Population of afghanistan approximately 26 million people country of minorities meaning there are many small ethnic groups each defined by their religions, wealth, and political beliefs although there are a collection of several small groups, some are more powerful than others. Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in afghanistan, comprising 42 percent of the population or. Karzai entered afghanistan after living in exile for years in neighboring pakistan. Afghans have historically identified or associated with ethnic groups, however specific data as to the. Pashtun the pashtun are the dominant ethnic group in afghanistan and. Center afghanistan and central asia ethnic groups le monde diplomatique. Afghanistans national anthem recognizes 14 ethnic groups among the countrys 27 million people. They are the third largest ethnic group after the pashtuns and the tajiks. Nov 20, 2001 there is no majority ethnic group in afghanistan. Ethnic groups of afghanistan by yoda noori on prezi. The types of diversity in asia are cultural, religious, economic and historical.
The afghan pushtun heartland roughly covers a large crescentshaped belt following the afghanpakistani border on the east, southward from nuristan, across the south, and northward. Ethnic groups of pakistan simple english wikipedia, the. Feb 19, 2014 in afghanistan, a growing uproar over ethnicity pashtun, tajik, hazara and uzbek has many concerned about possible violence, especially those who remember the countrys civil war. Afghan ethnicities presentation notes flashcards quizlet. Aug 17, 2009 historically, ethnic group divisions have made a central government difficult pashtun, tajik and hazara are the most populous groups in afghanistan for more, go to in depth. The border was established in 1893 via an agreement between abdur rahman khan, the emir or ruler of afghanistan, and sir mortimer durand, foreign secretary of the british raj.
Central asia is a diverse land with many ethnic groups, languages, religions and tribes. The pashtun are the largest minority, making up some 38 percent of the population, but like the tajik 25 percent, hazara 19 percent and uzbek 6 percent they are part of a group whose majority lives in another country. Pashtun, tajik, hazara, uzbek, aimaq, turkmen, baloch, pashayi, nuristani. Smaller ethnic groups found throughout the nation include kashmiris, kalash, siddi, burusho, wakhis, khowar, hazara, shina, kalyu baltis and jatts. Pdf this paper evaluates the language policy and plannings lpp. At least two major ethnic groupsthe pashtuns and the baluchslive on both sides of the durand line.
Afghanistan, landlocked multiethnic country located in the heart of southcentral asia. And even the peculiar mirrorimage model of governance that currently prevails in kabul is due in large part to neither the pashtun ghani nor the tajiklinked abdullah wanting to hand the reins over to a member of a competing ethnic bloc. Media in category ethnic groups in afghanistan the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. The pashtun 40% are afghanistans largest ethnic group, and mostly. Afghan army struggles with ethnic divisions world news. Lying along important trade routes connecting southern and eastern asia to europe and the middle east, afghanistan has long been a prize sought by empire builders. Map showing the regions where dari and other persian dialects are spoken. Cia map showing the territory of the settlement of ethnic groups and subgroups in afghanistan 2005 afghanistan is a multiethnic society. On this map, both the baloch and pashtun ethnolinguistic groups straddle the 2640kilometer 1640mile border between afghanistan and pakistan, known as the durand line. Can you name the afghanistans major ethnic groups based on the map. Of the 31 million or so afghan residents, 42% are pashtun, 27% tajik, 9% hazara, 9% uzbek, 4% aimak, 3% turkmen, 2% baloch and 4% fall into an unspecified other group. Afghan ethnic tensions rise in media and politics the new.
As you would expect, there is a diverse range of ethnic groups within the country. Resetting pakistans relations with afghanistan crisis group. Afghan ethnic tensions rise in media and politics the. The northern alliance are mainly uzbeks, tajiks and hazaras. The population of the country is divided into a wide variety of ethnolinguistic groups. The population of the country is divided into the following ethnolinguistic groups. The major ethnic groups of pakistan include muslim punjabis, pashtuns, sindhis, saraikis, muhajirs, baloch, paharis, hindkowans, chitralis and other smaller groups. Afghanistans ethnic groups share a ychromosomal heritage.
Hamid karzai, a royalist and ethnic pashtun, is sworn in as the leader of the interim government in afghanistan. Pashtun, tajik, hazara, uzbek, aymaq, turkmen, baloch, pashai, nuristani, gujjar, arab. Policy congressional research service 1 background afghanistan has a history of a high degree of decentralization, and resistance to foreign invasion and occupation. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. The hazara is the third largest ethnic group in afghanistan. The following map outlines the distribution of major ethnic and tribal groups in afghanistan.
Turkmen are a minority in afghanistan they can also be found near. Afghanistan maps perrycastaneda map collection ut library. Like a number of other afghan ethnic groups, the pushtun extend beyond afghanistan into pakistan where they constitute a major ethnic group of about 14 million. Map compiled by brian wolly for pbs online newshour. History and conflict between ethnic groups in afghanistan. Cia map showing the territory of the settlement of ethnic groups and subgroups in afghanistan 2005. Power politics of ethnic groups and the future of afghanistan posted in afghanistan 08jul11 author. Aug 14, 2011 ethnic groups often form an individuals perceptions, behaviours and interactions in society. The percentages given are estimates only, as accurate and current statistical data on ethnicity are not available. Pashtun 52%, tajik 25%, uzbek 6%, hazara 12%, other 5%. To this day, each ethnic group has its chief power broker. It has been inhabited since the paleolithic and later became a crossroad for expanding civilizations and empires. Smaller ethnic groups found throughout the nation include kashmiris, kalash, siddi, burusho, wakhis, khowar, hazara, shina, kalyu baltis and jatts pakistans census does not include the 1.
Ethnic distribution in afghanistan geopolitical monitor. Afghanistans location, history, and diverse ethnic groups present a unique opportunity to explore how nations and ethnic groups emerged, and how major cultural evolutions and technological developments in human history. Afghanistan ethnic map 2005 afghanistan is a multi ethnic country the ethnic groups are such as. Afghanistan administrative divisions 2009 617k and pdf format 736k. There has been a debate as to who qualifies to be pashtun but the widely agreed view is that pashtuns are eastern iranian people who speak pashto as their first language. Many more live now in western pakistan due to the imposition, in 1893, by the british, of an artificial frontier between the two countries the durrani. Afghanistan history, map, flag, capital, population. Country profile map 215k and pdf format 216k iraq ethnoreligious groups 1992 from iraq a map folio 112k iraq distribution of religious groups and ethnic groups from map no. Major ethnic groups in pakistan, 1973 about 98% of languages spoken in pakistan are indoiranian subbranches. Pashtun peoples are the largest ethnic group in the south of the country, while tajiks and uzbeks are concentrated along the norther borders, and the hazara in the central highlands. An ethnolinguistic map of showing different language and cultural groups across afghanistan and pakistan.
Also, this map has major errors because it is missing aimaks, kyrgys, qizilbash, and brahuis who are different ethnic groups mentioned by names in the constitution of afghanistan chapter 1, article 4, the afghan national anthem. Afghanistan ethnic map 2005 afghanistan is a multiethnic country the ethnic groups are such as. It should be noted that the population of afghanistan is not determined by districts. Can you name the afghanistan s major ethnic groups based on the map. The fragmentation of the communist peoples democratic party of afghanistan along ethnic lines in the 1960s1980s in spite of support and pressure from the soviet union is a prime example.
The ethnic groups of afghanistan pashtun peoples are the largest ethnic group in the south of the country, while tajiks and uzbeks are concentrated along the norther borders, and the hazara in the central highlands. Sunni muslim 84%, shia muslim 15%, other hindu, jewish, christians 1%. After decades of fighting, afghanistan has become a patchwork of different ethnic groups, each with their own allegiances to neighbouring countries. The last national census was conducted in the 1970s. They are persianspeaking and reside mainly in the hazarajat region in central afghanistan. The war in afghanistan has vastly changed the balance of power among the ethnic groups. Ethnic groups in afghanistan simple english wikipedia, the. Ethnic groups in afghanistan simple english wikipedia. The pashtuns are the largest ethnic group of afghanistan constituting between 40% to 50% of the total population of the country. Although soviet union occupation plays a role in the disaster, afghanistan has many different ethnic groups, resulting in the major struggles between them, which leads towards violence, and hatred. Pakistan and afghanistan institute for the study of war. The ethnic balance we have tried to work out here is, i think, 11 for the pashtuns, eight for the tajiks, five for the hazaras, three for the uzbeks and one or two for the others, the smaller groups. Some ethnic minorities are not depicted on this map, e. Afghanistan has held a strategic position throughout history.
Linguistically the hazara speak a dialect of persian, known as hazaragi, and sometimes their variant is interspersed with. Although soviet union occupation plays a role in the disaster, afghanistan has many different ethnic groups, resulting in the major struggles between them, which leads. Iraq distribution of ethnoreligious groups and major tribes 2003 from iraq. Afghanistan and pakistan ethnic groups national geographic. The taleban are predominantly made up of pashtun, which account for about 50% of the population. These maps show the artificial nature of the borders of pakistan and afghanistan. The ethnic groups have adapted to mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests, while on the coasts of asia, resident ethnic groups have adopted various methods of harvest and transport. We combine highresolution population data landscan 2008 and maps that bound areas in which ethnic groups reside to estimate ethnic group population numbers. The current afghan president, hamid karzai, is a descendant of the durrani. Map showing the largest ethnic group in each district of afghanistan.
Over 50% of pakistans territory is populated by ethnic groups with little enthusiasm for islamabad. Afghanistan ethnic groups map the map indicates the concentrations of ethnic group in the cities of afghanistan. Kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, turkmenistan, tajikistan, and uzbekistan, which have a total population of about 72 million. After decades of fighting, afghanistan has become a patchwork of different ethnic groups, each with their own allegiances to neighboring countries. Pashtun, tajik, hazara, uzbek, baloch, turkmen, nuristani, pamiri, arab, gujar. Test your knowledge on this geography quiz to see how you do and compare your score to others. While it will require considerable effort to end deepseated animosity, both countries share close ethnic, linguistic, religious and economic ties. In such an ethnically diverse country like afghanistan maps like this can be confusing rather than enlightening. May 08, 20 in the 90s, afghanistan s civil war broke down largely along ethnic lines. Pakistans relations with afghanistan have been largely characterised by mutual mistrust and devised through a narrow security prism. Ahmad noor power politics means the use of force or threat to use force by political parties, nations, groups, subgroups or individuals to protect, preserve or to. The hazaras seem to have partial mongolian origins with admixture from surrounding indigenous, iranianspeaking groups. Some experts believe that without careful mediation of the tensions between these groups, iraq could dissolve into ethnic conflict and even civil war.
Lying along important trade routes connecting southern and eastern asia to europe and the middle east, afghanistan has long been a prize sought by empire builders, and for millennia great armies have attempted to subdue it, leaving traces of their efforts in great monuments now fallen to ruin. Many provinces have nearequal distributions of some ethnicites so displaying the largest ethnic group by a margin of a few percent can lead to a misleading perspective. Pdf geographic, ethnic and linguistic composition of afghanistan. Most languages of pakistan are written in the persoarabic script, with significant vocabulary derived from arabic and persian. Afghanistan population 2020 demographics, maps, graphs.
Most are former warlords, who cut deals over the distribution. Afghanistan s population is divided into several ethnolinguistic groups, which are represented in the ethnolinguistic map and listed in the chart below. Afghanistans 2004 constitution recognizes 14 ethnic groups. Note the borders before british and russian imperialism in the map below of the borders of 1849. On this map, both the baloch and pashtun ethnolinguistic groups straddle the 2640kilometer 1640mile border between afghanistan and pakistan, known as the durand line the border was established in 1893 via an agreement between abdur rahman khan, the emir or ruler of afghanistan, and sir mortimer durand, foreign secretary of the british raj.
The nations which make up central asia are five of the former soviet republics. Demographics top at least two major ethnic groupsthe pashtuns and the baluchslive on both sides of the durand line. Afghanistan is a multiethnic and mostlytribal society. By vivian nemenyi afghanistan is a warzone, filled with treachery and hatred spewing from different ethnic groups. The crisis and politics of ethnicity in afghanistan. Gis vector dataset of ethnoreligious areas in iraq, based on distribution of ethnoreligious groups and tribes, cia country profile, 2003. Power politics of ethnic groups and the future of afghanistan. Raisa masud and yelda nuri turkmen hazara make up about 20% of the population of afghanistan of mongolian descent sunni muslim have been massacred for ethnic cleansing. Map compiled by brian wolly for pbs online newshour, based on. Jul 30, 2019 pashtun is an ethnic group predominant in afghanistan and pakistan characterized as warriors.
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