Which ethnic groups have long lived in Xinjiang?

Xinjiang is home to more than 40 different ethnic groups, reflecting a long history of diverse populations inhabiting the region’s oases and steppes.1

The Uyghurs, who are primarily sedentary farmers, are the largest indigenous group and have long inhabited the region's oasis settlements. Other ethnic groups with a long presence in the area include:123

• Kazakhs: Traditionally nomadic pastoralists who have historically migrated through the steppes of the Junggar Basin.12
• Mongolians: Historically pastoralists of the steppes, with a presence dating back to the region's conquest by Genghis Khan in the 13th century.24
• Hui: Chinese Muslims who have also long resided in the region.14
• Other groups: Including Tajiks, Uzbeks, Tatars, Manchu, and Sibos.1

While these groups have deep historical roots in Xinjiang, the demographic landscape shifted significantly following the establishment of the autonomous region in the 1950s, which saw a large-scale migration of Han Chinese into the area.153