In the article the scientific and applied aspects of ethnic identity as a factor of ethnocultural tolerance of youthwere examined. Ethnic identity determines the peculiarities of human behavior in a multinational society, forms patterns of behavior, values and attitudes. Ethnic identity plays an important role in the formation of various social ties in society, the formation of groups on an ethnic basis. Defining oneself as a part of a large ethnic community becomes the basis of behavior and social actions. Thus, the study of the processes of ethnic identification and the factors of formation and manifestation of tolerance is actualized not only as a local event.The authorspresent the result of studying the issues of formation and development of ethnic identity and ethno-cultural tolerance through the study and discussion of scientific and theoretical studies of these processes in foreign and domestic sources. Against the background of the growth of globalization processes, increasing mobility, the relevance of the theoretical analysis of the processes of identity and ethno-cultural tolerance, the construction of analytical structures and the need forapplied research is growing. Trends in the modern development of scientific knowledge require confirmation of theoretical developments by practical research.Practical research on this topic allows us to identify the level of ethnocultural tolerance of young people. The study was conducted among the youth of the Karaganda region. As a result of the study, the pro-cesses that actually occuredin the youth environment werediagnosed, the peculiarities of ethnic identity, the influence of ethnic identity of youth on the practice of interethnic communication were revealed.