RETURN MIGRATION OF ETHNIC KAZAKHS TO KAZAKHSTAN (1991-2025): EVOLUTION OF STATE POLICY AND CONTEMPORARY DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of the state policy on the return migration of ethnic Kazakhs to the Republic of Kazakhstan during the period from 1991 to 2025. The relevance of the research is determined by the growing role of repatriation in the implementation of the country's demographic policy, the strengthening of its ethno-demographic potential, and the improvement of migration governance mechanisms. The study aims to identify the main stages in the development of state policy on the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs, determine the contemporary trends in return migration, and assess its impact on Kazakhstan's demographic development.

The article analyzes the dynamics of the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs throughout the years of independence, changes in the geography of countries of origin, settlement patterns of kandas, and the transformation of the priorities of Kazakhstan's state migration policy. The findings demonstrate that more than 1.1 million ethnic Kazakhs returned to their historical homeland during the study period, making a significant contribution to changes in the country's ethnic composition and strengthening its human capital. The study also shows that the current stage of repatriation policy is characterized by a decline in the scale of migration compared with the early 2000s, changes in the structure and geography of migration flows, and increased government attention to the social adaptation, integration, and balanced regional settlement of kandas. It is concluded that the current state policy is focused not on increasing the volume of migration but on the effective utilization of the demographic and labor potential of repatriates in support of the country's sustainable socio-economic development.