The Ethnic Groups of Afghanistan

The Ethnic groups of Afghanistan 

INTRODUCTION 

Afghanistan is a country in Central Asia. The country is located along historic trade routes and those used by militaries during invasions, between Eastern Asia and Western Asia. It, therefore, enjoys a mixture of cultures borrowed from Europe, Eastern and Western Asia. The official languages in Afghanistan are Pashto and Dari. Many Afghans are bilingual. They use proverbs and common sayings in their daily conversation. Spiced rice dishes are a staple in Afghanistan. Tea is an integral beverage in their homes. Afghanistan’s beautiful architecture is seen in its mosques and homes. They practice subsistence farming and also keep livestock.

Afghanistan has not conducted an official census since 1979. After a failed attempt in 2008, another census began in 2013 and was expected to take six years before it would be completed. This recent census process will not include questions on language or ethnicity, for fear that the results will be too politicized and lead to another unsuccessful census. Some of the first results from Bamyan province, where the minority Hazaras are in a majority, put the population figures at less than half of official estimates, leading to accusations of number manipulation.

  • Tajiks 
  • Pashtuns
  • Hazaras
  • Uzbeks 
  • Turkmens
  • Noristanis
  • Kuchis
  • Baluchis
  • Aimaq
  • Jogi

Main minority or indigenous communities: 

no reliable current data on ethnicity in Afghanistan exists, though surveys have pointed to some rough estimates of the population. However, previous estimates have put the population at Pashtun 42 per cent, Tajik 27 per cent, Hazara 9 per cent, Uzbek 9 per cent, Turkmen 3 per cent, Baluchi 2 per cent and other groups making up the remaining 8 per cent.

Main languages: 

Dari (Farsi dialect, 50 per cent of the population) Pashtu (35 per cent) [both national languages]. Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) and other minority languages such as Aimaq, Ashkun, Baluchi, Gujari, Hazaragi, Kazaki and Moghili, Pashai, Nuristani and Pamiri (alsana).

Main religions: 

Islam 99.7 per cent (Sunni 84.7 – 89.7 per cent, Shia 10-15 per cent, and other smaller sects), Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism.

Afghanistan’s political life has always been dominated by ethnic Pashtuns, who are thought to make up more than a third of the population. Pashtuns are overwhelmingly Sunni with the exception of the Pashtun Turi tribe who are Shi’a.

Significant numbers of the Tajik community are also Sunnis, apart from some Imami Shi’a Tajiks living in western Afghanistan, and the Badakshan Tajiks who are Ismailis.
The majority of ethnic Hazaras are Shi’a (Imami Shi’a) though the Hazaras of Shibar are Ismaili Shi’a with a small minority who are Sunni.

There are small Hindu and Sikh communities, estimated in 2016 at about 900 persons, but their numbers are thought to have dropped significantly over the past decades due to emigration.

The country’s population reflects its location with the presence of several national minorities. The main ethnic groups are dispersed throughout the country as follows: Pashtuns, the majority group, are concentrated mainly in the south and south-east but also live all over the state; Tajiks inhabit mainly the north and north-east, and the Kabul region; Hazaras live in the centre (Hazarajat) and in Kabul; Uzbeks in the north; Aimaq in the west; Turkmens in the north; Baluchis in the west and south-west; and Nuristanis in the east.

The Ethnic Groups of Afghanistan
The Ethnic Groups of Afghanistan


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Biography of Aryana Sayeed an Afghanistan singer

Image
Biography of Aryana Sayeed  Summary of Ariana Sayeed’s Biography Name: Ariana Saeed Date of Birth: 14 July 1985, Kabul, Afghanistan City of Residence: London Music Genre: Pop, Rhythm and Blues, Hip Pop, Folklore Profession: Singer, Composer Years of Activity: 2007 to present Height: 165 cm Eye Color: Black Hair Color: Black Biography of Ariana Sayeed Ariana Saeed is an afghan popular singer, composer, and songwriter in her home country Afghanistan and abroad, and her songs have a large audience. Born on 14 July 1985 in Kabul, Afghanistan is one of the Afghan singers who sings in the pop, rhythm and blues, hip-hop genres and has many fans among the people of Afghanistan and other Persian/Farsi speaking countries like Iran and Tajikistan. She lives in the UK. Ariana Sayeed's family and personal life Ariana was born in Kabul, Ariana's mother is from the Dari speaking people of Afghanistan and her father is from the Pashto speaking people. In her childhood, she and her family migra...
Read more

biography of Mozhdah Jamalzadah

Image
Mozhda Jamalzada Summary of Mozhda Jamalzada’s Biography Name/last name: Mozhdah Jamalzadah Date of Birth: 7th December 1982, Kabul, Afghanistan Place of Birth: Kabul, Afghanistan City of Residence: Vancouver, Canada colleges/Universities: British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Educational Qualification: Broadcast Journalism, Philosophy and Political Science Religion: Islam Music Genre: Pop, Rhythm and Blues, Hip Pop, Folklore Profession: Singer, Actress, songwriter Years of Activity: 2007 to present Height: 168 cm Eye Color: dark brown Hair Color: blonde Mozhda Jamalzada's family and personal life Mozhdah Jamalzadah (born December 27, 1982, in Kabul, Afghanistan) is an Afghan singer. During the civil war in Afghanistan, at the age of five, she and her family fled to settle in Canada. Through her internationally renowned music career and groundbreaking television show The Mozhdah Show, Mozh...
Read more

Introduction to Badakhshan of Afghanistan

 Badakhshan is a province located in the northeastern region of Afghanistan. It is bordered by Tajikistan to the north and east, Kunduz to the west, and Takhar to the south. The province is known for its mountainous terrain and stunning natural beauty, including several high mountain ranges, glaciers, and lakes. Badakhshan is one of the most diverse provinces in Afghanistan, with a mix of ethnic groups including Tajiks, Uzbeks, Pamiris, and Aimaqs. The region has a rich cultural heritage, with a long history of handicrafts, music, and folktales. The famous Lapis Lazuli stone is also found in the province, and it has been mined and traded in the region for thousands of years. Despite its natural and cultural resources, Badakhshan faces many challenges, including poverty, limited infrastructure, and security concerns. Nevertheless, the province has a strong community spirit, and local residents are working to promote economic development and improve the quality of life for all reside...
Read more