Demographics of Central Asia

The ethnolinguistic patchwork of Central Asia in 1992
Map of the Countries of Central Asia, Afghanistan, The Caspian Sea, and Surrounding Countries

Central Asia is a diverse land with many ethnic groups, languages, religions and tribes. The nations which make up Central Asia are five of the former Soviet republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which have a total population of about 68 million.[1] Afghanistan is not always considered part of the region, but when it is, Central Asia has a total population of about 101 million (2016).[2] Additionally, Pakistan has a large population of central Asian peoples even though it is not categorized as a central Asian nation.[3] Most central Asians belong to religions which were introduced to the area within the last 1,500 years, such as Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Ismaili Islam, Tengriism, and Syriac Christianity.[4] Buddhism, however, was introduced to Central Asia over 2,200 years ago, and Zoroastrianism, over 2,500 years ago.[5]

Ethnic groups

The below are demographic data on the ethnic groups in Central Asia [6]

Ethnic Group Center of population in Central Asia Total roughly estimated population in Central Asia
Uzbek Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan 29,000,000
Tajik Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Northern Afghanistan. It includes the Pamiri people, who are officially categorized as Tajiks in Tajikistan. 25,000,000
Kazakh Kazakhstan 16,500,000
Kyrgyz Kyrgyzstan 4,100,000
Russians Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan 4,000,000 [7][8][9][10]
Ukrainian Northern Kazakhstan 250,000 [11][12][13]
Turkmen Turkmenistan 6,500,000
Volga German Kazakhstan 200,000[14][15]
Uyghur Northwest China, Eastern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan 13,000,000
Dungan or Hui Northwest China, Kyrgyzstan 10,500,000
Bukharian Jew Uzbekistan 1,000
British People[16] Afghanistan or perhaps Kazakhstan 1,500-2,000
Tatar Uzbekistan 700,000
Karakalpaks North western Uzbekistan 500,000
Bashkirs Kazakhstan 30,000
Meskhetian Turks Kazakhstan 200,000
Armenians Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 100,000
Altai Northern Kazakhstan 10,000
Pashtun Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan 12,500,000
Hazara Central Afghanistan 3,500,000
Aimak Central and Northwest Afghanistan 1,500,000
Nuristani Far eastern and northern Afghanistan 200,000+
Belarusians Northern Kazakhstan 100,000-200,000 [17]
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
Chuvash's Northern Kazakhstan 35,000

Religion

Religion[18] Approximate population Center of population
Sunni Islam 28,000,000 Southern Central Asia (most dense in Afghanistan)
Buddhism 17,000,000 Mongolia, Russia, China, 260,000 people in Kazakhstan and Afghanistan; (Mongols, Koreans, Daur, Mongour, Tungusic peoples, Tibetans, Tuvans, Yugur)
Eastern Christianity 7,000,000 Northern Kazakhstan
Western Christianity 510,000 Kazakhstan
Judaism 27,500 Uzbekistan
Shia Islam 4,000,000 Hazaras, Central Afghanistan
Atheism and Irreligion 2,500,000 -? Millions throughout the region
Zoroastrianism 10,000 Historically Afghanistan

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Population Pyramids of the World from 1950 to 2100". PopulationPyramid.net. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  2. ↑ "Population Pyramids of the World from 1950 to 2100". PopulationPyramid.net. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  3. ↑ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
  4. ↑ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
  5. ↑ http://www.duke.edu/~jds17/zoroast.html
  6. ↑ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  14. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  15. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  16. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/asia.stm
  17. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  18. ↑ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.