Implications of new data from the Northern and Eastern regions of Kazakhstan suggest a rise in Islamic religiosity

1. Patterns of Islamic Religiosity in Kazakhstan:
Implications of new data from the Northern and
Eastern regions
Reuel R. Hanks and Giovanni Penna
Dept. Of Geography, Oklahoma State University

2. Post Soviet Central Asia
Central Asian countries had experienced severe religious oppression
leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Kazakhstan, even with its current government, has continued to suppress
religious freedom—particularly Islam.
-Today this is true due to paranoia surrounding Muslim citizens
being recruited by the terrorist organization ISIS.
Despite the governments attempts to stagnate Islam in Kazakhstan,
there has been a slow trend leaning towards more traditional Islamic
views that are similarly held in the Middle East.

3. Survey Questions and Purpose
Questions
• What is your age group?
• What is your gender?
• What is your nationality?
• Do you consider yourself: Muslim, Christian,
other
• What religion influences your moral
orientation?
• What Holy scripture do you have in the
home?
• What faiths should be taught in education if
any?
Number of Survey Participants
Northern Region: 61 Participants
Eastern Region: 30 Participants
No Region: 7 participants
Purpose of Survey
To understand religiosity of the
population in the northern and eastern
regions of Kazakhstan.
• This includes understanding
demographics such as nationality,
religious association, ownership
of scripture and theology.

4. Survey Demographics
49
47
Gender
Male
Female
90
3
2 1
Nationality
Kazakh
Russian
84
11
1
Age Distribution
16-20
21-25
26-30

5. Scripture Ownership
61
6
11
15
Quran
Bible
None
Other
During the Soviet Era in Central
Asia, the ownership and distribution
of the Quran was all but outlawed.
The Post-Soviet influence on the
suppression of religion is still
prominent today.
Despite government intervention,
the ownership of the Quran
amongst the younger Kazakh
generation is higher than it has ever
been after the collapse of the Soviet
Union.

6. Faith Taught in School
39
4
3
43
44
10
Islam
Russian Orthodox
Roman Catholic
Buddhism
Hinduism
The Northern and Eastern
regions of Kazakhstan
historically have had the
highest populations of
peoples that identify as
Russian.
A combination of migration
and the gradual return of
Islam amongst the Kazakh
people has lead to an
increase in the desire for
Islam to be in the education
system.

7. Faith Being Taught in Schools Based
on Gender
19
412
15
Islam Taught in School Based on Gender
Northern Region
Yes/Men
Yes/Women
No/Men
8
54
9
Islam Taught in School Based on Gender Eastern
Region
Yes/Men
Yes/Women
No/Men
In the northern region of
Kazakhstan there is a clear
difference in opinion on Islam
being taught in schools
between men and women.
The eastern region exhibits more
men than women favoring Islam
being taught in women, but a
more equal representation exists.

8. Analysis of the Religiosity in
Kazakhstan
Based on the survey group, the population of Kazakhstan has
developed into a majorly Kazak state since the end of the Cold war.
Religiosity has increased significantly, even as the Kazak
government actively suppresses there people.
Although the surveyed population identified themselves almost
unanimously as Muslim, the desire to have religion Islam taught in
school remains low. Religion to be taught in schools are highest
amongst the male population and low amongst females.
Significant Changes
• Complete flip in nationality
distribution in the eastern
region.
• Slow and gradual change from
Russian majority to Kazak
plurality in the northern
region.
• Desire for Islam to be taught
in school increasing in
previously unreligious
populations.