approximate

number of speakers

Southwestern (Oghuz) branch

West Oghuz

Turkish (Turkey 55,000,000; Germany 2,000,000; Bulgaria 800,000)¹ 60,000,000

Gagauz (Moldova 153,000; Ukraine 44,000) 200,000

Azerbaijani (Azerbaijanian; Iran 15,000,000; Azerbaijan 6,600,000)² 21,600,000

East Oghuz

Turkmen (Turkmenistan 2,700,000; Iran 500,000)³ 4,000,000

Khorasan Turkic (Iran) 2,000,000

South Oghuz

Afshar, Qashqai, and various dialects (Iran, Afghanistan) 500,000

Northwestern (Kipchak) branch

South Kipchak

Kazak (Kazakstan 7,900,000; China 1,200,000; Uzbekistan 900,000)⁴ 10,500,000

Karakalpak (Uzbekistan) 400,000

Nogay (Nogai; Russia) 67,000

Kyrgyz (Kyrgyzstan 2,300,000; Uzbekistan 170,000; China 150,000) 2,620,000

North Kipchak

Tatar (Russia 4,700,000; Uzbekistan 420,000; Kazakstan 230,000)⁵

5,500,000

Bashkir (Russia)

1,000,000

West Siberian dialects (Russia)

West Kipchak

Kumyk (Russia)

Karachay (Russia)

Balkar (Russia)

Crimean Tatar (Uzbekistan)⁶

Karaim (Lithuania, Ukraine)⁷

Southeastern (Uighur-Chagatai) branch

Western group

Uzbek (Uzbekistan 16,500,000; Afghanistan 1,600,000)⁸

20,600,000

Eastern group

Uighur (China 7,500,000)

7,730,000

Yellow Uighur (Sarig; China)

Salar (China)

Northeastern (Siberian) branch

North Siberian

Yakut (Russia)

365,000

Dolgan (Russia)

South Siberian

Tuvan (Russia 205,000; Mongolia 25,000)

230,000

Tofa (Karagas; Russia)

Altay and various dialects (Russia)

Khakas (Khakass; Russia)

Shor and various dialects (Russia)

Chuvash (Volga-Bolgar) (Russia)

1,400,000

Khalaj (Arghu) (Iran)

Total Turkic language speakers**

140,000,000

*Alternate names or spellings and/or geographic location of the main language areas are given in parentheses. Figures should be considered estimates only. Figures for certain numbers of speakers are not available (n/a). ¹Considerable portions of the population speak Kurdish and other languages, sometimes with limited knowledge of Turkish. ²Speakers of Turkish also inhabit many countries of western Europe and other countries in substantial number. ³Significant numbers of Azerbaijani (Azerbaijanian) speakers also are found in Iraq, Russia, and Armenia. ⁴Also in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. ⁵Also in Russia, Mongolia, and Turkmenistan. ⁶Also in Romania. ⁷Also in Romania and Bulgaria. ⁸Ethnic group is larger. ⁹Also substantial numbers in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakstan, Russia. ¹⁰Also in Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. **Figures do not add up because of rounding.