Karakalpaks
Qaraqalpaqlar, Қарақалпақлар, قاراقلپقلر | |
|---|---|
Flag of Karakalpakstan | |
Karakalpak boys race in Taxtako‘pir | |
| Total population | |
| 871,970 - 934,700 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Uzbekistan | 752,000 (2021 est.)
|
| Turkey | 81,700 |
| Iran | 55,300 |
| Kazakhstan | 28,931 (2025 est.) |
| Turkmenistan | 2,371 (2022 census) |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1,200 |
| Russia | 838 |
| Ukraine | 117 |
| Languages | |
| Karakalpak, Russian, Uzbek | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
The Karakalpaks or Qaraqalpaqs (/ˈkærəkɑːlpɑːks, -pæks/ ⓘ; Karakalpak: Qaraqalpaqlar, Қарақалпақлар, قاراقلپقلر), are a Kipchak-Nogai Turkic ethnic group native to Karakalpakstan in Northwestern Uzbekistan. During the 18th century, they settled in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya and in the (former) delta of Amu Darya on the southern shore of the Aral Sea. The name Karakalpak comes from two words: qara meaning 'black' and qalpaq meaning 'hat'. The Karakalpaks number nearly 871,970 worldwide, out of which about 726,000 live in the Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan.