View source for Religion in Kazakhstan

[[Image:Mechet pavlodar.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Mosque in [[Pavlodar]], Kazakhstan; Kazakhs predominately follow [[Sunni Islam]]]]

{{Pie chart
|thumb=right
|caption=Religions in Kazakhstan (2009)<ref name="EthnicData">{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Documents/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%86%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2.rar |title=Archived copy |accessdate=July 24, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511000000/http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Documents/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%86%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2.rar |archivedate=May 11, 2011 }}</ref>
|label1 = [[Islam]]
|value1 = 70.20
|color1 = Green
|label2 = [[Christianity in Kazakhstan|Christianity]]
|value2 = 26.32
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = Other religions
|value3 = 0.14
|color3 = Yellow
|label4 = Not religious
|value4 = 2.87
|color4 = Honeydew
|label5 = NA
|value5 = 0.51
|color5 = Black
}}

The majority of [[Kazakhstan]]'s citizens are [[Sunni]] of the [[Hanafi]] school, traditionally including ethnic Kazakhs, who constitute about 63.6% of the population, as well as ethnic Uzbeks, Uighurs, and Tatars.<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628101359/http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Pages/n_04_02_10.aspx |date=June 28, 2010 |title=Итоги переписи населения Республики Казахстан 2009 года }}. stat.kz. 4 February 2010.</ref><ref name=IRFR>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2010/148793.htm Kazakhstan – International Religious Freedom Report 2010] U.S. Department of State. Retrieved on 13 January 2011.</ref> Less than 1% are part of the [[Shafi`i]] (primarily [[Chechens]]) and [[Shi'a]].<ref name=IRFR/> There are a total of 2,300 mosques,<ref name=kazakhrel >[http://www.religions-congress.org/content/view/151/35/lang,english/ Religious Situation Review in Kazakhstan] Congress of World Religions. Retrieved on 2009-09-07.</ref> all of them affiliated with the "Spiritual Association of Muslims of Kazakhstan", headed by a supreme [[mufti]].<ref>[http://www.religions-congress.org/content/view/121/35/lang,english/ Islam in Kazakhstan] Retrieved on 2009-09-07.</ref> The [[Eid al-Adha]] is recognized as a national holiday.<ref name=kazakhrel/>

Less than 25% of the population of Kazakhstan is Russian Orthodox, traditionally including ethnic Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians.<ref name=IRFR/> Other Christian groups include [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], [[Protestantism|Protestants]] ([[Baptists]], [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterians]], [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]], [[Methodism|Methodists]], [[Mennonites]] and [[Seventh-day Adventism|Seventh-day Adventists]]), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Mormons]].<ref name=IRFR/> There are a total of 265 registered Orthodox churches, 93 Roman Catholic churches, and 543 Protestant churches and prayer houses.<ref name=IRFR/> [[Christmas]], rendered in the Russian Orthodox manner according to the [[Julian calendar]], is recognized as a national holiday in Kazakhstan.<ref name=kazakhrel/>

Other religious registered groups include [[Judaism]], the [[Bahá'í Faith]], [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], the [[Church of Scientology]], [[Christian Science]], and the [[Unification Church]].<ref name=IRFR/>

The country is multiethnic, with a long tradition of tolerance and secularism.{{Citation needed|date=June 2012}} Since independence, the number of mosques and churches has increased greatly.<ref name=IRFR/> However, the population is sometimes wary of minority religious groups and groups that proselytize.<ref name=IRFR/> There were several reports of citizens filing complaints with authorities after their family members became involved with such groups.<ref name=IRFR/> Leaders of the four religious groups the government considers "traditional" – Islam, Russian Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Judaism – reported general acceptance and tolerance that other religious groups did not always enjoy.<ref name=IRFR/>

==Religious history==
The country has historically hosted a wide variety of ethnic groups with varying religions. Tolerance to other societies has become a part of the Kazakh culture. The foundation of an independent republic, following the disintegration of the USSR, has launched a great deal of changes in every aspect of people's lives. Religiosity of the population, as an essential part of any cultural identity, has undergone dynamic transformations as well.

After decades of suppressed culture, the people were feeling a great need to exhibit their ethnic identity – in part through religion. Quantitative research shows that for the first years after the establishment of the new laws, waiving any restrictions on religious beliefs and proclaiming full freedom of confessions, the country experienced a huge spike in religious activity of its citizens. Hundreds of mosques, synagogues, churches, and other religious structures were built in a matter of years. All represented religions benefited from increased number of members and facilities. Many confessions that were absent before independence made their way into the country, appealing to hundreds of people. The government supported this activity, and has done its best to provide equality among all religious organizations and their followers. In the late 1990s, however, a slight decline in religiosity occurred.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} The draft religion law being considered in June 2008 has raised international concern over whether there is an intention to meet general standards of freedom of religion and human rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1141|title=KAZAKHSTAN: Restrictive draft Religion Law to reach full parliament tomorrow|last=Bayram|first=Mushfig|date=2008-06-10|publisher=Forum 18|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref>

==Faiths==

===Islam===
{{main|Islam in Kazakhstan}}
[[File:KazakhstanP20-200Tenge-1999-donatedoy f.jpg|thumb|[[Islamic philosophy|Muslim philosopher]] [[Al-Farabi]]'s imagined face appears on the older design [[Kazakhstani tenge|currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan]]]]
Islam is the most commonly practiced religion in Kazakhstan; it was introduced to the region during the 9th century by the Arabs.<ref>[http://www.hope4astana.com/Beliefs/default.htm] The Beliefs of the Kazakhstan people</ref> Traditionally ethnic Kazakhs are [[Sunni Muslims]] who mainly follow the [[Hanafi]] school.<ref name=REPORT>[http://www.usembassy.kz/documents/irf-2006.html International Religious Freedom Report 2006] U.S. Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan</ref> There are few [[Ahmadiyya|Ahmadi]] Muslims, who face persecution in the country.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1577 | title=KAZAKHSTAN: Ahmadi Muslim mosque closed, Protestants fined 100 times minimum monthly wage | publisher=Forum 18 | accessdate=June 6, 2014}}</ref> Kazakhs including other ethnic groups of Muslim background make up over 90 per cent of all Muslims.<ref>Estimation based on Kazakh population share of 67% ([http://www.kz2009.kz/materials/Documents/%D0%98%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%2010%20%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B9%20%D1%81%2025%20%D1%84%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%206%20%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0.doc Итоги 10 дней с 25 февраля по 6 марта]) and 16.3 mln total population according to the preliminary results of [http://www.kz2009.kz/Pages/Default.aspx the 2009 National Census]</ref> The southern region of the country has the highest concentration of self-identified practicing Muslims.

===Christianity===
{{main|Christianity in Kazakhstan}}
[[File:Church oskemen.jpg|right|[[Russian Orthodox Church]] in [[Oskemen]]|thumb|200px]]
Christianity in Kazakhstan is the second most practiced religion after [[Islam]]. Most Christian citizens are [[Russians]], and to a lesser extent [[Ukrainians]] and [[Belarusians]], who belong to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. According to a 2009 national census, approximately 26% of the population of Kazakhstan identifies as Christian.<ref name="2009 Census">{{cite web|url=http://www.eng.stat.kz/news/Pages/n1_12_11_10.aspx|title=The results of the national population census in 2009|date=12 November 2010|publisher=Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan|accessdate=13 January 2011}}</ref> 1.5 percent of the population is [[Germans|German]], most of whom follow [[Roman Catholicism]] or [[Lutheranism]]. There are also many [[Presbyterian]]s, [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Seventh-day Adventists]], and [[Pentecostals]].<ref name="REPORT"/><ref name="Factbook">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kz.html|title=CIA – The World Factbook – Kazakhstan|date=2009-05-14|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> [[Methodists]], [[Mennonites]], and [[Mormons]] have also registered churches with the government.<ref name=REPORT/> According to the 2009 census, there were 4,214,232 Christians in Kazakhstan.<ref>http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Documents/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%86%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2.rar</ref>

===Bahá'í Faith===
{{main|Bahá'í Faith in Kazakhstan}}
The Bahá'í Faith in Kazakhstan began during the [[Religion in the Soviet Union#Policy toward religions in practice|policy of oppression]] of religion in the former [[Soviet Union]]. Before that time, [[Kazakhstan]], as part of the [[Russian Empire]], would have had indirect contact with the [[Bahá'í Faith]] as far back as 1847.<ref name="russia">{{cite web | last = Momen | first = Moojan | title = Russia  | work = Draft for "A Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith" | publisher = Bahá'í Library Online | date =  | url = http://bahai-library.com/momen_encyclopedia_russia | accessdate = 2008-04-14}}</ref> Following the entrance of [[Pioneering (Bahá'í)|pioneers]] the community grew to be the largest religious community after Islam and Christianity, though only a few percent of the nation.<ref name ="census">{{cite web
  |author=Government of Kazakhstan
  | title = Religious Groups in Kazakhstan
  | work = 2001 Census
  | publisher = Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA & Canada
  | year = 2001
  | url = http://www.kazakhembus.com/files/Religious_Groups_in_Kazakhstan.htm
  | accessdate = 2008-05-21}}</ref> By 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Kazakhstan was elected<ref name="Hands">[http://bahai-library.com/handscause_statistics_1953-63&chapter=1#22  The Bahá'í Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963], Compiled by [[Hands of the Cause]] Residing in the Holy Land, pages 22 and 46.</ref> and the community has begun to multiply its efforts across various interests. The [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] (relying on [[World Christian Encyclopedia]]) estimated some 6,000 Bahá'ís in 2005.<ref name="WCE-05">{{cite web| title = Most Baha'i Nations (2005) | work = QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions > | publisher = The Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2005| url =http://www.thearda.com/QuickLists/QuickList_40c.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2009-07-04}}</ref>

===Judaism===
{{main|Kazakh Jews}}

[[File:Stamp of Kazakhstan 565.jpg|thumb|Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Almaty, depicted on a postage stamp from Kazakhstan.]]
Kazakh Jews have a long history. There are approximately 12,000 to 30,000 [[Jew]]s in [[Kazakhstan]], less than 1% of the population. Most Kazakh Jews are [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi]] and speak [[Russian language|Russian]].<ref name="REPORT"/><ref name="ORECK">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Kazakhstan.html|title=The Virtual Jewish History Tour – Kazakhstan|last=Oreck|first=Alden|publisher=Jewish Virtual Library|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref>

===Hinduism===
{{main|Hinduism in Kazakhstan}}

[[Hindus]] in [[Kazakhstan]] are mainly of the [[ISKCON]] sect and by Diaspora Hindus from India. The Indian community in Central Asia, which comprises Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, numbers only 2732 out of a total population of 55.5 million. It consists mainly of NRIs.

===Pagan===
*[[Slavic Neopaganism]]
*[[Tengriism]]

==Freedom of religion and religious tolerance==
{{main|Human rights in Kazakhstan}}
{{main|Irreligion in Kazakhstan}}
Kazakhstan has a very diverse and stable religious background. However, some reported occurrences of persecution against Hare Krishnas and Jehovah's Witnesses for proselytizing have raised concern in the international community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=939|title=KAZAKHSTAN: Officially-inspired intolerance of religious freedom steps up |last=Corley|first=Felix|date=2007-04-03|publisher=Forum 18|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=895|title=KAZAKHSTAN: More Hare Krishna home demolitions planned?|last=Corley|first=Felix|date=2006-12-06|publisher=Forum 18|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref><ref>[http://www.palaceofthesoul.com/news/index.php?article_id=38 Palace of the Soul: Project Updates<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 

Article 22 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan states that "everyone has the right to a freedom of conscience.” On May 18, 2011, the President of Kazakhstan adopted a decree establishing the Agency for Religious Affairs. The mission of the Agency is to coordinate interaction between the government, religious groups and civil society in order to ensure religious freedom in Kazakhstan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Religious Affairs Agency Works to Protect Freedoms, Stop Extremist Ideologies|url=http://astanatimes.com/2013/07/religious-affairs-agency-works-to-protect-freedoms-stop-extremist-ideologies/|website=astanatimes.com}}</ref>

In 2003 Kazakhstan established Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions that aims to facilitate religious dialogue ensuring inter-religious tolerance and freedom in Kazakhstan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Potential of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions|url=http://astanatimes.com/2013/09/historic-potential-of-the-congress-of-leaders-of-world-and-traditional-religions/|website=astanatimes.com}}</ref>

==Religion by ethnic group==
According to the 2009 Census data, almost all the Central Asian Turkics are Muslims and Slavs are Orthodox:<ref name="EthnicData"/>
{|class="wikitable"
!'''Ethnic Groups'''
!'''Islam'''
!'''Christianity'''
!'''Judaism'''
!'''Buddhism'''
!'''Other'''
!'''Atheism'''
!'''NA'''
|----
|'''Total'''
|70.20%
|26.32%
|0.03%
|0.09%
|0.02%
|2.82%
|0.51%
|----
|'''Kazakhs'''
|98.34%
|0.39%
|0.02%
|0.01%
|0.02%
|0.98%
|0.26%
|----
|'''Russians'''
|1.43%
|91.64%
|0.04%
|0.02%
|0.03%
|6.09%
|0.75%
|----
|'''Uzbeks'''
|99.05%
|0.39%
|0.01%
|0.01%
|0.02%
|0.37%
|0.16%
|----
|'''Ukrainians'''
|0.94%
|90.74%
|0.03%
|0.01%
|0.02%
|7.31%
|0.94%
|----
|'''Uyghurs'''
|98.35%
|0.51%
|0.02%
|0.01%
|0.03%
|0.61%
|0.47%
|----
|'''Tatars'''
|79.57%
|10.24%
|0.02%
|0.03%
|0.06%
|8.11%
|1.97%
|----
|'''Germans'''
|1.58%
|81.59%
|0.05%
|0.04%
|0.11%
|13.96%
|2.68%
|----
|'''Koreans'''
|5.24%
|49.35%
|0.21%
|11.40%
|0.14%
|28.51%
|5.16%
|----
|'''Turks'''
|99.13%
|0.30%
|0.01%
|0.01%
|0.02%
|0.33%
|0.21%
|----
|'''Azeris'''
|94.81%
|2.51%
|0.02%
|0.02%
|0.03%
|1.86%
|0.76%
|----
|'''Belarusians'''
|0.79%
|90.16%
|0.04%
|0.01%
|0.03%
|7.82%
|1.15%
|----
|'''Dungans'''
|98.93%
|0.37%
|0.01%
|0.03%
|0.04%
|0.34%
|0.28%
|----
|'''Kurds'''
|98.28%
|0.53%
|0.03%
|0.02%
|0.02%
|0.74%
|0.38%
|----
|'''Tajiks'''
|97.78%
|0.91%
|0.01%
|0.02%
|0.08%
|0.85%
|0.35%
|----
|'''Poles'''
|0.69%
|90.07%
|0.04%
|0.01%
|0.13%
|7.30%
|1.76%
|----
|'''Chechens'''
|93.69%
|2.99%
|0.02%
|0.01%
|0.05%
|2.08%
|1.16%
|----
|'''Kirghiz'''
|96.67%
|0.89%
|0.03%
|0.03%
|0.02%
|1.51%
|0.86%
|----
|'''Others'''
|34.69%
|52.32%
|0.82%
|0.91%
|0.13%
|8.44%
|2.69%
|----
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{loc}}

{{Asia topic|Religion in}}
{{Europe topic|Religion in}}
{{Kazakhstan topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Religion In Kazakhstan}}
[[Category:Religion in Kazakhstan| ]]