Languages of Afghanistan

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Languages of Afghanistan

Ethnolinguistic groups of Afghanistan in 1997 (Hazaragi and Tajik are dialects of Persian)[1]

Official| Pashto, Dari
Regional| Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi, Nuristani
Minority| Arabic, Gujari, Urdu, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Sindhi
Foreign| English (c. 6%)[2]
Signed| Afghan Sign Language
Keyboard layout|

Pashto keyboard (ISIRI 9147)

Afghanistan is a linguistically diverse nation with upwards of 40 distinct languages spoken. Dari and Pashto serve as the two main official languages. Dari historically served as the lingua franca between different ethnic groups, particularly in the north and west and many big cities, while Pashto is the dominant language in the south and east.[3]

Dari is spoken by over 75% of the population in Afghanistan, followed by Pashto 48%, Uzbek 11%, English 6%, Turkmen 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashayi 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, and Balochi 1% (2020 est). Data represents the 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. 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.[4]

Both Farsi (Persian) and Pashto are Indo-European languages from the Iranian languages sub-family. Other regional languages, such as Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi, and Nuristani are spoken by minority groups across the country.

Minor languages include: Ashkunu, Kamkata-viri, Wasi-wari, Tregami, Kalasha-ala, Pamiri (Shughni, Munji, Ishkashimi and Wakhi), Brahui, Arabic, Pashai, Kyrgyz, and Punjabi.[5] Linguist Harald Haarmann believes that Afghanistan is home to more than 40 minor languages,[6] with around 200 different dialects.

## Overview

[edit]

Many local languages are dialects and/or endangered.[Note 1][6] Dari, as a shared language between multiple ethnic groups in the country, has, historically, served as a lingua franca between different groups in the region, and is the most widely understood language in the country.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][Note 2]

The Persian or Dari language functions as the nation's lingua franca and is the native tongue of several of Afghanistan's ethnic groups including the Tajiks, Hazaras, and Aimaqs.[14] Pashto is the native tongue of the Pashtuns, the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan.[15] Due to Afghanistan's multi-ethnic character, multilingualism is a common phenomenon.

The exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnolinguistic groups are unavailable since no systematic census has been held in Afghanistan in decades.[16] The table below displays estimates of the major languages spoken in Afghanistan per sample statistics:

Languages of Afghanistan  Language  | Recent estimates | Pre-1992 estimates[17][18][19]

|
|

L1[20] | L1 + L2[21] | L1 | L2
Dari[L 1] | 32.1%  | 77%  | 25–35%  |
Pashto[L 2] | 52.4%  | 48%  | 50–55%  | <10%
Turkic languages[L 3] | Uzbek | 8.8%  | 11%  | 11%  |
Turkmen | 1.9%  | 3%
other  |
other indigenous languages[L 4] | Balochi | 0.9%  | 1%  | 4%  |
Pashayi | 0.9%  | 1%
Nuristani | 1%
other
other non-indigenous languages  | English | –  | 6%  | unknown |
Urdu | 3%
Arabic | 1%
note: 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[21]

1. ^ incl. Eastern, Kabuli, Hazaragi & Aimaqi
2. ^ incl. Northern and Southern
3. ^ incl. Uzbek, Turkmen, Kazakh
4. ^ incl. Pashayi, Balochi, Nuristani, Brahui, Pamir, Gujari

Statistics vary considerably from source to source, the amount of total Dari (L1+L2) speakers tends to be the most consistent (77-80%). Between sources the amount of L1 speakers of Pashto and Dari vary considerably. With Encyclopedia Britannica estimating that roughly 1/2 of the population of Afghanistan speaks Dari natively, and "more than" 2/5 of Afghanistan speaking Pashto natively. While estimating a lower amount of native Pashto speakers then other sources, Britannica estimates that roughly 20% of the population spoke Pashto as a second language (an estimate higher that most other sources). Britannica also notes that many Pashtuns (particularly in urban areas) speak Dari as their first language, so the quantity of first language speakers is not a reliable indication of ethnicity.[22] Other sources may give higher estimates for L1 Pashto speakers but lower estimates for L2 speakers, and may give varying estimates for Dari depending on whether regional varieties of Dari such as Hazaragi and Aimaqi are counted as languages or dialects. Encyclopedia Iranica estimates that 50-55% of Afghanistan speaks Pashto as their native language, but estimates few second language speakers (no estimate was given, only that the amount of L2 speakers was "less than 10%"). Iranica also estimated 25% of Afghanistan natively speaking Dari[23] but also categorized varieties of Persian spoken in central Afghanistan as different languages as Dari, and gave no estimates to the percentage of non-Dari Persian speakers. Iranica also made no reference to how many ethnic Pashtuns spoke Dari as their first language.

A sizeable population in Afghanistan, especially in Kabul, can also speak and understand Urdu due to the mass migration of Afghan refugees during the Soviet–Afghan War.[24][25][26]

## Language policy

[edit]

The national official languages of the country are Dari and Pashto, first established by the 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan. Dari is the most widely spoken language of Afghanistan's languages and acts as a lingua franca for the country. In 1980, other regional languages were granted official status in the regions where they are the language of the majority.[27] This policy was codified in the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan, which established Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi, Nuristani, and Pamiri as official languages in areas where they are spoken by a majority of the population.[28] Officially, the Taliban government since 2021 has retained the national co-official status of Dari and Pashto as well as the regional status of ethnic minority languages.[29][30] However, the Taliban have been accused of restricting the use of Dari and ethnic minority languages including Uzbek, in favor of Pashto.[31][32]

## Language families

[edit]

| Afghanistan language families[33]

language |  | percent
Iranic |

| 85.4%
Turkic |

| 10.7%
Other
(Nuristani, Indo Aryan, Dravidian) |

| 3.9%

Since Afghanistan is predominantly located on the Iranian plateau, the majority of spoken languages belong to the family of Iranic languages. Turkic languages are spoken sparsely at the northern intersection of the plateau with Central Asia. Similarly, Nuristani languages and Dravidian languages are spoken sparsely at some regions where the plateau intersects with the Indian subcontinent.

## Endangered languages

[edit]

Until 2004, Dari and Pashto were the only languages promoted by the government. Though policy has since changed, it has still harmed many minority languages of the country. The table below shows endangered languages spoken in Afghanistan that are recognized by UNESCO.[34][35] UNESCO recognizes 23 endangered languages in Afghanistan, 12 of which are exclusively spoken in Afghanistan and one having gone extinct after UNESCO's survey.

Language  | UNESCO status  | Language group  | Language family  | Native to  | Speakers (all countries)

|
|
|
|
|

Ashkun | Definitely endangered  | Nuristani (Indo-Iranian)  | Indo-European | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 40,000 (2011)
Brahui | Vulnerable  | Northern Dravidian | Dravidian | Afghanistan, Pakistan  | 2,864,400 (2018)
Central Asian Arabic | Definitely endangered  | Semitic | Afro-Asiatic | Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan  | 6,000 (2003)
Gawar-Bati | Definitely endangered  | Indo-Aryan (Indo-Iranian)  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, Pakistan  | 9,500 (1992)
Kamkata-vari | Definitely endangered  | Nuristani  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, Pakistan  | 40,000 (2017)
Moghol | Moribund(i) | Moghol(ii) | Mongolic | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 200 (2003)(iii)
Munji | Severely endangered  | Iranian (Indo-Iranian)  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 5,300 (2008)
Nangalami | Severely endangered  | Indo-Aryan  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 5,000 (1994)
Ormuri | Definitely endangered  | Iranian  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, Pakistan  | 6,000 (2004)
Parachi | Definitely endangered  | Iranian  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 3,500 (2009)
Parya | Severely endangered  | Indo-Aryan  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan  | 2,600 (No Date)(iv)
Pashayi | Vulnerable  | Indo-Aryan  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 400,000 (2011)
Rushani | Definitely endangered  | Iranian  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, Tajikistan  | 18,000 (1990)
Savi | Definitely endangered  | Indo-Aryan  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 9,000 (2017)
Sanglechi | Severely endangered  | Iranian  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, Tajikistan  | 2,200 (2009)
Shughni | Vulnerable  | Iranian  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, Tajikistan  | 75,000 (1990)
Shumashti | Severely endangered  | Indo-Aryan  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 1,000 (1994)
Tirahi | Moribund(i) | Indo-Aryan  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 100 (undated)[36]
Tregami | Severely endangered  | Nuristani  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 3,500 (2011)
Kalasha-Ala | Definitely endangered  | Nuristani  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 12,000 (2011)
Wakhi | Definitely endangered  | Iranian  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan  | 58,000 (2012)
Wasi-Wari | Definitely endangered  | Nuristani  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (exclusively)  | 8,000 (2011)
Wotapuri-Katarqalai | Extinct (no living speakers left)  | Indo-Aryan  | Indo-European  | Afghanistan (formerly)  | 0

* ^(i) lit. "verge of death" Language has so few speakers, it is unlikely to survive unless immediate action is taken to preserve it
* ^(ii) Moghol is the only language in its branch
* ^(iii) Possibly Extinct
* ^(iv) Language has died or gone extinct in Afghanistan, but survives elsewhere.

## See also

[edit]

* Afghanistan portal

* Demographics of Afghanistan
* Ethnic groups in Afghanistan
* Turkic people in Afghanistan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The 1997 CIA World Factbook Afghanistan" (PDF).
2. ^ "Language data for Afghanistan".
3. ^ "Pashto". UCLA Language Materials Project. Archived from the original on 3 January 2009. "In Afghanistan, Pashto is second in prestige to Dari, the Iranian language spoken natively in the north and west. Because of the political power of the Pushtuns, however, Pashto has been a required subject in Dari middle schools, and as an official language has been one of the languages of the government. For practical purposes, however, Dari is the language of business and higher education, and so Pushtuns learn Dari."
4. ^ The World Factbook
5. ^ Wahab, Shaista; Youngerman, Barry (2007). A Brief History of Afghanistan. Infobase Publishing. p. 18\. ISBN 9781438108193. "Afghan Hindus and Sikhs speak Hindi or Punjabi in addition to Pashto and Dari."
6. ^ a b Harald Haarmann: Sprachen-Almanach – Zahlen und Fakten zu allen Sprachen der Welt. Campus-Verl., Frankfurt/Main 2002, ISBN 3-593-36572-3, S.273–274; Afghanistan
7. ^ The Asia Foundation. A Survey of the Afghan People: Afghanistan in 2019.
8. ^ The Asia Foundation. Afghanistan in 2013: A Survey of the Afghan People.
9. ^ The Asia Foundation. Afghanistan in 2006: A Survey of the Afghan People.
10. ^ "Documentation for ISO 639 identifier: prs". Sil.org. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
11. ^ "The World Factbook: Afghanistan". Cia.gov. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
12. ^ R. Farhadi and J. R. Perry, Kaboli, Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition, originally in Vol. XV, Fasc. 3, pp. 276–280, 2009.
13. ^ "Uncommon tongue: Pakistan's confusing move to Urdu". BBC News. 11 September 2015.
14. ^ "Languages of Afghanistan". Encyclopædia Britannica. 31 July 2023.
15. ^ "Ethnic groups". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2013. "Pashtun: Estimated to be in excess of 45% of the population, the Pashtuns have been the most dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan."
16. ^ O'toole, Pam (6 October 2004). "Afghan poll's ethnic battleground". BBC News. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
17. ^ "The World Factbok – Afghanistan". The World Factbook/Central Intelligence Agency. University of Missouri. 15 October 1991. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011. "Ethnic divisions: 50% Pashtun, 25% Tajik, 9% Uzbek, 12–15% Hazara[,] minor ethnic groups include Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others […] Language: 50% Pashtu, 35% Afghan Persian (Dari), 11% Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen), 4% thirty minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai)[,] much bilingualism"
18. ^ "AFGHANISTAN v. Languages". Ch. M. Kieffer. Encyclopædia Iranica. 15 December 1983. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2025. " Official languages. Paṧtō (1) promoted to the status of official language by royal decree in 1936, is the native tongue of 50 to 55 percent of Afghans; as a second language it is spoken by less than 10 percent of the population. The Paṧtō-speaking areas are located in the east, the south, and the southwest of the country. Important colonies of nāqelīn (displaced populations) have settled in Bactria. Persian (2) is the language most spoken in Afghanistan. The native tongue of twenty five percent of the population, it is split into numerous dialects."
19. ^ "Languages of Afghanistan". SIL International. Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
20. ^ "Afghanistan: Country data and statistics". Archived from the original on 4 January 2024.
21. ^ a b "Languages – The World Factbook". www.cia.gov.
22. ^ "Languages of Afghanistan". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
23. ^ "AFGHANISTAN v. Languages". Encyclopedia Iranica. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
24. ^ Rahi, Arwin (16 December 2021). "When Urdu was the most spoken foreign language in Afghanistan". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
25. ^ Hakala, Walter N. (2012). "Languages as a Key to Understanding Afghanistan's Cultures" (PDF). National Geographic. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018. "In the 1980s and '90s, at least three million Afghans--mostly Pashtun--fled to Pakistan, where a substantial number spent several years being exposed to Hindi- and Urdu-language media, especially Bollywood films and songs, and being educated in Urdu-language schools, both of which contributed to the decline of Dari, even among urban Pashtuns."
26. ^ Krishnamurthy, Rajeshwari (28 June 2013). "Kabul Diary: Discovering the Indian connection". Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. Retrieved 13 March 2018. "Most Afghans in Kabul understand and/or speak Hindi, thanks to the popularity of Indian cinema in the country."
27. ^ "AFGHANISTAN v. Languages". Ch. M. Kieffer. Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 8 April 2012. "A. Official languages. Paṧtō (1) is the native tongue of 50 to 55 percent of Afghans... Persian (2) is the language most spoken in Afghanistan. The native tongue of twenty five percent of the population, it is split into numerous dialects."
28. ^ "What Languages are Spoken in Afghanistan?". 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2012. "Pashto and Dari are the official languages of the state. are – in addition to Pashto and Dari – the third official language in areas where the majority speaks them"
29. ^ گفت‌وگوی زهرا مشتاق، روزنامه‌نگار ایرانی با ذبیح‌الله مجاهد، سخنگوی طالبان [Interview between Iranian journalist Zahra Mushtaq and Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid]. Iran International (in Persian). YouTube. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
30. ^ "MFA denies rumors that Taliban excludes the study of Uzbek language from school curriculum". Kun.uz. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
31. ^ Leake, Elisabeth (May 2023). "Constitutions and Modernity in Post-Colonial Afghanistan: Ethnolinguistic Nationalism and the Making of an Afghan Nation-State". Law and History Review. 41 (2): 295–315\. doi:10.1017/S0738248022000530.
32. ^ "Citizens say Taliban ignore Uzbek language on National Uzbek Language Day". Amu TV. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
33. ^ "Afghanistan: Country data and statistics".
34. ^ Evans, Lisa (15 April 2011). "Endangered languages: the full list". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
35. ^ "Atlas of the world's languages in danger". UNESDOC Digital Library. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
36. ^ "Tirahi". Ethnologue.

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Many of Afghanistan's languages are quite small, with many being on the verge of extinction. See § Endangered languages
2. ^ See Languages of Afghanistan § Overview

## Further reading

[edit]

* Language Policy and Language Conflict in Afghanistan and Its Neighbors: The Changing Politics of Language Choice

## External links

[edit]

* Distribution of languages map from Columbia University
* Linguistic map of Afghanistan

* v
* t
* e

Languages of Afghanistan

Official languages|

* Dari
* Pashto

* Afghanistan portal

Regional languages|

* Balochi
* Nuristani (language family)
* Pashayi
* Tajiki
* Turkmen
* Uzbek

Minority languages|

* Ashkun
* Brahui
* Katë
* Khowar
* Kyrgyz
* Moghol
* Nuristani Kalasha
* Pamiri
* Ishkashimi
* Munji
* Shughni
* Yidgha
* Prasun
* Tregami
* Wakhi
* Zemiaki

Sign languages|

* Afghan Sign Language

* v
* t
* e

Languages of Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan

Dependencies and
other territories|

* British Indian Ocean Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Hong Kong
* Macau

* Category
* Asia portal

* v
* t
* e

Major languages of South Asia

Languages of|

* Afghanistan
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* India
* list by number of speakers
* scheduled
* classical
* Maldives
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Sri Lanka

Contemporary
languages|

| Great Andamanese|

* Aka-Jeru
* Aka-Bo

|

Dravidian|

* Brahui
* Kannada
* Malayalam
* Tamil
* Telugu
* Tulu

Germanic|

* English
* Bangladeshi
* Indian
* Nepalese
* Pakistani
* Sri Lankan

Indo-Aryan|

* Angika
* Assamese
* Bhojpuri
* Bengali
* Chakma
* Chittagonian
* Dhivehi
* Dogri
* Gujarati
* Hindustani
* Hindi
* Urdu
* Hinglish
* Hindko
* Kashmiri
* Konkani
* Kumaoni
* Magahi
* Mahal
* Maithili
* Marathi
* Nepali
* Odia
* Punjabi
* Rajasthani
* Rangpuri
* Sanskrit
* Saraiki
* Sindhi
* Sinhala
* Sylheti

Iranian|

* Balochi
* Dari
* Pashto
* Wakhi

Isolates|

* Burushaski
* Nihali
* Kusunda

Khasic|

* Khasi
* Lyngngam
* Pnar
* War

Malay creoles|

* Sri Lankan Creole Malay

Munda|

* Ho
* Korku
* Mundari
* Santali
* Sora

Nicobaric|

* Car
* Central Nicobarese
* Chaura
* Southern Nicobarese
* Teressa

Ongan|

* Önge
* Jarawa

Romance|

* French
* Portuguese

Sino-Tibetan|

* Ao
* Balti
* Bodo
* Dzongkha
* Garo
* Hajong
* Ladakhi
* Limbu
* Meitei
* Mizo
* Nepal Bhasa
* Sikkimese
* Tenyidie
* Tibetan
* Tripuri

Turkic|

* Turkmen
* Uzbek

Scripts|

| Historical|

* Brahmi (Abugida)
* Greek
* Indus (Undeciphered)
* Kharosthi

|

Arabic|

* Arabi Malayalam
* Arwi
* Nastaliq
* Shahmukhi

Brahmic|

* Devanagari
* Bengali
* Gujarati
* Gurmukhi
* Malayalam
* Kannada
* Odia
* Ranjana
* Sinhala
* Tamil
* Telugu

Old Italic|

* Latin

Other|

* Thaana

Prestige language-

influence|

* Englishisation
* Hinglish
* Perso-Arabization
* Urdu
* Sanskritisation

Activism|

* Bengali movement
* Hela Havula
* Meitei associate official language movement
* Meitei classical language movement
* Meitei linguistic purism movement
* Newar movement
* Nepali movement
* Punjabi Movement
* Pure Tamil movement
* Sanskrit revival
* Urdu movement

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