Astrakhan Kazakhs

Astrakhan Kazakhs (Russian: Астраханские казахи, Kazakh: астрахандық қазақтар) 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 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.

Astrakhan Kazakhs
Астрахан қазақтары
Total population
200,586
Regions with significant populations
Astrakhan Oblast149,415[1]
Volgograd Oblast46,223[1]
Republic of Kalmykia4,948[1]
Languages
Kazakh, Russian
Religion
Islam, other (including atheism)

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.

Astrakhan dialects of Russian are noticeably influenced by Kazakh and differ considerably from the Central Russian spoken in Moscow and its surroundings.

References
  1. Ethnic composition of Russia's federal subjects Census 2010
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