Achieved Fertility and Fertility Intentions among Ethnic Groups in Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan Compared

The literature on minority group status and fertility usually focuses on a within-country comparison of the behavior of population groups with different racial, ethno-cultural or religious background. Our study adds several dimensions to this approach. By comparing co-ethnics across three neighboring countries, we are able to sort out the separate roles of minority-group status, ethnicity, and country of residence in fertility behavior. The results of our analysis, based on survey data from three countries in Central Asia, show a strong country effect on achieved fertility and fertility intentions but only modestly negative effects of minority-group status on fertility in this region.