Demographics of Afghanistan

Last updated

Demographics of Afghanistan
Afghanistan single age population pyramid 2020.png
Afghanistan population pyramid in 2020
Population41,403,465 (2023) [1]
Growth rate2.34% (2016)
Birth rate35.8 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Death rate7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Life expectancy63.3 years (2019) [2] [3]
  male63.2 years (2019)
  female63.2 years (2019)
Fertility rate4.64 children born/woman (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate66.3 deaths/1,000 live births [4]
Age structure
0–14 years42.3% (male 6,464,070/female 6,149,468)
15–64 years55.3% (male 8,460,486/female 8,031,968)
65 and over2.4% (male 349,349/female 380,051)
Sex ratio
At birth1.05 male/female
Under 151.03 male/female
15–64 years1.04 male/female
65 and over0.87 male/female
Nationality
Nationalitynoun: Afghan(s)
Major ethnic Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, and others
Language
OfficialPersian (Dari) [5] and Pashto
SpokenPersian (Dari), Pashto, Uzbeki, and other
Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates Afghanistan Population 1950-2021 Forecast 2022-2032 UN World Population Prospects 2022.svg
Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates

The population of Afghanistan is around 41 million as of 2023. [1] The nation is composed of a multi-ethnic and multilingual society, reflecting its location astride historic trade and invasion routes between Central Asia, South Asia, and Western Asia. Ethnic groups in the country include Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, as well as smaller groups such as Nuristani, Aimaq, Turkmen, Baloch, and some others which are less known. [6] [7] [8] Together they make up the contemporary Afghan people.

Contents

Approximately 46% of the population is under 15 years of age, and 74% of all Afghans live in rural areas. [4] The average woman gives birth to five children during her entire life, the highest fertility rate outside of Africa. About 6.8% of all babies die in child-birth or infancy. [4] The average life expectancy of the nation was reported in 2019 at around 63 years, [2] [3] and only 0.04% of the population has HIV. [7]

Persian (Dari) and Pashto are the official languages of the country. [5] Dari functions as the inter-ethnic lingua franca for the vast majority. Pashto is widely used in the regions south of the Hindu Kush mountains and as far as the Indus River in neighbouring Pakistan. Uzbek and Turkmen are smaller languages spoken in parts of the north. [7] Multilingualism is common throughout the country, especially in the major cities.

Up to 89.7% of the population practices Sunni Islam and belongs to the Hanafi Islamic law school, while 10–15% are followers of Shia Islam; [7] [9] the majority of whom belong to the Twelver branch, with smaller numbers of Ismailis. The remaining 0.3% practice other religions such as Sikhism and Hinduism. Excluding urban populations in the principal cities, most people are organised into tribal and other kinship-based groups, who follow their own traditional customs.

Population statistics

Anatol Lieven of Georgetown University in Qatar wrote in 2021 that "it may be noted that in the whole of modern Afghan history there has never been a census that could be regarded as remotely reliable." [10]

Historical

Sport fans inside the Ghazi Stadium in the capital of Kabul, which is multi-ethnic and the largest city of Afghanistan. Afghans at Ghazi Stadium in 2011.jpg
Sport fans inside the Ghazi Stadium in the capital of Kabul, which is multi-ethnic and the largest city of Afghanistan.

The first nationwide census of Afghanistan was carried out only in 1979, but previously there had been scattered attempts to conduct censuses in individual cities. [11] According to the 1876 census, Kabul had a population of 140,700 people. [12] In Kandahar in 1891 a population census was carried out, according to which 31,514 people lived in the city, of which 16,064 were men and 15,450 were women. [13]

In 1979 the total population was reported to be about 15.5 million. [14] [15] From 1979 until the end of 1983, some 5 million people left the country to take shelter in neighbouring northwestern Pakistan and eastern Iran. This exodus was largely unchecked by any government. The Afghan government in 1983 reported a population of 15.96 million, which presumably included the exodus. [16]

It is assumed that roughly 600,000 to as high as 2 million Afghans may have been killed during the various 1979–2001 wars. [17] These figures are questionable and no attempt has ever been made to verify if they were actually killed or had moved to neighbouring countries as refugees. [16]

Current and latest

As of 2021, the total population of Afghanistan is around 37,466,414, [7] [18] which includes the 3 million Afghan nationals living in both Pakistan and Iran. [19] About 26% of the population is urbanite and the remaining 74% lives in rural areas. [7]

Afghanistan's Central Statistics Organization (CSO) stated in 2011 that the total number of Afghans living inside Afghanistan was about 26 million [19] and by 2017 it reached 29.2 million. Of this, 15 million are males and 14.2 million are females. [20] The country's population is expected to reach 82 million by 2050. [21]

Urban areas have experienced rapid population growth in the last decade, which is due to the return of over 5 million expats. The only city in Afghanistan with over a million residents is its capital, Kabul.

Age structure

Population pyramid 2016 Bevolkerungspyramide Afghanistan 2016.png
Population pyramid 2016

0–14 years: 40.62% (male 7,562,703/female 7,321,646)
15-24 years: 21.26% (male 3,960,044/female 3,828,670)
25-54 years: 31.44% (male 5,858,675/female 5,661,887)
55-64 years: 4.01% (male 724,597/female 744,910)
65 years and over: 2.68% (male 451,852/female 528,831) (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

2.34% (2021) [7]
country comparison to the world: 39

Urbanization

Young Afghans at a music festival inside the Gardens of Babur in Kabul. 2011 SCF Kabul-3.jpg
Young Afghans at a music festival inside the Gardens of Babur in Kabul.

urbanisation population: 26% of the total population (2020)
rate of urbanisation: 3.37% annual rate of change (2015–20)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2020)

Vital statistics

UN estimates

PeriodPopulation (thousands)Live births (thousands)Deaths (thousands)Natural change (thousands)CBR1CDR1NC1TFR1Life expectancy (in years)IMR1
19507 480  365  284  8248.937.910.97.2527.73285.8
1951  7 572  372  283  8949.137.311.87.2627.96283.6
1952  7 668  378  281  9749.336.612.77.2628.45278.8
1953  7 765  385  280  10549.536.013.57.2728.93273.9
1954  7 864  390  280  11049.635.614.07.2529.23269.4
1955  7 972  397  278  11949.834.815.07.2629.92264.1
1956  8 088  404  277  12749.934.315.77.2730.41259.3
1957  8 210  411  277  13450.033.716.47.2630.95254.4
1958  8 334  418  276  14350.133.017.17.2731.51249.5
1959  8 468  425  275  15050.232.517.87.2832.04244.9
1960  8 622  434  275  15950.331.918.47.2832.54240.5
1961  8 790  443  276  16850.431.319.17.2833.07236.2
1962  8 969  453  277  17750.630.819.77.2933.55232.2
1963  9 157  464  278  18650.730.420.37.3034.02228.2
1964  9 356  475  279  19650.829.921.07.3034.49224.3
1965  9 565  486  281  20550.929.421.57.3134.95220.6
1966  9 783  499  282  21651.028.922.17.3235.45216.6
1967  10 010  511  284  22751.128.422.77.3435.92212.9
1968  10 248  524  286  23851.127.923.37.3636.42209.1
1969  10 494  537  288  25051.227.423.87.3936.91205.3
1970  10 753  550  289  26151.126.924.27.4037.42201.5
1971  11 016  564  291  27351.226.424.87.4337.92197.7
1972  11 287  577  292  28551.125.825.37.4538.44194.0
1973  11 575  592  293  29951.125.325.87.4939.00190.1
1974  11 870  608  294  31351.124.826.47.5339.55186.2
1975  12 157  621  295  32651.024.226.87.5440.10182.2
1976  12 425  635  296  33950.923.727.27.5640.65178.3
1977  12 687  648  295  35350.923.227.77.5941.23174.2
1978  12 939  661  310  35050.823.926.97.6040.27172.7
1979  12 986  671  32834350.724.825.97.6139.09171.7
1980  12 487  661  317  34450.524.226.37.5939.62167.8
1981  11 155  614  289  32650.323.626.77.5740.16163.6
1982  10 088  521  266  25550.125.624.57.5537.77165.2
1983  9 951  504  252  25250.125.125.07.5438.19161.4
1984  10 244  507  303  20450.230.020.27.5133.33169.7
1985  10 512  537  315  22250.629.720.97.5233.55166.4
1986  10 448  541  253  28850.723.727.07.5239.40150.3
1987  10 323  535  245  29050.823.327.67.5339.84146.5
1988  10 383  532  208  32451.019.931.07.5343.96136.0
1989  10 673  546  203  34351.219.032.17.5345.16131.1
1990  10 695  567  204  36451.418.433.07.5745.97127.0
1991  10 745  556  193  36351.817.933.87.6146.66123.4
1992  12 057  579  192  38751.917.234.77.6747.60118.3
1993  14 004  698  199  49952.014.837.27.7251.47110.8
1994  15 456  789  222  56752.214.737.57.7251.50107.0
1995  16 419  853  231  62252.114.138.07.7152.54104.2
1996  17 107  887  233  65451.913.638.27.7153.24101.2
1997  17 789  914  237  67751.413.338.17.6753.6398.9
1998  18 493  940  251  69050.913.637.37.6452.9497.0
1999  19 263  968  240  72850.412.537.97.6054.8593.4
2000  19 543  996  243  75349.712.137.67.5355.3090.8
2001  19 689  969  232  73749.011.737.37.4555.8088.4
2002  21 000  980  229  75148.211.336.97.3456.4585.8
2003  22 645  1 063  240  82347.410.736.77.2257.3482.6
2004  23 554  1 097  243  85446.310.336.17.0757.9479.9
2005  24 411  1 099  241  85845.39.935.36.9158.3677.5
2006  25 443  1 137  246  89144.79.735.06.7258.6874.9
2007  25 903  1 157  247  91043.99.434.56.5359.1171.9
2008  26 427  1 092  232  85941.58.832.76.3859.8569.2
2009  27 385  1 129  234  89541.28.532.66.2460.3667.2
2010  28 190  1 148  233  91440.68.332.36.1060.8564.8
2011  29 249  1 158  230  92739.97.931.95.9661.4262.3
2012  30 466  1 217  235  98340.07.732.35.8361.9260.0
2013  31 541  1 248  236  1 01339.67.532.15.7062.4257.8
2014  32 716  1 275  241  1 03439.17.431.75.5662.5556.3
2015  33 753  1 316  249  1 06738.87.331.55.4162.6654.5
2016  34 636  1 316  245  1 07037.97.130.95.2663.1452.5
2017  35 643  1 332  251  1 08137.37.030.35.1363.0249.4
2018  36 687  1 356  256  1 10036.97.029.95.0063.0847.8
2019  37 769  1 378  257  1 12136.56.829.74.8763.5746.7
2020  38 972  1 402  277  1 12636.17.128.94.7562.5845.8
2021  40 099  1 441  295  1 14635.87.328.54.6461.9844.7
1CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births
Source: [22]

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): [23]

YearCBR (Total)TFR (Total)CBR (Urban)TFR (Urban)CBR (Rural)TFR (Rural)
201035.65.134.74.535.95.2
201536.85.3 (4.4)35.84.8 (3.7)37.15.4 (4.6)

Fertility data by province (DHS Program): [24]

ProvinceTotal fertility rate
(2015)
Kabul 4.6
Kapisa 4.8
Parwan 5.7
Wardak 4.2
Logar 4.2
Nangarhar 6.4
Laghman 7.3
Panjshir 3.2
Baghlan 4.4
Bamyan 5.4
Ghazni 2.8
Paktika 5.3
Paktia 5.2
Khost 5.6
Kunar 6.8
Nuristan 8.9
Badakhshan 5.3
Takhar 5.7
Kunduz 4.4
Samangan 5.1
Balkh 5.5
Sar-e Pol 4.8
Ghor 5.8
Daykundi 5.2
Urozgan 8.8
Zabul 5.1
Kandahar 6.5
Jawzjan 3.9
Faryab 6.2
Helmand 4.7
Badghis 6.6
Herat 4.8
Farah 5.4
Nimruz 5.4

Structure of the population

An Afghan family from the Pashtun tribe in their home in Kabul Afghan family Pashtun home.JPEG
An Afghan family from the Pashtun tribe in their home in Kabul

Structure of the population (2012.01.07) (Data refer to the settled population based on the 1979 Population Census and the latest household prelisting. The refugees of Afghanistan in Iran, Pakistan, and an estimated 1.5 million nomads, are not included): [25]

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2012) (Data refer to the settled population based on the 1979 Population Census and the latest household prelisting. The refugees of Afghanistan in Iran, Pakistan, and an estimated 1.5 million nomads, are not included.):

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total13,044,40012,455,70025,500,100100
0–42,422,2442,556,3044,978,54819.52
5–91,941,3631,880,4073,821,77014.99
10–141,556,1581,401,6952,957,85311.60
15–191,276,5631,140,8102,417,3739.48
20–241,059,9391,009,8072,069,7468.12
25–29843 967864 7381,708,7056.70
30–34678 577745 5341,424,1115.58
35–39598 045652 3261,250,3714.90
40–44546 102533 5241,079,6264.23
45–49495 190440 789935 9793.67
50–54435 143354 633789 7763.10
55–59360 394275 468635 8622.49
60–64281 627209 152490 7791.92
65–69204 376150 137354 5131.39
70–74141 729102 048243 7770.96
75–7991 16464 658155 8220.61
80–8455 44638 69994 1450.37
85+56 37334 97191 3440.36
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0-145,919,7655,838,40611,758,17146.11
15–646,575,5476,226,78112,802,32850.21
65+549 088390 513939 6013.68

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Data refer to the settled population based on the 1979 Population Census and the latest household prelisting. The refugees of Afghanistan in Iran, Pakistan, and an estimated 1.5 million nomads, are not included.): [26]

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total15,981,30315,408,86831,390,171100
0–42,853,2882,743,1035,596,39117.83
5–92,542,4052,379,6184,922,02315.68
10–142,220,0652,026,7964,246,86113.53
15–191,840,4321,727,2873,567,71911.37
20–241,371,1881,463,7972,834,9859.03
25–291,079,1171,177,5552,256,6727.19
30–34828 055818 3131,646,3685.24
35–39674 920661 9491,336,8694.26
40–44577 135611 0161,188,1513.79
45–49480 700511 608992 3083.16
50–54381 772396 026777 7982.48
55–59320 024308 966628 9902.00
60–64286 732229 605516 3371.64
65-69222 590161 851384 4411.22
70-74150 43699 412249 8480.80
75-7970 27142 288112 5590.36
80-8448 54026 54975 0890.24
85+33 63323 12956 7620.18
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–147,615,7587,149,51714,765,27547.04
15–647,840,0757,906,12215,746,19750.16
65+525 470353 229878 6992.80

Life expectancy

total population: 63.2 years (2019) [2] [3] [27]
country comparison to the world: 214
male: 63.3 years (2019) [2]
female: 63.2 years (2019) [2]

Life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan Life expectancy by WBG -Afghanistan -diff.png
Life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan
PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950–195528.61985–199047.7
1955–196031.11990–199551.7
1960–196533.41995–200054.2
1965–197035.62000–200556.9
1970–197537.82005–201060.0
1975–198040.42010–201562.3
1980–198543.62015-202063.2

Source: UN World Population Prospects [28]

Development and health indicators

Gathering of students in 2006 at a school in Nangarhar Province. School reopening, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.jpg
Gathering of students in 2006 at a school in Nangarhar Province.

Literacy

Definition: People over the age of 15 that can read and write
Total population: 43% (2018) [7]
Male: 55.5%
Female: 29.8%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years
male: 13 years
female: 8 years (2018)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.04% (2015) [7]

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

Up to 6,900 (2015 estimate) [7] [29]

In 2008, health officials in Afghanistan reported 504 [30] cases of people living with HIV but by the end of 2012 the numbers reached 1,327. The nation's health ministry stated that most of the HIV patients were among intravenous drug users and that 70% of them were men, 25% women, and the remaining 5% children. They belonged to Kabul, Kandahar and Herat, the provinces from where people make the most trips to neighbouring and foreign countries. [31] Regarding Kandahar, 22 cases were reported in 2012. "AIDS Prevention department head Dr Hamayoun Rehman said 1,320 blood samples were examined and 21 were positive. Among the 21 patients, 18 were males and three were females who contracted the deadly virus from their husbands. He said four people had reached a critical stage while three had died. The main source of the disease was the use of syringes used by drug addicts." [32] There are approximately 23,000 addicts in the country who inject drugs into their bodies using syringes
country comparison to the world: 168

HIV/AIDS – deaths

Up to 300 (2015 estimate) [7]

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: high

Note: WH5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk as of 2009.[ citation needed ]

Ethnic groups

An approximate distribution of the ethnolinguistic groups are listed in the chart below:

A CIA map showing the various Afghan tribal territories in 2005 Afghanistan ethnic groups 2005.jpg
A CIA map showing the various Afghan tribal territories in 2005
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan in 2001 US Army ethnolinguistic map of Afghanistan -- circa 2001-09.jpg
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan in 2001
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan in 1982 Afghanistan Ethnolinguistic Groups 1982.jpg
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan in 1982
Ethnic groups in Afghanistan
Ethnic groupImage2023 estimate based on native mother tongue [33] 2013 estimate [34] Pre-2004 estimates [35] [36] [37]
Pashtun Khost children in 2010.jpg 52.4%42%38–50%
Tajik Afghan children in Badakhshan Province-2012.jpg 32.1% [upper-alpha 1] 27%20–25.3%
Hazara Hazara people on the anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari's death in Kabul.jpg 9%12–19%
Uzbek Uzbek looking boy in northern Afghanistan.jpg 8.8%9%6–8%
Aimak 4%
Turkmen 1.9%3%2.5%
Baloch Men in Zaranj-cropped.jpg 0.9%2%
Others (Pashai, Nuristani, Arab, Brahui, Qizilbash, Pamiri, Gujjar, etc.) Young Pashai man with flowers in his hair.jpg 3.9%4%1–12%
  1. This number represents Dari Persian native speakers including Tajiks, Hazaras, Aimaks, Qizilbash and other smaller ethnicities.

The recent estimate in the above chart is somewhat supported by the below national opinion polls, which were aimed at knowing how a group of about 804 to 8,706 local residents in Afghanistan felt about the current war, political situation, as well as the economic and social issues affecting their daily lives. Ten surveys were conducted between 2004 and 2015 by the Asia Foundation (a sample is shown in the table below; the survey in 2015 did not contain information on the ethnicity of the participants) and one between 2004 and 2009 by a combined effort of the broadcasting companies NBC News, BBC, and ARD. [38] [39]

Answers regarding ethnicity provided by 804 to 13,943 Afghans in national opinion polls
Ethnic group"Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2004) [39]
"A survey of the Afghan people" (2004) [38]
"Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2005) [39] "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2006) [39] "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2007) [39] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2007) [38] "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2009) [39] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2012) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2014) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2018) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2019) [38]
Pashtun46%40%42%38%40.1%40%40%40%37%39%
Tajik39%37%37%38%35.1%37%33%36%37%37%
Hazara6%13%12%6%10.0%11%11%10%10%11%
Uzbek6%6%5%6%8.1%7%9%8%9%8%
Aimak0%0%0%0%0.8%0%1%1%1%<0.5%
Turkmen1%1%3%2%3.1%2%2%2%2%2%
Baloch0%0%0%3%0.7%1%1%1%1%<0.5%
Others (Pashayi, Nuristani, Kurdish, Arab, Qizilbash.)3%3%1%5%2.1%3%3%2%2%3%
Don't know-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%1%-%

Languages

Dari and Pashto are both official languages of Afghanistan. [5]

Uzbek and Turkmen are spoken as native languages in northern provinces, mainly among the Uzbeks and Turkmens. Smaller number of Afghans are also fluent in English, Urdu, Balochi, Arabic and other languages. An approximate distribution of languages spoken in the country is shown in the chart below:

Languages of Afghanistan
LanguageRecent estimate including both L1 and L2 speakers [40] Pre-1992 estimates including both L1 and L2 speakers [35] [41] [42]
Dari Persian (incl. Eastern, Hazaragi & Aimaqi)78%37-62% (incl. 25-50% Eastern, 9% Hazaragi & 3% Aimaqi)
Pashto (incl. Northern and Southern)50%35-50%
Uzbek 10%9%
English6%
Turkmen 2%500,000 speakers
Urdu 1%
Pashayi 1%
Nuristani 1%
Arabic 1%
Balochi 1%200,000
1note: data represent most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because there is much bilingualism in the country and because respondents were allowed to select more than one language
note: the Turkic languages Uzbek and Turkmen, as well as Balochi, Pashayi, Nuristani, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks them
[40]

Based on information from the latest national opinion polls, up to 51% stated that they can speak or understand Pashto and up to 79% stated that they can speak or understand Dari. Uzbek was spoken or understood by up to 11% and Turkmen by up to 7%. Other languages that can be spoken are Arabic (4%) and Balochi (2%). [38] [39]

Religion

Religion in Afghanistan (2015) [43]
ReligionPercent
Sunni Islam
89.7%
Shia Islam
10%
others
0.3%
Afghan politicians and foreign diplomats praying at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Muslim men praying in Afghanistan-2010.jpg
Afghan politicians and foreign diplomats praying at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Almost the entire Afghan population is Muslim, with less than 1% being non-Muslim. Despite attempts to secularise Afghan society, Islamic practices pervade all aspects of life. Likewise, Islamic religious tradition and codes, together with traditional practices, provide the principal means of controlling personal conduct and settling legal disputes. Islam was used as the main basis for expressing opposition to the progressive reforms of Afghanistan by King Amanullah in the 1920s.

The members of Sikh and Hindu communities are mostly concentrated in urban areas. They numbered hundreds of thousands in the 1970s but over 90% have since fled due to the Afghan wars and persecution. [44]

National opinion polls (religion)
Religion"A survey of the Afghan people" (2004) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2006) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2007) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2008) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2009) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2010) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2011) [38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2012) [38]
Sunni Islam 92%"87.3%"""""
Shia Islam 7%"12.3%"""""
Ismailism 1%"0.4%"""""
Hinduism 0%"0.1%"""""
Buddhism 0%"0%"""""
Sikhism 0%"0%"""""

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghans</span> People or citizens of Afghanistan

Afghans or Afghan people are nationals or citizens of Afghanistan, or people with ancestry from there. Afghanistan is made up of various ethnicities, of which Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks are the largest. The two main languages spoken by Afghans are Dari and Pashto and many Afghans are bilingual speaking both Dari and Pashto.

Afghan Turkestan, also known as Southern Turkestan, is a region in northern Afghanistan, on the border with the former Soviet republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. In the 19th century, there was a province in Afghanistan named Turkestan with Mazar-e Sharif as provincial capital. The province incorporated the territories of the present-day provinces of Balkh, Kunduz, Jowzjan, Sar-e Pol, and Faryab. In 1890, Qataghan-Badakhshan Province was separated from Turkestan Province. It was later abolished by Abdur Rahman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tajiks</span> Iranian ethnic group native to Central Asia

Tajiks are a Persian-speaking Iranian ethnic group native to Central Asia, living primarily in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Tajiks are the largest ethnicity in Tajikistan, and the second-largest in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. They speak varieties of Persian, a Western Iranian language. In Tajikistan, since the 1939 Soviet census, its small Pamiri and Yaghnobi ethnic groups are included as Tajiks. In China, the term is used to refer to its Pamiri ethnic groups, the Tajiks of Xinjiang, who speak the Eastern Iranian Pamiri languages. In Afghanistan, the Pamiris are counted as a separate ethnic group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dari</span> Variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan

Dari, also known as Dari Persian, is the variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan. Dari is the term officially recognised and promoted since 1964 by the Afghan government for the Persian language; it is known as Afghan Persian or Eastern Persian in many Western sources. The decision behind renaming the local variety of Persian was more political than linguistic to support an Afghan state narrative. Apart from a few basics of vocabulary, there is little difference between formal written Persian of Afghanistan and Iran; the languages are mutually intelligible. The term "Dari" is officially used for the characteristic spoken Persian of Afghanistan, but is best restricted to formal spoken registers. Afghanistan's Persian-speaking population still prefer to call their language "Farsi", asserting that the term "Dari" has been imposed upon them by the dominant Pashtun ethnic group as an effort to detach Afghanistan from its deep-rooted cultural, linguistic, and historical connections with the wider Persian-speaking world, encompassing Iran, Tajikistan, and parts of Uzbekistan. Dari is the official language for 35 million Afghans in Afghanistan and it serves as the lingua franca for interethnic communications in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kunduz Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Kunduz is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northern part of the country next to Tajikistan. The population of the province is around 1,136,677, which is mostly a tribal society; it is one of Afghanistan's most ethnically diverse provinces with many different ethnicities in large numbers living there. The city of Kunduz serves as the capital of the province. It borders the provinces of Takhar, Baghlan, Samangan and Balkh, as well as the Khatlon Region of Tajikistan. The Kunduz Airport is located next to the provincial capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balkh Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Balkh is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the north of the country. It is divided into 15 districts and has a population of about 1,509,183, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a Persian-speaking society. The city of Mazar-i-Sharif serves as the capital of the province. The Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport and Camp Marmal sit on the eastern edge of Mazar-i-Sharif.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kabul Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Kabul, situated in the east of the country, is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. The capital of the province is Kabul city, which is Afghanistan's capital and largest city. The population of the Kabul Province is over 5.5 million people as of 2022, of which over 85 percent live in urban areas. The current governor of the province is Qari Baryal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nimruz Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Nimruz or Nimroz is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the southwestern part of the country. It lies to the east of the Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran and north of Balochistan, Pakistan, also bordering the Afghan provinces of Farah and Helmand. It has a population of about 186,963 people. The province is divided into five districts, encompassing about 649 villages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parwan Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Parwan also spelled Parvan is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is the largest province of the Greater Parwan region and has a population of about 751,000. The province is multi-ethnic and mostly rural society. The province is divided into ten districts. The town of Imam Abu Hanifa serves as the provincial capital. The province is located north of Kabul Province and south of Baghlan Province, west of Panjshir Province and Kapisa Province, and east of Maidan Wardak Province and Bamyan Province. The province's famous tourism attraction is the Golghondi Hill, also known as “the flower hill,” located in Imam Azam about an hour away from the capital city of Kabul. After Panjshir this province has been considered as one of the main raising points of Afghanistan War against Soviets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farsiwan</span> Name of Persian speakers, esp. in Afghanistan

Fārsīwān is a contemporary designation for Persian speakers in Afghanistan and its diaspora elsewhere. More specifically, it was originally used to refer to a distinct group of farmers in Afghanistan and urban dwellers. In Afghanistan, original Farsiwans are found predominantly in Herat and Farah provinces. They are roughly the same as the Persians of eastern Iran. The term excludes the Hazāra and Aymāq tribes, who also speak dialects of Persian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qala e Naw District</span> District in Badghis, Afghanistan

Qala-e-Naw, also Qalay-e-Naw or Qalanou is a district in the west of Badghis Province, Afghanistan. The majority of its population are Sunni Hazaras, with significant numbers of Tajiks, Pashtuns, Balochs, Uzbeks, and Turkmens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghan clothing</span> Clothing worn in Afghanistan

Clothing in Afghanistan consists of the traditional style of clothing worn in Afghanistan. The various cultural exchanges in the nation's history have influenced the styles and flavors of contemporary Afghan designs. The national dress is the fusion of different ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The styles can be subdivided into the various ethnicities with unique elements for each. Traditional dresses for both men and women tend to cover the whole body, with trousers gathered at the waist, a loose shirt or dress, and some form of head covering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of Afghanistan</span>

Afghanistan is a linguistically diverse nation, with upwards of 40 distinct languages. However, Dari and Pashto are two of the most prominent languages in the country, and have shared official status under various governments of Afghanistan. Dari, as a shared language between multiple ethnic groups in the country, has served as a historical lingua franca between different linguistic groups in the region and is the most widely understood language in the country. Pashto is also widely spoken in the region; but the language does not have a diverse multi-ethnic population like Dari, and the language is not as commonly spoken by non-Pashtuns. Dari and Pashto are also "relatives", as both are Iranian languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethnic groups in Afghanistan</span> Overview of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a multiethnic and mostly tribal society. The population of the country consists of numerous ethnolinguistic groups: mainly the Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, and Uzbek and minorities of Aimaq, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashai, Nuristani, Gujjar, Brahui, Qizilbash, Pamiri, Kyrgyz, Sadat, and others. Altogether they make up the Afghan people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shindand District</span> District in Herat Province, Afghanistan

Shinḍanḍ District is located in the southern part of Herat Province in Afghanistan, bordering Adraskan District to the north, Ghor Province to the east and Farah Province to the south and west. It is one of the 16 districts of Herat Province. The name Shindand is Pashto and relates to lush green farming area. In Persian language it translates to Sabzwār.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badghis Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Bādghīs is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northwest of the country, on the border with Turkmenistan. It is considered to be one of the country's most underdeveloped provinces, with the highest poverty rate. The capital is Qala e Naw, while the most populous city and the district are Bala Murghab. The ruins of the medieval city of Marw al-Rudh, the historical capital of the medieval region of Gharjistan, are located in the province near the modern city of Bala Murghab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethnic groups of Pakistan</span> Overview of the ethnic groups of Pakistan

Pakistan is an ethnically and linguistically diverse country. The major Pakistani ethnolinguistic groups include Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Gujjar, Saraikis, Muhajirs, Balochs, Paharis and Brahuis, with significant numbers of Baltis, Kashmiris, Chitralis, Shina, Kohistanis, Torwalis, Hazaras, Burusho, Wakhis, Kalash, Siddis, Uzbeks, Nuristanis, Pamiris, Hindkowans, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Uyghurs and other various minorities.

As a geographically fragmented state, Afghanistan is separated into as many as 14 ethnic groups that have historically faced divisions that devolved into political violence. This conflict reached its culminating point in the 1990s with the rise of the Taliban.

Anti-Pashtun sentiment refers to dislike and hostility towards Pashtuns, Pashtun culture, or the Pashto language. This includes fear as well as resentment exhibited by non-Pashtun ethnic majorities who have suffered decades of persecution at the hands of Pashtuns, including disappearances, murder, slavery, Pashtunization, and genocide, especially the Hazaras.

Starting in the 1880s, various Pashtun-dominated governments of Afghanistan have pursued policies, called Pashtunization, aimed towards settling more ethnic Pashtuns in the northern region of Afghanistan.

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Further reading