Nogai DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Russia (North Caucasus) · Caucasus
The Nogai are a Turkic-speaking people of the steppes north of the Caucasus, living today in Dagestan, Stavropol and Karachay-Cherkessia. They take their name from Nogai, a 13th-century commander of the Golden Horde, and the Nogai Horde later ruled the steppes north of the Caspian Sea. Unlike their mountain neighbours, the Nogai remain genetically close to Central Asian steppe peoples. In our model, the Nogai average is 39.6% Ancient Northeast Asian, 31.3% steppe-related, 14.5% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 6.5% East Asian, 4.1% Arctic Siberian and 4.0% Iranian Neolithic, far more East Eurasian ancestry than the Karachay (6.7% East Asian) or the Balkars (6.0%), who also speak a Turkic language. After other Nogai samples, the nearest average is the Karakalpak of Central Asia (distance 0.0201), whose language is also Kipchak Turkic, then Kazakhs from Uzbekistan. The closest ancient groups are Viking Age individuals with a Turkic profile from Ivanovo in central Russia (0.0342) and people from Karakhanid-period Butakty in Kazakhstan.
- Largest ancient components in our model: Ancient Northeast Asians 39.6%, Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 31.3%, Anatolian Neolithic farmers 14.5%
- Closest non-Nogai population in our data: Karakalpak, distance 0.0201
- Closest ancient group in our data: Russia Ivanovo High Medieval Viking Age (Turkic Profile), distance 0.0342
Where does Nogai DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Nogai individuals sampled in Russia (North Caucasus) and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Nogai average
The ancient make-up of the Nogai average is led by Ancient Northeast Asians (39.6%), followed by Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (31.3%) and Anatolian Neolithic farmers (14.5%). The Ancient Northeast Asians component reflects ancestry most common today in East Asia. The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) share (31.3%) reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC.
Smaller traces of Arctic Siberian (Nganasan-related) and Iranian Neolithic farmers (under 5% each) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The model fits well (fit distance 0.024), so these proportions are a reasonable summary. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Nogai
Genetically, the Nogai average sits nearest to Nogai (Stavropol) at 0.009, Nogai (Dagestan) at 0.015 and Karakalpak at 0.020. On our scale, a distance of 0.009 counts as very close. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Karakalpak (0.020), Kazakh (Uzbekistan) (0.036) and Hazara (0.049). By the tenth closest (Kazakh (Kazakhstan Mangystau)) the distance grows to 0.052, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nogai (Stavropol) | 0.0085 | Very close |
| 2 | Nogai (Dagestan) | 0.0146 | Very close |
| 3 | Karakalpak | 0.0201 | Very close |
| 4 | Kazakh (Uzbekistan) | 0.0360 | Close |
| 5 | Hazara | 0.0493 | Close |
| 6 | Uyghur | 0.0495 | Close |
| 7 | Uygur | 0.0498 | Close |
| 8 | Hazara (Pakistan) | 0.0508 | Moderate |
| 9 | Hazara (Afghanistan) | 0.0517 | Moderate |
| 10 | Kazakh (Kazakhstan Mangystau) | 0.0522 | Moderate |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Nogai
Looking back in time, the ancient sample that most resembles the Nogai average is Russia Ivanovo High Medieval Viking Age (Turkic Profile) (Viking Age, c. 800-1050 AD), at 0.034. Kazakhstan Early-High Medieval Karakhanid Butakty and Turkey Anatolia Early Modern Kaman-Kalehoyuk (Turkic Profile) come next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia Ivanovo High Medieval Viking Age (Turkic Profile) | Viking Age, c. 800-1050 AD | 0.0342 |
| 2 | Kazakhstan Early-High Medieval Karakhanid Butakty | Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD | 0.0369 |
| 3 | Turkey Anatolia Early Modern Kaman-Kalehoyuk (Turkic Profile) | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.0386 |
| 4 | Xinjiang HP Simutasi | Historical period | 0.0396 |
| 5 | Kazakhstan Early Medieval Nomad Issyk | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0405 |
| 6 | Kazakhstan IA Mayemer | Iron Age | 0.0412 |
| 7 | Hungary Early Medieval Avar Period Early (East Asian-Mixed Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0415 |
| 8 | Kazakhstan Early Medieval Karluk Butakty | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0426 |
| 9 | Ukraine Early Medieval Saltovo-Mayaki Bochkove (Bulgar, Central Asian Turkic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0439 |
| 10 | Ukraine High Medieval Cuman Kumy (Central Asian Turkic Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0445 |
Ancient DNA from Russia
Our ancient DNA database holds 2,938 individuals excavated in present-day Russia, dated from about 208,050 BC to 1918 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are R1a (370), R1b (317) and N1a (235), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are U5 (367), U4 (226) and U2 (150). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Nogai population.
Ancient sample data compiled by Nomad on the GenArchivist forum.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups in ancient samples from Russia
Most frequent mtDNA haplogroups in ancient samples from Russia
Ancient DNA studies on Russia
- The Yeniseian and Andronovo Substrates in the Gene Pools of the Indigenous Southern Siberian Populations Analyzed by Q and R1a Y-Haplogroups (2026)
- Ancient genomics study reveals low HLA diversity in eastern hunter-gatherers (2026)
- Comparison of Illumina NovaSeq 6000, GeneMind SURFSeq 5000, Salus Evo, and MGI DNBSEQ-G400 for Ancient DNA Whole-Genome Sequencing (2026)
- Biochip for Determination of 92 Human Y-Chromosome Haplogroups by SNP Markers and Frequency Distribution of These Haplogroups in Slavic Population of European Russia (2026)
- Modern descendants of Kyordyughen warrior (Yakutia, 4200 years before present) in populations of Far East (2026)
- Genetic history of Rus' (2025)
- Paratyphoid Fever and Relapsing Fever in 1812 Napoleon’s Devastated Army (2025)
- Pre-Slavic and Slavic Interaction at Eastern Periphery of Slavic Expansion in Northeastern Europe (Y-Gene Pools of Volga-Oka Region) (2025)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 2,938 from Russia.
Compare yourself with Nogai
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Nogai average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Nogai and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Nogai individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Nogai. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Thanks: to Nomad (GenArchivist) for the population and ancient sample collection this atlas is built on, and to Davidski (Eurogenes) for Global25.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Nogai average. Your own DNA has its own story: Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people of Central Asian / Silk Road Turkic ancestry: ancient regional core (Botai, Andronovo, BMAC Bactria-Margiana, Saka/Scythian, Wusun, Kushan Empire, Xiongnu, Turkic Khaganate, Golden Horde) versus non-regional...
More populations from Caucasus
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Nogai?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Nogai average is about 39.6% Ancient Northeast Asians, 31.3% Steppe herders (Yamnaya) and 14.5% Anatolian Neolithic farmers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Nogai?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Nogai (Stavropol)), the closest modern populations to the Nogai average are Karakalpak, Kazakh (Uzbekistan) and Hazara. The closest ancient matches are Russia Ivanovo High Medieval Viking Age (Turkic Profile), Kazakhstan Early-High Medieval Karakhanid Butakty and Turkey Anatolia Early Modern Kaman-Kalehoyuk (Turkic Profile).
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Nogai?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Nogai average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Nogai ancestry?
For the Nogai average, the regional report to choose is Turan – Silk Road & Central Asian Ancestry Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.