Kazakhstan’s population tops 18 million

02.04.2018

The Kazakh population recently topped 18 million, according to figures released by the Ministry of National Economy statistics committee.

February data shows the number of residents increased 240,600 or 1.3 percent in 2017 over 2016, reaching approximately 18,177,700 people. Of those, 57.4 percent or 10,439,600, live in urban areas with 42.6 percent or 7,738,100 living in rural sections of the country.

The fertility exceeded mortality as the rate of natural increase is 13.83, it grew 13.1 percent and come to 21,500 in January comparing to the same period last year. The population of the capital is up to 1,035,500, increasing 0.3 percent since the beginning of the year, while the number of people living in Almaty increased 0.28 percent, reaching 1,806,800 in February.

The South Kazakhstan region remains the most populous with a population of 2,933,800. The population of the Almaty region was 2,019,300 people, according to Feb 1 data.

The number of births in January exceeded last year figures by 4.4 percent amounting to 33,300. The birth rate is equal to 21.42.

Statistics show 317 infants under the age of one died in Kazakhstan in January. The infant mortality rate increased 7.1 percent compared to the same period in 2017.

The main reason for infant mortality is the conditions that arise in the prenatal period. The figure indicates 146 infants died in January which was 46.1 percent of the overall number of deaths among infants. Another cause of infant death is congenital anomalies with 20.2 percent (64). The number of infants who died from respiratory diseases is 29 or 9.1 percent, and 3.5 percent (11) died from poisonings and injuries accidents. The infant mortality rate was 9.53 in January.

The number of registered migrants who came to the country in January compared to the previous year decreased 9.2 percent and amounted to 1,360 people according to statistics from the national migration services. The number of emigrants increased 34.9 percent, reaching 2,258 people. As a result, net migration is equal to minus 898 people.

The main cross-border migration exchange occurs with Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. The share who arrived from CIS countries is 78.1 percent while 86.7 percent of those who left Kazakhstan moved to CIS.

The percentage of interregional migrants was 33.3 percent totalling 1,058 people in Astana, 3,549 in Almaty as well as registered in Akmola and Mangistau region with 157 and 26 people.

Reported by the Astana Times.