Ethnic Composition in Afghanistan

[Admin Khan]

Ethnic Composition in Afghanistan

I've noticed a lot of members here are citing fake sources when it comes to the demographics of Afghanistan. So I decided today to upload this image to our server. It gives us a clear picture of our ethnic composition by various sources.

[IamDZJ]

poor pashaies.. any kela or kitaliks around in here?

[IamDZJ]

kelah or kitalik.

[Admin Khan]

We haven't had a recent census yet. I believe they are planning to have one.(For which I am against)However, I think those sources above clearly show that Pashtuns are dominant in Afghanistan. The above are authoritative sources. In fact, some even go as far as saying Pashtuns are near 70 percent.

I think we are easily over 50 percent.

[afghan]

Sher Khan we now have sources that show above 50 percent. Now what?

wrora these sources are not ligitimate unless ISI has approved them.

[afghan]

Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%

source (cia.gov)

these numbers emerged in 2001 when the american decided who to rule afghanistan, it was to prove that pashtun werenot majority to weaken pashtun they put those numbers, they have even mentioned 35%.

[Admin Khan]

According to a representative survey, named "A survey of the Afghan people - Afghanistan in 2006", a combined project of The Asia Foundation, the Indian Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) and the Afghan Center for Socio-economic and Opinion Research (ACSOR), the distribution of the ethnic groups is:

• 40.9% Pashtun
• 37.1% Tajik
• 9.2% Hazara
• 9.2% Uzbek
• 1.7% Turkmen
• 1.2% Kurds
• 0.5% Baloch
• 0.1% Aimak
• 1.3% other

According to another representative survey, named "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand", a combined effort by the American broadcasting channel ABC News, the British BBC, and the German ARD (from the years 2004 to 2009), and released on February 9th 2009, the ethnic composition of the country is (avarege numbers):

• 41% Pashtun
• 38% Tajik
• 10% Hazara
• 6% Uzbek
• 2% Turkmen
• 1.2% Kurds
• 1% Nuristani
• 1% Baloch
• 1% other

Respected Sher Khan,

The source I provided had different surveys and censuses from all different kind of countries such as Pakistan, Iran etc. The one you provided are very similar to the partial count of 1979. The Encyclopædia Iranica in a July 1982 article by Louis Dupree gave similar numbers to what you stated. Just a 1 or 2 percent difference. Your telling me we did not have babies for nearly 30 years? or did we go through some sort of genocide in which we lost such an excessive amount of our population? Im my humble opinion, I think we are over 50 percent linguistically and over 60 percent racially.

WAK Foundation and many others are authoritative sources like I stated earlier, I hope this clears any misconceptions you might have. Also many Governments like to downplay the role of Pashtuns in Afghan politics for their own strategic interests. Its a way to fuel ethnic tensions when you carefully analyze and think about it.

"Look Tajiks, Pashtuns are only 38 percent yet all the important governmental positions are held by them. Go make riots and protest in front of the presidential palace!"

[pukhtana]

Respected Sher Khan,

The source I provided had different surveys and censuses from all different kind of countries such as Pakistan, Iran etc. The one you provided are very similar to the partial count of 1979. The Encyclopædia Iranica in a July 1982 article by Louis Dupree gave similar numbers to what you stated. Just a 1 or 2 percent difference. Your telling me we did not have babies for nearly 30 years? or did we go through some sort of genocide in which we lost such an excessive amount of our population? Im my humble opinion, I think we are over 50 percent linguistically and over 60 percent racially.

WAK Foundation and many others are authoritative sources like I stated earlier, I hope this clears any misconceptions you might have. Also many Governments like to downplay the role of Pashtuns in Afghan politics for their own strategic interests. Its a way to fuel ethnic tensions when you carefully analyze and think about it.

"Look Tajiks, Pashtuns are only 38 percent yet all the important governmental positions are held by them. Go make riots and protest in front of the presidential palace!"

could not have said it better myself.

[Admin Khan]

manana wrora.


When is the census expected, I guess it will define everything.

A census is the worst thing possible for Pashtuns right now. Think about it Sher Khan, our population is currently displaced. If they have a census it will be an attempt to make us appear as a minority.

The only way we can have a proper census is when Afghanistan has peace and stability. That way we can truly see what the ethnic compositions are. If Afghanistan does not prosper many of its inhabitants will not return to a war-torn country in which the quality of life is the lowest not to mention the high unemployment rates etc. All these factors make will make the results of the census inaccurate. Take Pakistan for example there are well over a million Pashtuns from Afghanistan presently residing in Pakistan. I am sure you are well aware that them not being in Afghanistan during the supposed planned census is something many countries want since it will make a crucial difference in the statistical measures.

Anyways, I hope you are in great health.

-Admin Khan

[Admin Khan]

Atleast 3 million are here in pakistan and that would make atleast 10 -20% in census. You are right about it.

If you visit Karachi, you might even go as far as saying 5 million Afghans are in Pakistan. Its nearly impossible for the Pakistan Government to send them back home. They are contributing to the Pakistani Economy. They also have difficulties in proving that they are from Afghanistan to begin with.

For example, If a Pakistani official asks a Kandahary where he is from all he has to say is Quetta. Where in Quetta? Right by Satellite town or Kandahary Bazaar. Now good luck proving him wrong, If you know what I mean. Not to mention how easy it is to create a fake passport or Identity card in Pakistan.

[pukhtana]

I tried explaining that to him.

[Millatpal Noorzai]

I am very much against a CENSUS in current circumstances and so is Karzai,i took him in confidence

[Nick]

Good job brother but all of these sources are prior to 2000.
Can you provide any fresh source which shows that pashtuns make more 50% of afghan population.

I personally believe we had none so far, but it will be there, however everyone is sure Pashtu speakers are majority and that's what matters 70% 80% or 45% makes no difference. What makes a difference is that how many of Percentage wants a strong standing Afghanistan.


BTW Admin thanks

[amna.]

thanks for sharing Admin Khan.

Nick I think they all want a strong standing Afghanistan.

[Levanaye Zalmaye]

A strong standing Afghanistan in which Pashtuns are marginalized and are not in an overtly dominant position is just as useless as a strong Pakistan in which Pashtuns represent an ignored and neglected minority.

Pashtuns, through war and migration, have become a cultural minority in their own country, representing barely half the population of Afghanistan. Remember, more than two-thirds of the people that left Afghanistan were Pashtun. This demographic shift is a reality. Now, Afghanistan has become a purely multicultural state.

If such a 'strong' Afghanistan or Pakistan would result in the betterment of the lives of the ordinary Pashtun, it would be most a welcomed development. However, all of that would mean nothing unless it furthers our dream as a nation to have a modern state of our own, a state that speaks solely and exclusively for Pashtuns.