Struggle
- Kazakhstan Bans Electric Scooters From Sidewalks
- Open Competition Now Required for Airport Commercial Space in Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan Completes Key Drilling Stage for Caspian Underwater Internet Cable
