Uyghurs

Also known as East Turkestani, Turki, Uigurs, Weiwuer, Uighurs, Uygur, Uigur, Weiwu'er

The Uyghurs, alternatively spelled Uighurs, Uygurs or Uigurs, are a Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central Asia and East Asia. They speak the Uyghur language, which is a Karluk Turkic language sharing the same origin with the Uzbek language, descended from the Karakhanid language and Chagatai language. The Uyghurs are recognized as the titular nationality of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China. They are one of China's 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities.

AI overview

The Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group from Central and East Asia who speak the Uyghur language and are the official titular nationality of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China. They are one of China's 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities, making them a significant population group in the country's demographic and cultural landscape.

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Key facts

Ethnic group.group: Uyghurs
Ethnic group.image: Uyghur man in Kashgar.jpg
Ethnic group.image_caption: A Uyghur man in Kashgar
Ethnic group.total: Disputed; more than 12 million
Ethnic group.region1: China(mainly in Xinjiang)
Ethnic group.pop1: 11,774,538 (2020 census)
Ethnic group.region2: Kazakhstan
Ethnic group.pop2: 305,648 (2025 est.)
Ethnic group.region3: Pakistan
Ethnic group.pop3: 1,000 (2021)
Ethnic group.region4: Turkey
Ethnic group.pop4: 100,000
Ethnic group.region5: Kyrgyzstan
Ethnic group.pop5: 60,210 (2021)
Ethnic group.region6: Uzbekistan
Ethnic group.pop6: 48,500 (2019)
Ethnic group.region7: Syria
Ethnic group.pop7: up to 15,000

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Demonym: uigure
Population: 12314800
Image: Uyghur man in Kashgar.jpg

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Commons category: Uyghur people
Commons gallery: Uyghur people

Sources (8)

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~76 min read

Article

43 sections

Contents

Ethnonym
Historical ethnonyms
Usage of the modern ethnonym "Uyghur"
Etymology of the term "Uyghur"
Identity
Origin of modern nomenclature
Population
Population in Xinjiang
Genetics
History
Early history
<span id="Uyghur Khaganate (8th-9th c.)"></span>Uyghur Khaganate (8th–9th centuries)
<span id="Uyghur kingdoms (9th-11th c.)"></span>Uyghur kingdoms (9th–11th centuries)
Islamization
Qing rule
Yettishar
Qing reconquest
First East Turkestan Republic
Second East Turkestan Republic
Contemporary era
Human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang
Uyghurs of Taoyuan, Hunan
Culture
Religion
Language
Literature
Music
Dance
Art
Education
Traditional medicine
Cuisine
Clothing
Traditional handicrafts
Livelihood
Names
See also
Explanatory notes
References
Citations
General and cited sources
Further reading
External links

The Uyghurs have traditionally inhabited a series of oases scattered across the Taklamakan Desert within the Tarim Basin. These oases historically functioned as independent states or came under the control of various civilizations, including Chinese, Mongol, Tibetan, and Turkic powers. The Uyghurs gradually started to become Islamized in the 10th century, and most Uyghurs identified as Muslims by the 16th century. Islam has since played an important role in Uyghur culture and identity.