According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, a total of 1.14 million ethnic Kazakhs have resettled in Kazakhstan since 1991. This year alone, the majority of kandas arrivals came from China (45.9%), Uzbekistan (39.2%), Mongolia (5.8%), Turkmenistan (5.2%), Russia (2.8%), and other countries (1.1%).
Demographics and Settlement
As of November 1, 2024, the demographic breakdown of kandas shows 57.4% are of working age, 33.2% are minors, and 9.4% are retirees. Among the working-age population, 17.8% hold higher education qualifications, 24.8% have specialized secondary education, 54.4% possess general secondary education, and 3% lack formal education. These individuals have settled across various regions of the country.
The government has identified labor-deficient areas, including Akmola, Abay, Kostanay, Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan regions, as priority locations for resettlement. In 2024, a quota was set to resettle 3,033 kandas in these areas, with 2,841 already relocated by November.
Support Measures for Resettlement
Resettling kandas receive financial support, including a one-time relocation subsidy of 70 MCI (approximately 258,400 tenge) per family member. Additional monthly payments for housing and utility costs range from 15 to 30 MCI (55,300 to 110,700 tenge) for one year.
So far this year, 2,390 kandas have benefited from various support measures, with 763 individuals securing permanent employment.
New Resettlement Initiatives
To enhance voluntary resettlement, the government has introduced an Economic Mobility Certificate. This initiative provides funds for housing purchases, construction, or mortgage down payments, covering up to 50% of housing costs or a maximum of 4.28 million tenge per family.
Additionally, a pilot project streamlining the process of obtaining kandas status through Kazakhstan’s embassies abroad has been successful. This “one-stop shop” approach allows ethnic Kazakhs to resolve employment, housing, and status documentation issues without entering Kazakhstan. To date, 21,166 applications have been processed through this system.
These efforts reflect Kazakhstan’s ongoing commitment to supporting ethnic Kazakhs returning to their ancestral homeland.
