Kyrgyzstan - small Central Asian state, about which we know very little.What is the population of Kyrgyzstan today?What ethnic groups living on its territory?These questions are revealed in this article.
population of Kyrgyzstan, and the dynamics of its growth
Kyrgyz Republic (or Kyrgyzstan) - a small country in the heart of Asia, sandwiched between China and Kazakhstan.In the demographic, cultural and ethnic terms, the country is unusual and interesting.
How many population in Kyrgyzstan live in today?And what is its ethnic structure?Let's try to answer these questions.
How many people live in Kyrgyzstan?The counter of the population of the country at the beginning of 2015 stood at 5.9 million.A surprising aspect of Kyrgyzstan is that there is still a large part of the population lives in rural areas (60%).Thus, urbanization processes, dominant throughout the modern world can not subjugate the small Central Asian country.
In Kyrgyzstan, there are only 51 towns.But not one of them is not the cities.The largest of them - Bishkek (the state capital), Osh, Jalal-Abad, Karakol and Tokmok.
It is worth noting that in the capital, Bishkek, is estimated by demographers, home to half of the total urban population of Kyrgyzstan.According to various estimates, the city has a population of 600 to 900 thousand people.This run-up in the figures is due to an incorrect view of the citizens, which is characteristic of the modern Kyrgyz Republic.
Population of Kyrgyzstan over the past half-century has more than doubled and continues to increase.Over the past year the total increase in the population amounted to about 250 thousand people.The main reason for this was high fertility rates.
most populated in Kyrgyzstan is Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts.
ethnic composition of the population of the republic
population of Kyrgyzstan has a rather complex ethnic structure.It should be noted that until 1985 the Kirghiz were the predominant ethnic group in this country.The fact is that during the Soviet era in its borders included the territory, where historically lived other nations (primarily Uzbek and Russian).By the mid-twentieth century, Kyrgyz accounted for only 40% of the total population.
But over time, the number of Kyrgyz was rapidly increasing.During the period from 1959 to 2009, their total number in the country increased by 2.5 times.
Today, the top ten people of Kyrgyzstan (in numbers) as follows:
- Kyrgyz, 71%.
- Uzbeks, 14%.
- Russian, 7.8%.
- Dungans 1.1%.
- Uighurs 0.9%.
- Tajiks, 0.8%.
- Turks, 0.7%.
- Kazakhs, 0.6%.
- Tatars, 0.6%.
- Ukrainians, 0.4%.
worth noting that Kyrgyzstan's ethnic structure prevalent in all areas, as well as in the capital, where their share is about 70 percent.Uzbeks living in Kyrgyzstan is quite compact, concentrating in two cities - Osh and Uzgen.
Interethnic conflicts
Inter-ethnic relations within the country can be described as tense and unstable.They are distinguished by a rather large conflict potential, which at times manifested in street riots and clashes between different ethnic groups.
Thus, most major conflicts on ethnic grounds arose in the country in 1990 (the so-called Osh Massacre) in 2010.
Ethnic conflicts in Kyrgyzstan are usually caused by several factors.Among them:
- shortage of land resources (for example, it was the root cause of the land of the Osh conflict of 1990, which claimed at least 1,200 lives);
- a deep economic crisis and mass unemployment;
- insufficient presence of national minorities in the state apparatus of government.
migration processes in Kyrgyzstan
population of Kyrgyzstan is actively migrating from rural to urban areas, where there is at least some chance of finding a job.Most often it is the young people who could not get enough education.But to get to the big city for them is often very difficult.As a result - rising unemployment and crime.Active Kyrgyz migration from rural to urban areas (mainly in Bishkek) started in the early 90s and continues to this day.
In addition, many residents leave Kyrgyzstan and abroad.The main purpose of the emigrants in this case is Moscow and other major Russian cities.
worth mentioning one more consequence of the collapse of the Soviet Union for that State.In the early 90-ies of Kyrgyzstan began to leave en masse of its non-indigenous citizens, particularly Russian and Ukrainians.
Russian diaspora in Kyrgyzstan
In the Kyrgyz Republic is quite strong Russian diaspora.Even despite the fact that in comparison with 1989 the number of Russian in the country declined three-fold.
Russian population in Kyrgyzstan is concentrated mainly in Chui and Issyk-Kul oblast and Bishkek.But in Osh, dominated by Uzbek, Russian is not quite accustomed.
Anyway, there is no discrimination against the Russian in Kyrgyzstan there.The Russian language is freely used in schools and universities of Kyrgyzstan and in Bishkek even acting Russian Drama Theatre.
In conclusion
Kyrgyz Republic - a small country in Central Asia, where there are 5.9 million people.The population of Kyrgyzstan is characterized by a rather complicated ethnic structure.This in turn manifests itself in acute ethnic conflicts which periodically flashes in this country.
