Now 4.07 million people officially live in the Republic of Bashkortostan. In fact, this number is less: many live and work in Russia, and part of the population is probably assigned to the government of the republic. The ethnic composition for 2020 is as follows: 31.5% are Bashkirs, we are the second in terms of population after Russians, and Tatars are third. From 2010 to 2020, the number of Bashkirs in our country increased by 100 thousand people, but this is more likely due to the fact that Bashkirs from Russia are returning to their historical homeland. Although we traditionally have a higher birth rate, this is also the case. The trend is such that the number of Bashkirs and Russians is increasing, while the number of other peoples is decreasing, with the exception of small peoples, and especially newcomers, such as Armenians or Kurds. In the south and southeast of Bashkortostan, the picture is more favorable for us than not. The number of Bashkirs in percentage terms has grown there, but the total Bashkir population has decreased in some areas. Nevertheless, the Bashkirs traditionally dominate in the Trans-Urals, and now the trend is precisely for this. Now the mono-ethnicity of the Trans-Urals (and even in Sibay the number of Bashkirs exceeds the rest, 58.5% of the total population of Bashkirs) causes dissatisfaction with the Kremlin. For this reason, scandalous statements are made regarding the regions beyond the Urals, for example, when a certain representative of show business recommended that people move to Sibay, as “good people” live there, or something like that. In addition, there is a Kurdish diaspora in the city, it is not known where they appeared there. In some areas, the number of guest workers from Central Asian countries is growing, according to my friends who live there. It is known that Yakty-Kul was chosen by foreigners from Russia, who come there as if they were visiting their dacha. I also think that the problems with the extraction of resources are caused not only by the desire for profit, but also by the fact that the local population is driven out of these territories. For this reason, urbanization is beneficial to the authorities, but not to us, at least in the short term. I am also convinced that the official census was not in favor of the Bashkirs, and many Bashkirs were not indicated. We probably even have population growth, although it is difficult to judge, there is simply no data. It is also important to note that the number of Bashkirs is growing in general throughout the country, including Ufa. In neighboring Russia, the number of Bashkirs is falling as our people flee to their homeland. If we talk about today, then we have a rather neutral trend: the number of Bashkirs living in the Republic of Bashkortostan has increased by 100 thousand, but the number of Russians has also increased. Therefore, it is still difficult to judge, but I think that the number of Russians is greatly overestimated, in fact there are fewer of them.
After gaining independence, we will certainly get an increase in the Bashkir population, unless of course we have no military confrontations, such as in Bosnia or Ukraine. In this regard, I would like to rely on the Kazakh path, when Kazakhstan peacefully parted ways with the evil empire and confidently gained the Kazakh advantage. We will grow, there is no doubt about it. Our people will be returning to the Republic of Bashkortostan, and it is very important that we provide them with assistance. It will be necessary to create a repatriation program, as was done in neighboring Kazakhstan or Israel. Our people must reunite in our country, and not remain in distant Siberian cities or, God forbid, in Russia. In addition, Russians will return to their Russia, like other peoples, this is a natural process. The main thing in this is the maintenance of the Bashkir population and the creation of all the necessary conditions for increasing the birth rate. The number of Bashkirs will grow, and not only in percentage terms, but also in fact.
