Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the demographic and social consequences of forced industrialization and violent collectivization in Soviet Kazakhstan, based on the data of the 1939 All-Union Population Census. The focus is on identifying the causes and consequences of the minimal population growth (only 1.3%) during the period from 1926 to 1939. This demographic stagnation is viewed as a direct result of the mass famine of the early 1930s, which led to a sharp decline in the indigenous population, especially among Kazakhs. The article emphasizes that migration flows, the destruction of the traditional way of life, and high mortality rates caused Kazakhs to become a numerical minority in their own territory. The analysis is based on a comprehensive approach, including census data, archival materials, statistical reports, and secondary scholarly literature. A detailed examination of the ethnic composition of the population (more than 50 ethnic groups) provides insight into the multinational character of the region and the consequences of Soviet state policy. The article draws a parallel with modern sustainable development goals, particularly the elimination of hunger, reduction of inequality, and the promotion of peace, justice, and effective institutions. Thus, the study not only reveals the historical mechanisms of societal transformation in the 1930s, but also raises current issues of social justice, food security, and the protection of indigenous peoples' rights in the context of shaping contemporary public policy.