ASTANA, June 12, 2026
The International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue presented the findings of a comprehensive religious studies research project titled "Youth and Religion" to expert communities.
The event was held at the House of Friendship of the State Communal Enterprise "Qogamdyq kelisim" under the Astana City Akimat, with support from the Youth Rights Commission "Erkindik Ruhy" under the Human Rights Ombudsman. The event brought together more than 30 experts in the fields of religion, youth policy, domestic policy, and representatives of state bodies, including the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development, the Research and Information Centre, the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and other organizations.
In her welcoming remarks, Chair of the Board Gulsana Kozhabay noted that the Centre pays special attention to issues related to youth and religion. She emphasized that since 2019, the Department of Religious Studies has been conducting research in this field on a systematic basis, enabling the tracking of current trends and changes in the religious landscape. It was also noted that the topic of youth and religion holds an important place on the agenda of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Gulsana Kozhabay highlighted that issues of youth and religion are complex and multi-layered, and must therefore be examined comprehensively, taking into account various social, cultural, and values-based dimensions. She concluded by noting that the presented study, prepared by the Centre, is yet another result of this focused and sustained work.
The research findings were presented by the Deputy Chairwoman of the Board Tatyana Lipina, Chief Expert of the Department of Religious Studies Gulmira Sagynbek, and Leading Expert of the same department Zhaykal Bidolda.
The study is based on a comprehensive methodology encompassing a survey of 3,000 young people aged 14 to 34 across all regions of the country, as well as 18 expert interviews and 7 focus groups conducted in 7 cities. This approach yielded not only representative statistical data but also a deeper understanding of the values, views, and lived experiences of today's youth.
A significant innovation of the study was its examination of youth within a coordinate system of religiosity, personal beliefs, and socio-political attitudes, as well as identifying the direction of their perception of religious policy. A key aspect was determining the correlation between religious/non-religious beliefs and identity, civic participation practices, positions on bioethical issues, media habits, behavioral patterns, levels of social distance toward the "other," and more.
Research findings revealed that 82.8% of young Kazakhstanis consider themselves believers. At the same time, an interesting discrepancy is observed between self-identification and actual religious practice. For instance, only 26% of respondents pray regularly, while just 7.3% attend collective worship services.
For 42.2% of young people, civic identity — "Kazakhstani" — comes first, prevailing over ethnic identity (16.9%) and religious affiliation (5.6%).
Alongside the practices of institutionalized religions, certain alternative spiritual practices demonstrate notable popularity: numerology at 12.5%, meditation at 11.2%, and yoga at 10.6%, particularly among women.
The analysis also incorporated R. Inglehart's values research framework. The data revealed a mixed value model: on one hand, traditional attitudes and a survival orientation predominate; on the other, signs of a shift toward individualism and self-expression values are emerging.
The family remains the primary authority on religious matters at 61.5%. However, social media serves as the main information channel at 81%. Adolescents consume religious content primarily through TikTok and Instagram. The majority of young people do not read sacred texts independently, relying instead on interpretations found online — a trend that carries risks of exposure to fragmented or distorted knowledge.
A significant component of the study was the analysis of social distance using the Bogardus scale. The results revealed a latent level of xenophobia toward certain religious groups. Supported by qualitative data findings, the analysis demonstrated a critical interdependence between the level of education and the level of tolerance.
The social marginality of youth was examined through the lens of feelings of alienation and experiences of injustice. Overall, the situation in this regard appears favorable. However, while 72.7% of young people have never felt like "outsiders" in society, one in four (24.9%) has experienced a sense of alienation — particularly among women, non-religious youth, and ethnic minorities.
The study revealed an ambiguous understanding of secularism. Young people support a secular state, yet simultaneously expect it to play an active regulatory and supervisory role in the sphere of religion.
Based on the study's findings, the following recommendations were made: shifting from general awareness efforts to risk-oriented prevention targeting vulnerable groups; developing secular and neutral formats for religious education tailored to the digital habits of youth; and strengthening the explanation of the legal substance of secularism as a principle of equality and freedom of conscience.
Yerdaulet Kenzhekhanov, Head of the Information and Explanatory Work Coordination Department of the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted that work is already underway at the local level based on the study's findings, in line with the mandate of the authorized body in the sphere of religion.
During the discussion, Director of the Research and Information Centre "Youth" Guliskhan Saifulinkyzy shared data from her own research, emphasized the importance of the presented study, and proposed incorporating its findings into the digital youth map developed by the National Information System.
Yulia Shapoval, a prominent Kazakhstani religious scholar, Doctor of Philosophy, and Professor at the Department of Religious Studies of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, highlighted the novelty of several findings presented — in particular, those related to "social marginality" as a marker of susceptibility to radicalization. She also proposed expanding the psychological toolkit used in research on this topic.
The Centre extends its gratitude for assistance in organizing the event to Shavkat Abdullayevich Ismailov, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Ethnocultural Association, member of the Council of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, and his team.
