Astrakhan Kazakhs
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 200,586 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Astrakhan Oblast | 149,415[1] |
| Volgograd Oblast | 46,223[1] |
| Republic of Kalmykia | 4,948[1] |
| Languages | |
| Kazakh, Russian | |
| Religion | |
| Islam, other (including atheism) | |
Astrakhan Kazakhs are people of Kazakh ethnicity originating from or living in the historically Central Asian city and region of Astrakhan in South-Western Russia. The Kazakhs of the neighboring regions of Volgograd and Kalmykia share history and culture with Astrakhan Kazakhs and are often considered a part of them. They are are the second biggest ethnic group in Astrakhan Oblast, making up about 16% of its population. Their demographic situation is stable and their number and percentage are growing, unlike those of many other population groups including ethnic Russians.
Language
Astrakhan Kazakhs generally speak Western dialects of the Kazakh language, but in bigger villages and towns language shift to Russian is becoming more and more common. Many rural schools offer standard Kazakh as a non-mandatory subject, using textbooks imported from Kazakhstan.
References
- ^ a b c Ethnic composition of Russia's federal subjects Census 2010