Urbanisation accelerates "disappearance" of Kazakhstani villages

An increasing trend of urbanisation and the sustained migration of populations have significantly reduced the number of villages across Kazakhstan, with 2025 alone seeing the elimination of 83 settlements.

Analysts emphasise that the disappearance of rural settlements is not a recent development and has been unfolding for roughly 25 years. In the past few years, however, the pace has intensified markedly, according to figures from Kazakhstan’s National Statistics Bureau, as cited by local media outlets.

Between 2020 and 2022, 46 villages were dissolved, but that figure surged to 199 over the 2023–2025 period. Altogether, the country has lost about 1,800 rural settlements since records began, leaving approximately 6,100 villages remaining nationwide.

The 2025 contraction was concentrated largely in three northern regions — North Kazakhstan, Akmola and Pavlodar — which together accounted for around 80% of the overall reduction. In these regions, 68 villages were eliminated; the 2021 census recorded just 1,500 residents across them, 4.4 times fewer than in 2009. In 62 of the 68 settlements, the population did not exceed 50 people.

Growing depopulation has been the primary factor behind these closures. Under Kazakh law, settlements may be abolished if their population remains below 50 for three consecutive years. The procedure involves removing the village from the official registry and incorporating it into a neighbouring larger settlement. Formally, authorities are required to take residents’ views into account before making a final decision.

As of last year, rural population growth was recorded only in the Almaty, Atyrau and Mangystau regions.

By Nazrin Sadigova