The article examines the reasons that caused a significant emigration outflow of the population from the countries of Central Asia at the end of the twentieth century. The scale, directional vector and ethnic composition of emigrants are determined. The features of migration processes in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are noted. There are two main types of migration - ethnic and labor. The first was attended mainly by European ethnic groups, primarily Russians. It is indicated that in absolute terms, most of the Russians left the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan was the leader in reducing the proportion of Russians. Labor migration is determined for the most part by representatives of the Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek ethnic groups. The formation of a regional center of migration attraction begins in Kazakhstan due to the massive influx of labor migrants from other Central Asian states.