KZ
Republic of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Summary
Official Name
Republic of Kazakhstan
International Conventions
CDE (2016), CSICH (2011), ICCPR (2006), UNCRPD (2015), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
18,551,000
Principal Languages
Kazakh, Russian
Literacy Rate
100% (2018 UNESCO)
General References
Campbell and King 2011, Sebeok 1963
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Kazakhstan is 15. All are living languages. Of these, 4 are indigenous and 11 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 9 are developing, 2 are in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 32 unestablished languages.
Languages
- Armenian, Western hyw
- Users: 16,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
- Avar ava
- Users: 1,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Avar-Andic, Avar
- Azerbaijani, North azj
- Users: 62,600 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 85,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
- Bashkort bak
- Aqtobe, Batys Qazaqstan, Qostanay, and Soltustik Qazaqstan regions: scattered. Users: 27,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
- Belarusian bel
- Users: 8,660 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 66,500 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Bulgarian bul
- Users: 7,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
- Chechen che
- Users: 24,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 31,400 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
- Chinese, Mandarin cmn
- Users: 4,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
- Chuvash chv
- Users: 14,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Bolgar
- Crimean Tatar crh
- Users: 1,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern
- Czech ces
- Users: 1,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
- Dargwa dar
- Users: 1,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Dargi
- Dungan dng
- Jambyl region: Korday and Jambyl districts. Users: 50,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2009 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Huizu Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
- English eng
- Scattered. Users: 1,870,900 in Kazakhstan, all users. L1 users: 900 in Kazakhstan (2017 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 1,870,000 (2009 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- Erzya myv
- Users: 18,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mordvin
- Estonian, Standard ekk
- Users: 2,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Finnic
- Georgian kat
- Users: 6,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
- German, Standard deu
- Akmola, East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, and Pavlodar regions. Users: 30,400 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 178,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch, Nemetskiy Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
- Greek ell
- Users: 14,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
- Ili Turki ili
- Scattered. Users: 120 in Kazakhstan (2001 J. Leclerc). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: T’urk, Taranchi, Tuerke Classification: Turkic, Eastern
- Ingush inh
- Scattered. Users: 20,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Ghalghaj Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
- Karachay-Balkar krc
- Users: 4,200 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian
- Karakalpak kaa
- Users: 1,800 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
- Kazakh kaz
- Widespread. Users: 9,980,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 10,100,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 12,695,140. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(1)). Alternate Names: Kaisak, Kazak, Kosach Autonym: казақ тілі (Qazaq tili), казақша (Qazaqşa) Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
- Komi-Permyak koi
- Users: 1,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Permian, Komi
- Korean kor
- Users: 36,100 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 100,000 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
- Kurdish, Northern kmr
- Users: 34,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 38,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
- Kyrgyz kir
- Users: 17,200 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 23,300 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
- Latvian, Standard lvs
- Users: 2,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
- Lezgi lez
- Users: 5,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic
- Lithuanian lit
- Users: 8,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
- Mari, Eastern mhr
- Users: 7,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mari
- Ossetic oss
- Users: 2,400 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern
- Plautdietsch pdt
- Almaty region: beyond Tashkent, China border area. Users: 39,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Low German Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
- Polish pol
- Users: 3,160 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 34,100 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
- Romani, Sinte rmo
- Major cities. Users: 6,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Manouche, Manuche, Romanes, Sinte, Sinti, Tsigane Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
- Romanian ron
- Users: 23,700 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
- Russian rus
- Akmola, East Kazakhstan, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and West Kazakhstan regions. Users: 16,800,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 World Factbook), all users. L1 users: 3,750,000 (2009 census). Ethnic population: 3,790,000 (2009 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(2)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Russian Sign Language rsl
- Scattered. Users: 56,000 in Kazakhstan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 37,000–74,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of the general population. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: RSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Tajik tgk
- Almaty, East Kazakhstan, Jambyl, and South Kazakhstan regions. Users: 33,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 36,300 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Tajiki Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
- Tatar tat
- Scattered. Users: 104,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 204,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
- Turkish tur
- Almaty, Jambyl, Kyzylorda, and South Kazakhstan regions. Users: 90,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 97,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Türkçe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
- Turkmen tuk
- Users: 1,800 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian
- Udmurt udm
- Users: 11,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Permian
- Ukrainian ukr
- Akmola, Aktobe, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and West Kazakhstan regions. Users: 52,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 333,000 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Uyghur uig
- Almaty region. Users: 191,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 225,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Novouygur, Uighur, Uiguir, Uygur Classification: Turkic, Eastern
- Uzbek, Northern uzn
- Jambyl and South Kazakhstan regions. Users: 436,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 457,000 (2009 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: oʻzbek, oʻzbek tili, oʻzbekcha Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Languages by Status
Kazakh
[kaz] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(1)). 9,980,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 10,100,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 12,695,140.
Russian
[rus] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(2)). 16,800,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 World Factbook), all users. L1 users: 3,750,000 (2009 census). Ethnic population: 3,790,000 (2009 census).
English
[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,870,900 in Kazakhstan, all users. L1 users: 900 in Kazakhstan (2017 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 1,870,000 (2009 census).
German, Standard
[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 30,400 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 178,000 (2009 census).
Ingush
[inh] 5* (Dispersed). 20,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).
Romani, Sinte
[rmo] 5* (Dispersed). 6,100 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).
Tatar
[tat] 5* (Dispersed). 104,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 204,000 (2009 census).
Tajik
[tgk] 5* (Dispersed). 33,500 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 36,300 (2009 census).
Turkish
[tur] 5* (Dispersed). 90,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 97,000 (2009 census).
Uyghur
[uig] 5* (Dispersed). 191,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 225,000 (2009 census).
Uzbek, Northern
[uzn] 5* (Dispersed). 436,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 457,000 (2009 census).
Russian Sign Language
[rsl] 5 (Developing). 56,000 in Kazakhstan (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 37,000–74,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of the general population.
Dungan
[dng] 7 (Shifting). 50,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2009 census).
Plautdietsch
[pdt] 7 (Shifting). 39,000 in Kazakhstan (Leclerc 2017e).
Ili Turki
[ili] 8a (Moribund). 120 in Kazakhstan (2001 J. Leclerc).
Kazakhstan
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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