How many Kazakhs have returned to their historical homeland since 1991
Tengrinews.kz - The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population has reported how many Kazakhs have returned to their historical homeland since 1991.
According to the ministry, a total of 4,427 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to Kazakhstan and obtained kandas status since the beginning of 2025.
“More than 1.152 million ethnic Kazakhs have returned to their historical homeland since 1991,” the ministry reported.
In 2024 alone, 18,035 ethnic Kazakhs were granted kandas status, bringing the total number of returnees since independence to approximately 1.146 million by the end of last year.
This means that nearly 5,600 people have received the status between December 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025 — an increase of about 0.5 percent.
Where the kandas return from: Geography of resettlementSo far in 2025, most ethnic Kazakhs have returned from the following countries:
China – 45.8%
Uzbekistan – 40.9%
Turkmenistan – 5.4%
Mongolia – 3%
Russia – 2.3%
Other countries – 2.6%
Who is returning: The profile of a modern kandas
As of May 1, 2025, 59.7 percent of returnees are of working age, 31.9 percent are underage, and 8.4 percent are retirees.
Among those of working age:
17.4% have higher education,26.8% have vocational secondary education,53.6% have general secondary education,2.2% have no formal education.
Regions especially in need of kandas
Ethnic Kazakhs have settled across various regions, with a focus on labor-deficit areas such as Akmola, Abai, Kostanay, Pavlodar, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan regions. For 2025, the settlement quota for these regions is set at 2,309 people.
Kandas families moving to these designated regions are eligible for government support. This includes a one-time relocation subsidy of 70 MCI (approximately 275,200 tenge) per family member, as well as monthly housing and utility allowances of 15 to 30 MCI (about 59,000 to 118,000 tenge) for up to one year.
Read also: New relocation rules for repatriates developed in Kazakhstan