Uzbeks in Poland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polshadagi o'zbeklar Uzbecy w Polsce | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| ca. 21,000–28,000 | |
| Languages | |
| Uzbek, Russian, Polish | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Uzbeks |
Uzbeks in Poland (Uzbek: Polshadagi o'zbeklar; Polish: Uzbecy w Polsce) are people of Uzbek ethnicity or citizens of Uzbekistan who live in Poland. The Uzbek community in Poland has experienced significant growth in recent years, evolving from a modest presence to a notable demographic group. As of 2024, approximately 21,000 Uzbek nationals reside in Poland, encompassing both students and labor migrants.[1]
Poland and Uzbekistan share significant historical parallels, having both been under Russian rule and later influenced by the Soviet Union. Territories of both countries were part of the Russian Empire until early 20th century, and while Uzbekistan became a Soviet republic within the USSR in 1924, Poland, after World War II, remained an officially independent state but was under strong Soviet influence as a member of the Warsaw Pact. Until the late 1980s, both countries were within the Soviet sphere, shaped by its political and economic system, though with different formal statuses.
The first significant migration between Poland and Uzbekistan occurred in the late 19th century when thousands of Polish political prisoners were exiled to the territory of the modern-day Uzbekistan following the partitions of Poland under Russian rule.[2]
During World War II, approximately 100,000 Poles were either evacuated or deported from the Soviet-occupied eastern regions of Poland to Uzbekistan, contributing to the establishment of a Polish community in the region.[3] However, throughout the 20th century, migration between the two countries remained largely one-directional, with little to no Uzbek migration to Poland.
