Abstract
The study’s relevance lies in understanding how changes in the population composition of Kazakhstan affect the development of Kazakh national identity. The purpose of the work is to cover the problem of the influence of the ethnodemographic situation in post-Soviet Kazakhstan on the process of national building. The study employed a range of analytical techniques, including content analysis of policy documents and media reports, structured interviews, ethnographic fieldwork, and comparative analysis of ethnodemographic data from multiple cities. These methods were supported by a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2021–2022. The article explores Kazakhstan’s national building concept, comparing ethnodemographic shifts from the Soviet era to independence. The article is valuable for researchers studying how demographic changes affect Kazakh national identity and domestic politics in a multiethnic context.