Kazakhstan sees record share of Uzbek migrants in over decade

Kazakhstan is seeing a significant influx of migrants from Uzbekistan, with nearly half of the newcomers settling in the Almaty region.

Data from the First Credit Bureau indicate that 16,200 individuals have relocated to Kazakhstan for permanent residence since the beginning of the year. Of these, 8,300 — or 51% of all immigrants — came from Uzbekistan. This represents the highest share recorded for the January–September period in the past 12 years, and marks the first time since 2014 that migrants from Uzbekistan have accounted for more than half of all permanent-migration arrivals, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakh media.

“The increase compared to last year in absolute numbers was 11%, but the share rose by 15 percentage points. This is largely due to a decline in the total number of migrants entering the country. A year ago, there were 20,400 migrants; now there are 4,200 fewer. The main reductions are among Russian citizens (−47%, down to 3,100) and Mongolian citizens (−71%, down to 300),” the report notes.

Most migrants from Uzbekistan are ethnic Kazakhs. They primarily settle in the Almaty region (41%) and the Mangistau region (22%). Analysts note that this pattern mirrors the early 2010s, when Uzbekistan accounted for a similar share of Kazakhstan’s permanent-migration inflows, before declining sharply. In 2016, for instance, only 37% of new arrivals came from Uzbekistan.

Previous reports have highlighted that nearly one-third of migrants in Kazakhstan are employed without legal documentation. According to the International Organization for Migration, 27% of foreign workers are employed illegally, mostly originating from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Only 6% of migrants possess higher education qualifications.

Following the tightening of Russia’s migration policies, some labor migrants have opted to settle in Kazakhstan. Surveys indicate that certain migrants who were deported from Russia now work in Almaty. Many had not intended to remain in Kazakhstan long-term, instead using the country as a transit point en route to Europe.

By Vafa Guliyeva