The article examines the structure of ethnic identity of young people, conducted a literary review on the topic of research, highlighted significant works of researchers in this field. The main task of the empirical study was to investigate the characteristics of the ethnic identity of youth in the context of intercultural communication. The research methods were the questionnaire "Types of ethnic identity" by G.U. Soldatova, the Methodology for diagnosing the level of development of ethnic identity V.Yu. Khotinets, the Methodology of J. Finney, which measures the severity of ethnic identity. The results of an empirical study aimed at identifying the structural components of the ethnic identity of youth, determining the dominant type of ethnic identity and the level of development of ethnic identity of youth in the conditions of interpersonal polycultural space are presented. Based on the results of the study, the author concluded that the structure of ethnic identity includes 2 components; the level of expression of the cognitive and affective component is influenced by factors such as place of residence, language of communication and learning, cultural environment; the dominant type of ethnic identity was positive identity.