Central Asia Birth Rates Decline, Kyrgyzstan Shows Growth

Central Asia witnessed a notable decline in birth rates during the first half of 2026, with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan recording substantial decreases in registered births. This trend contrasts with slight upticks in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Across four nations in the region, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, a total of 711,300 children were born in the first six months of the year. This figure represents a 5.5% reduction compared to the same period in the preceding year. Turkmenistan was excluded from this comparison due to a lack of comparable statistical data.

Uzbekistan experienced the most significant absolute decrease in births. According to its National Statistics Committee, the country registered 373,400 births between January and June 2026, down from 405,500 in the prior year, marking a 7.9% decline. Kazakhstan followed a similar pattern, with its Bureau of National Statistics reporting 149,800 births in the first half of 2026, a decrease of approximately 7.1% from the 161,200 births recorded the previous year.

In contrast, Tajikistan saw a modest increase, with 121,800 births, a rise of 0.9% compared to the previous year. Kyrgyzstan recorded 66,300 newborns, showing a growth of about 2%.