THESTUDY OF THE ETHNIC GROUPS OF KOSTANAY REGION

AT THE PRESENT STAGE

T. Tanibayev, graduate student

S. A. Turezhanova, candidate of science, associate professor – the research supervisor

A. BaitursynovKostanai State University

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world by land area,however itis one of the most sparsely populated countries. Despite the population density that is 6 people per square kilometer the country is multinational.There were demographic processes in the territory of Kazakhstan for a long time which formed the ethnic structure of the country.

We would like to consider the issue through the example of an administratively - territorial unit of the Republic of Kazakhstan.Kostanay region as one of northern areas of Kazakhstan is very picturesque byits ethnic structure. There are more than hundred nationalities and ethnic groupsin the territory of this region. The population estimate of the region is 882 018 peopleas reported in the census from October 1, 2010. According to the census 2009 ethnic Russians represent 42,98%, Kazakhs - 37,14%, Ukrainians — 9,58%, Germans - 3,16%, Tatars - 1,92%, Belarusians - 1,71% and other nationalities - 3,51%. The population density – 4,5people per square kilometer [1, page 33]. Kostanay, Rudny and Lissakovsk are the most densely-populated among the cities andthe least arethe southern regions of the area, in which density makes from 0,4 to 0,8 people per square km [1, c.34].

Coming back to history it is necessary to recollect a number of events which formed such mixed ethnic structure of the population of Kostanay region. So thanks to Soviet "national policy" 1930s 15 thousand families ofthe Polish and German nationalities (about 65 thousand people) were moved from Ukraine, in the territory neighbouring to the Polish border, in Northern regions of Kazakhstan and to the Karaganda region. In September, 1937 on the basis of the resolution of the Central Committee of Communist party "About eviction of the Korean population from the borders of Far East", 172 thousand ethnic Koreans were deported from the border regions of the Far East to undeveloped virgin regions of northern and central Kazakhstan (in particular in the territory ofKostanay region). During the Great Patriotic War in 1943-1944 mass deportations of Kalmyks, Ingushs, Chechens, Karachays, Balkars, the Crimean Tatars, Nogais, Meskhetian Turks, the Pontic Greeks, Bulgarians, the Crimean Roma, Kurds in the territory of Kazakhstan began. It is necessary to note such a historical event as "Virgin land campaign". As a result,there were about six million Russians, Ukrainians. About six million Russians and Ukrainians from RSFSR and USSR stayed in Kazakhstan.

The end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90sof the last century is possibly the peak of a variety of ethnic structure of Kostanay region. Thus,giving an interview to the “StolichnoyeObozreniye” newspaper one of leading demographers of Kazakhstan M.Tatissovpointed out that Kazakhstan is some kind of incubator of union friendship of peoples.

The collapse of the Union State became the crucial moment of thedevelopment of Kostanay region and the whole country. Political, economic and related connections between the republics were broken for a short time. All these factors couldn't affect the demography of the region, and therefore, the ethnic structure. From 1991 for 1999 8 705, 8 thousand people participated in a migration turnover of Kazakhstan, 60,7% of them left[1, c.40]. The main outflow of the population took place in Kostanay region where the qualitative ethnic structure sharply changedfor a short time. Comparatively, high migration turnover is observed with the states with which historically developed close connections are supported. So, for the first eight years of Kazakhstan independence 19,4% non-indigenous nationalitiesemigratedfrom our region to the closest regions of Russia. The bulk of a human stream goes to Russia 68%, Ukraine – 9,7% [1, page 44]. It should be noted that the states which gave mass inflow of labor in the recent past – Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, became the reasons of migratory departure of the populationfor our region.

We shouldn't forget about the small ethnic groups which occupy our region. So, from 1991 to 1999 (the main peak of emigration) the majority of Germans went to Germanyon the permanent residence, so during this period 263,4 thousand Germans left Kazakhstan 29,2% of which are from Kostanay region [1, page 45]. It should be noted that during this period of mass emigration there was a little tendency of a reemigration of Germans to Kazakhstan in particular to Kostanay region. In 1995 – 0,5%, in 1996 – 0,8%, in 1999 1% [2] emigrants came back. However, since the 2000s the tendency to a decrease of the German diaspora steadily increases inKostanay region. From the 2000s to 2007 the number of Germans reduced from 52 617 people to 33 680. The part of the German diaspora towards other ethnic groups reduced from 5, 32% to 3, 74%. [1, page 46]

Alongside with Germans the numerous diaspora as Tatars left our region. If in the 90sof the last centuryrepresentatives of the Tatar diaspora unwillingly left their places, thenin terms of the first decade of 21^st century2094 people left the regionthat makes 1,96% of total [1, page 48].

Thus,the process of formation of ethnic groups of Kostanay region is not yet finished.

References:

1 .Demographic year-book of Kostanayregion.Kostanay: Department of Statistics of Kostanay region. 2013. 8-9 pages.

2 .Kuanyshbayev S. B. Demographic and Migratory Processes of Kostanay region Alma-Ata: IRK, 2008. 16-19 pages.

3 . The Forecast of Demographic Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan till 2015. Alma-Ata: IRK, 1996. 32 pages.