What Languages Do They Speak In Kazakhstan?

Explore the languages spoken in Kazakhstan on an interactive map.

Kazakhstan Languages: Quick FactsKazakhstan flag

Languages

2

Kazakh, Russian

Population

19,000,000

Cost of living

~ $1270

Index: 25.4

Safety / crime index

Moderate

Crime Index: 46.4

Language Spoken in Kazakhstan Percentage

LanguagePercentagePopulation
Russian
83.7%15,903,000
KazakhOfficial
80.1%15,219,000

Do They Speak English in Kazakhstan?

English proficiency

Very Low

Ranked #99 on the EF English Proficiency Index.

In short

English is unlikely to be reliable across much of Kazakhstan outside tourist-focused contexts. Knowing some Kazakh is highly recommended for smoother day-to-day interactions.

FAQ

Kazakhstan Language FAQ

Short answers to common questions about the main languages, English usage, and communication in Kazakhstan.

  • People in Kazakhstan speak Kazakh, Russian.

    Russian is the most widely spoken language.

  • Russian is spoken by about 83.7% of the population in Kazakhstan.

    That corresponds to roughly 15,903,000 people.

  • Not reliably. Outside a few international or tourist settings, you should expect to need some Kazakh.

What languages do they speak in Kazakhstan?

People in Kazakhstan speak Kazakh, Russian.

Russian is the most widely spoken language.

How widely spoken is Russian in Kazakhstan?

Russian is spoken by about 83.7% of the population in Kazakhstan.

That corresponds to roughly 15,903,000 people.

Can you get by with English in Kazakhstan?

Not reliably. Outside a few international or tourist settings, you should expect to need some Kazakh.

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