Uyghurs
Sign in to saveThe 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.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
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
Article
43 sectionsContents
- 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, 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.
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.