Ethnic Composition and Population

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By the end of 2011, the total population in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is 22.0871 million. Being a multiethnic area, the Region is home to 47 ethnic groups. The non-Hanpopulation in Xin jiang totals 13, 6429 million, in which the Uygurs add up to over 10. 3704 million, or 46.4% of the Region’s total. They live in many places in Xin jiang, with Kashi Hotan and Aksu south of Tianshan and Hami and Turpan in the east as their most densely populated dwelling places. The Uygur people are blessed with a long history and brilliant culture which is captured in their colorful music and traditional handicrafts. Their love for singing and dancing suggests their out going mind and warm heart. The Uygur are the major groups believing in Islam, Apart from the Uygurs, there are 12 other ethnic groups who have been living in Xinjiang since long time ago. Together, they constitute the main ethnicgroups in Xinjiang. The 12 groups are: Han, Kazakh, Hui, Mongol, Kirgiz, Xibe, Tajik, Uzbek Manchu, Daur, Tatar and Russ.

There are also 34 other ethnic groups such as Dongxiang Salar, Tibetan, Miao, Yi, Bouyi, and Korean. The Han people are scattered all over Xinjiangand add up to over 8.4442 million, about 39. 3% of the Regions total. The Kazakh population s about 1.5426 million, or 7,08% of the regions total, who live mainly in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. Muri Kazakh Autonomous County and barkol Kazakh autonomous County. The Hui people total 1. 0034 million and live both north and south of the Tianshan Mountains; while Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture is where they concentrate the most The Mongols, totaling 178,900, live mainly in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture and Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County. The Kirgiz population is 194,000 and 80% of them live in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous PrefectureThe Tajik total 47, 300, 60% of whom live in Taxkorgan Ta jik Autonomous County. The Xibe people total 42, 700 and the majority of them live in Qapqal Xibe autonomous County, Huocheng County and Gongliu County. The Uzbek and Manchu population are 17, 400 and 26400 respectively and they live all over Xinjiang. The Daurs total 6, 884 and live mainly in Tacheng and Huocheng The Tatar population is 4,950. The Russ in Xinjiang add up to 11, 600 and live in small communities both north and south of the tianshan mountains the original Russ people came from the tsarist Russia after the 1& th century.