Ethnic groups in Pakistan

Ethnic groups in Pakistan

About 99% of languages spoken in Pakistan are Indo-Iranian (sub-branches: 75% Indo-Aryan and 24% Iranian), a branch of Indo-European family of languages. Most languages of Pakistan are written in the Perso-Arabic script, with significant vocabulary derived from Arabic and Persian. Punjabi (Shahmukhi), Seraiki, Sindhi, Pashto, Urdu, Balochi, Kashmiri (Koshur), etc. are the general languages spoken within Pakistan. The majority of Pakistanis belong to various Indo-Aryan-speaking ethnic groups, while a large minority are various Iranic peoples. In addition, small groups of Dardic and Dravidian-speaking peoples live in isolated pockets, while numerous smaller groups are found in the extreme north. The major ethnic groups of Pakistan in numerical size include: Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Seraikis, Muhajirs, Balochis, Hindkowans, Memon, Chitralis and other smaller groups.

Pakistan will have a national census by late 2008. According to the last census, the population comprises several main ethnic groups:

#Punjabis (44.15%)
#Pashtuns (15.42%)
#Sindhis (14.1%)
#Seraikis (10.53%)
#Muhajirs (7.57%)
#Balochis (3.57%)
#Others (4.66%) including dispersed Kashmiris from Indian-held Kashmir.

Smaller ethnic groups, such as Turwalis, Kalash, Burusho, Hindkowans, Brahui, Kashmiris, Khowar, and Shina, are mainly found in the northern parts of the country. The people of the Potohar Plateau in Northern Punjab, (Potoharis) are sometimes listed separately from Punjabis. This would tend to decrease the Punjabs population further.

Pakistan's census does not include the approximately 2 million Afghan refugees (registered in Pakistan as "Afghan Citizens") from neighbouring Afghanistan, who are mainly found in the NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh provinces. [Government of Pakistan, National Database and Registration Authority [http://www.nadra.gov.pk/DesktopModules/top/topmore.aspx?tabID=0&ItemID=48&bID=0&Mid=3026 "(NADRA) Has Registered 2.15 Million Afghan Refugees"] ] The Afghans, including their children who were born in Pakistan, are expected to leave Pakistan by December 2009 back to Afghanistan. A number of refugees from other countries may also be found in Pakistan.

ee also

*Demographics of Pakistan

References

External links

* [http://www.nadra.gov.pk/site/1/default.aspx Government of Pakistan - National Database and Registration Authority]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ethnic groups of South Asia — The ethno linguistic composition of the population of South Asia, that is the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, as well as sometimes Afghanistan, mostly falls within two large groups, Dravidian and… …   Wikipedia

  • Ethnic groups in the Philippines — Map of the ethnic groups of the Philippines by province. Shade per province is determined on which group has the highest number of people; several provinces may be split into several ethnic groups. The Philippine islands are inhabited by number… …   Wikipedia

  • South Asian ethnic groups — The ethno linguistic composition of the population of South Asia, that is the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka is highly diverse. The majority of the population fall within two large Linguistic groups …   Wikipedia

  • List of lists of ethnic groups — The following is a list of lists of ethnic groups: By region * Africa ** North Africa ** Horn of Africa ** Sub Saharan Africa * Americas (indigenous) ** Brazil ** USA *** Alaska *** Hawaii ** Canada * Asia ** Southeast Asia *** Vietnam *** Laos… …   Wikipedia

  • List of ethnic groups in China — For the subgroups, see Han Chinese subgroups. Ethnolinguistic map of the People s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Multiple ethnic groups populate China, where China is taken to mean areas controlled by either of the two… …   Wikipedia

  • List of ethnic groups in Burma — An ethnolinguistic map of Burma Burma (Myanmar) is an ethnically diverse nation with 135 distinct ethnic groups officially recognized by the Burmese government. These are grouped into eight major national ethnic races : Kachin Kayah Kayin Chin… …   Wikipedia

  • Pakistan — This article is about the nation of Pakistan. For other uses, see Pakistan (disambiguation) and Pakistani (disambiguation). Islamic Republic of Pakistan …   Wikipedia

  • Ethnic cleansing — is a euphemism referring to the persecution through imprisonment, expulsion, or killing of members of an ethnic minority by a majority to achieve ethnic homogeneity in majority controlled territory. [ [http://www.merriam… …   Wikipedia

  • Ethnic Chinese in Mongolia — Total population 40,000 (1987 est.) 2% of the Mongolian population Regions with significant populations No data Languages Chinese, Mongolian Related ethnic groups Overseas Chinese …   Wikipedia

  • Ethnic Chinese in Panama — Total population 135,000 (2003) 4% of the Panamanian population Languages Chinese, Hakka, Spanish Religion Buddhism[1] …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”