Republic of Afghanistan. De Afghanistan Jamhuriat. National or official languages: Eastern Farsi, Southern Pashto. 21,354,000 (1998 UN), including an estimated 2,500,000 nomads. Literacy rate 31.5% 15 years and older: male 47.2%, female 15%. Also includes Western Panjabi 35,000, Parsi-Dari 350,000, Tatar 350, Urdu. Information mainly from G. Buddress 1960; A. Farhadi 1967; A. Grjunberg 1968, 1971; T. Sebeok 1970; R. Strand 1973; G. Morgenstierne 1974; L. Dupree 1980; J. R. Payne 1987. Sunni Muslim, Shi’a Muslim, Hindu. Blind population 200,000 (1982 WCE). Data accuracy estimate: C. The number of languages listed for Afghanistan is 45. Of those, all are living languages. Diversity index 0.70.
| AIMAQ | [AIQ]
480,000 in Afghanistan (1993) including 1,000 Jamshidi (1978 MARC). Population total all countries 800,000 (1980 Dupree).
Alternate names: BARBARI, BERBERI, CHAHAR-AIMAQ, CHAR AIMAQ.
Dialects: TAIMURI (TEIMURI, TIMURI, TAIMOURI), TAIMANI, ZOHRI (ZURI), JAMSHIDI (JAMSHEDI, DJAMCHIDI, YEMCHIDI, DZHEMSHID), FIROZKOHI, MALIKI, MIZMAST, CHINGHIZI, ZAINAL.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.
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| ARABIC, TAJIKI SPOKEN | [ABH]
5,000 in Afghanistan (1967 Farhadi). Spoken in a few villages west of Daulatabad (Khushalabad), near Balkh (Yakhdan), Aq Chah (Sultan Aregh), Shibarghan (Hassanabad), and south of Talukan in Takhar Province; 4 northern provinces. Some in Uzbekistan.
Dialects: BALKH ARABIC.
Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
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| ASHKUN | [ASK]
7,000 195,000 in all Nuristani groups (1993). Pech Valley around Wama, northwest of Asadabad in Kunar Province.
Alternate names: ASHKUND, ASHKUNI, WAMAYI, WAMAIS.
Dialects: ASHURUVERI (KOLATA, TITIN BAJAYGUL), GRAMSUKRAVIRI, SURUVIRI (WAMAI).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani.
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| AZERBAIJANI, SOUTH | [AZB]
Afshari dialect spoken in small groups north of Kabul, Chandaul quarter of Kabul city, also some in Herat city.
Alternate names: AZERI.
Dialects: AFSHARI (AFSHAR, AFSAR).
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani.
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| BALOCHI, WESTERN | [BGN]
200,000 in Afghanistan (1979 estimate). Along Helmand River and Zaranj area, in the southwest desert region.
Alternate names: BALUCHI, BALUCI, BALOCI.
Dialects: RAKHSHANI (RAXSHANI).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi.
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| BRAHUI | [BRH]
200,000 in Afghanistan (1980 Dupree). Among the Baluchi in the south, from Shorawak to Chakhansoor.
Alternate names: BRAHUIKI, BIRAHUI, KUR GALLI.
Classification: Dravidian, Northern.
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| DARWAZI | [DRW]
10,000 (1983). Town of Darwaz on the Amu Darya River, in the northernmost tip of Afghanistan. May also be in Tajikistan.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.
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| DOMARI | [RMT]
Dialects: CHURI-WALI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Dom.
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| FARSI, EASTERN | [PRS]
5,600,000 25% to 50% of population (1996). Population total both countries 7,000,000.
Alternate names: PERSIAN, DARI, PARSI.
Dialects: DARI (AFGHAN FARSI, HERATI, TAJIKI, KABOLI, KABULI, KHORASANI), PARSIWAN.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.
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| GAWAR-BATI | [GWT]
8,000 in Afghanistan. Population total both countries 9,500 (1992).
Alternate names: GOWARI, NARSATI, NARISATI, ARANDUI, SATRE.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kunar.
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| GRANGALI | [NLI]
5,000 (1994). Grangali and Zemiaki in 2 small valleys on the south side of the Pech River at Kandai. Nangalami was in Ningalam village where the Waigal River meets the Pech River, but there may be no speakers left.
Alternate names: GELANGALI, JUMIAKI.
Dialects: NANGALAMI (NINGALAMI), GRANGALI, ZEMIAKI (ZAMYAKI).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kunar.
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| GUJARI | [GJU]
2,000 or fewer in Afghanistan (1994). Nomads travelling in the summer in the valleys of eastern Afghanistan.
Alternate names: GUJURI RAJASTHANI, GOJRI, GOJARI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Rajasthani, Unclassified.
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| HAZARAGI | [HAZ]
1,403,000 in Afghanistan (1989), 9% of the population (1989). Population total all countries 1,756,000 to 6,000,000.
Alternate names: AZARGI, HAZARA, HEZAREH.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.
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| JAKATI | [JAT]
1,000 in Afghanistan (1967). Kabul (25 families); Jalalabad (50 families); Charikar (15 families).
Alternate names: JATI, JATU, JAT, JATAKI, KAYANI, MUSALI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Lahnda.
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| KAMVIRI | [QMV]
4,000 in Afghanistan (1973 R. Strand). Population total both countries 6,000.
Alternate names: KAMDESHI, LAMERTIVIRI, SHEKHANI, KAMIK.
Dialects: KAMVIRI, SHEKHANI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani.
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| KARAKALPAK | [KAC]
2,000 in Afghanistan. North of Jalalabad, also some south of Mazar-i Sharif.
Alternate names: QARAQULPAQS.
Dialects: NORTHEAST KARAKALPAK, SOUTHWEST KARAKALPAK.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian.
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| KATI | [BSH]
15,000 in Afghanistan (1994). Population total both countries 20,000.
Alternate names: BASHGALI, KATIVIRI, NURISTANI.
Dialects: EASTERN KATIVIRI (SHEKHANI), WESTERN KATIVIRI, MUMVIRI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani.
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| KAZAKH | [KAZ]
2,000 in Afghanistan. Northern Afghanistan, especially Chahar Dara District west of Kunduz, and around Khanabad and Andkhoi. 500 in Herat city.
Alternate names: KAZAKHI, QAZAQI, QAZAQ.
Dialects: NORTHEASTERN KAZAKH, SOUTHERN KAZAKH, WESTERN KAZAKH.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian.
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| KIRGHIZ | [KDO]
500 in Afghanistan (445 in the Great Pamir, plus a few in Badakhshan). Great Pamir Valley east of 73E, in the very northeast. It is spoken by a few Kirghiz who wander across the Chinese and Kyrgyzstan frontiers. All from the Little Pamir went to Pakistan and then Turkey in 1982.
Alternate names: KIRGHIZI, KIRGIZ.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian.
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| MALAKHEL | [MLD]
2,000 (1983). Southwest of Kabul in Logar, north of Baraki.
Classification: Unclassified.
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| MOGHOLI | [MLG]
200 or fewer speakers out of an ethnic group of a few thousand. Two villages near Herat: Kundur and Karez-i-Mulla.
Alternate names: MOGHOL, MOGUL, MOGOL, MONGUL.
Dialects: KUNDUR, KAREZ-I-MULLA.
Classification: Altaic, Mongolian, Western.
Nearly extinct.
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| MUNJI | [MNJ]
2,000 to 2,500 (1992). Northeastern Afghanistan in the Munjan and Mamalgha Valleys.
Alternate names: MUNJANI, MUNJHAN, MUNJIWAR.
Dialects: NORTHERN MUNJI, CENTRAL MUNJI, SOUTHERN MUNJI, MAMALGHA MUNJI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pamir.
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| ORMURI | [ORU]
50 speakers out of 2,000 to 5,000 ethnic group members in Afghanistan. Spoken by a few families in Baraki-Barak in Logar.
Alternate names: BARGISTA, BARAKS, ORMUI.
Dialects: KANIGURAMI, LOGAR.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Ormuri-Parachi.
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| PAHLAVANI | [PHV]
Spoken in village Haji Hamza Khan of Karim Kushta in Chakhansoor Province.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.
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| PARACHI | [PRC]
500 to 600 speakers out of 5,000 to 6,000 members of the ethnic group. Villages in Nijrau and Tagau (600 families), Pachaghan, Shutul (400 families), Ghujulan (100 families), Hindu Kush Valley near Kabul.
Dialects: SHUTUL, GHUJULAN, NIJRAU.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Ormuri-Parachi.
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| PARYA | [PAQ]
Alternate names: AFGHANA-YI NASFURUSH, AFGHANA-YI SIYARUI, LAGHMANI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Unclassified.
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| PASHAYI, NORTHEAST | [AEE]
Side valleys between the Kunar and Pech rivers, in Kunar Province, west of Asadabad.
Dialects: ARET, CHALAS (CHILAS), KANDAK, KURANGAL, KURDAR.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kunar, Pashayi.
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| PASHAYI, NORTHWEST | [GLH]
From Gulbahar across Kapisa and Laghman provinces to Nuristan on the Alingar River, especially the Alisheng Valley and valleys north of Sarobi.
Dialects: GULBAHAR, KOHNADEH, LAUROWAN, SANJAN, SHUTUL, BOLAGHAIN, PACHAGAN, ALASAI, SHAMAKOT, UZBIN, PANDAU, NAJIL, PARAZHGHAN, PASHAGAR, WADAU, NANGARACH.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kunar, Pashayi.
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| PASHAYI, SOUTHEAST | [DRA]
Upper and Lower Darrai Nur Valley, Damench, Shale (Shari). North of Shewa in Nangarhar Province, and adjacent regions of the Alingar Valley in southern Laghman Province.
Alternate names: PASHAI.
Dialects: DARRAI NUR, WEGAL, LAGHMAN, ALINGAR, KUNAR.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kunar, Pashayi.
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| PASHAYI, SOUTHWEST | [PSH]
108,000 or .6% of the population (1982), including all Pashayi languages or dialects. Tagau (Tagab) Valley, north of Sarobi, northeast of Kabul.
Dialects: TAGAU, ISHPI, ISKEN.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kunar, Pashayi.
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| PASHTO, NORTHERN | [PBU]
Central Ghilzai area.
Alternate names: PAKTU, PAKHTU, PAKHTOO, AFGHAN.
Dialects: NORTHWESTERN PAKHTO, GHILZAI, DURANI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto.
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| PASHTO, SOUTHERN | [PBT]
8,000,000 all Pashto in Afghanistan (1989), 35% to 50% of the population (1996). Population total all countries 9,204,000 or more. All Pashto in all countries: 19,000,000 (1999 WA).
Dialects: SOUTHWESTERN PASHTO, KANDAHAR PASHTO, QANDAHAR PASHTO.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto.
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| PRASUNI | [PRN]
2,000. Prasun (Parun) Valley on the upper reaches of Pech River in Nuristan; villages of Shupu (Ishtivi, Shtevgrom), Sech, Ucu, Ushut, Zumu.
Alternate names: PRASUN, VERUNI, PARUN, WASI-VERI, VERON, VEROU.
Dialects: UPPER WASI-WERI, CENTRAL PRASUN, LOWER PRASUN (USHUT).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani.
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| SANGLECHI-ISHKASHIMI | [SGL]
2,000 in Afghanistan. Sanglech Valley, Ishkashim area. Ishkashimi spoken in 17 villages; Sanglechi in 2.
Dialects: ZEBAK (ZEBAKI), SANGLECHI, ISHKASHIMI (ISHKASHMI, ISHKASHIM, ESHKASHIMI).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pamir.
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| SAVI | [SDG]
3,000 (1983) or several thousand (1992). Population total both countries 3,000.
Alternate names: SAWI, SAUJI, SAU.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Shina.
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| SHUGHNI | [SGH]
20,000 in Afghanistan (1994 GMI). Both sides of Afghan-Tajikistan border, some 30 miles north of Ishkashim, Pamir Mts.
Dialects: ROSHANI (RUSHANI, RUSHAN, OROSHANI), SHUGHNI (SHUGNI, SHIGHNI, SHUGHNANI, SHUGAN, KHUGNI, KUSHANI, SAIGHANI, GHORANI), BARTANGI (BARTANG), OROSHOR (OROSHORI).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pamir, Shugni-Yazgulami.
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| SHUMASHTI | [SMS]
1,000 (1994). Chitral frontier, 60 miles up the Kunar River from Gawar-Bati, on the west side, Darrai Mazar Valley. Shumast village has two languages; this Dardic Kunar language, and a Northeast Pashayi dialect.
Alternate names: SHUMASHT.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kunar.
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| TANGSHEWI | [TNF]
10,000 (1994). East of Darwazi on the Amu Darya, far northeast of Badakhshan. May also be in Turkmenistan.
Alternate names: TANGSHURI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Unclassified.
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| TIRAHI | [TRA]
A few speakers out of possibly 5,000 members in the ethnic group. Southeast of Jalalabad, and west of the Khyber Pass; village of Nangarhar. Not in Pakistan.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kohistani.
Nearly extinct.
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| TREGAMI | [TRM]
1,000 (1994). Nuristan, villages of Katar and Gambir.
Alternate names: TRIGAMI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani.
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| TURKMEN | [TCK]
500,000 in Afghanistan (1995). Along the border of Turkmenistan, especially the border regions of Fariab and Badghis provinces. Some in Andkhoi town and Herat city.
Alternate names: TURKOMAN, TRUKMEN, TURKMAN.
Dialects: SALOR, TEKE (TEKKE, CHAGATAI, JAGATAI), ERSARI, SARIQ, YOMUT.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian.
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| UYGHUR | [UIG]
3,000 in Afghanistan. Spoken in a few villages in Badakshan and Abi-i-Barik. Also possibly in Iran and Taiwan.
Alternate names: UIGHUR, UYGHURI, WIGHOR, UIGHOR, UIGUIR.
Dialects: KASHGAR-YARKAND (YARKANDI), TARANCHI.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Eastern.
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| UZBEK, SOUTHERN | [UZS]
1,403,000 or 9% of population in Afghanistan (1991 WA). Population total all countries 1,455,000 or more.
Alternate names: UZBEKI, USBEKI, UZBAK.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Eastern.
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| WAIGALI | [WBK]
8,000 to 10,000 (1974 Jones). Southeast Nuristan, north of Pech in central Kunar Province. Varjan is in north Waigal Valley, villages of Waigal, Zonchigal, Jamach, Ameshdesh, and eastward in the Veligal Valley and villages there. Chima-Nishey is in villages in the lower valley.
Alternate names: WAIGELI, WAIGALA, ZHONJIGALI, SUKI, WAI-ALA, WAI, KALASHA-ALA.
Dialects: VARJAN, CHIMA-NISHEY.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani.
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| WAKHI | [WBL]
7,000 in Afghanistan (1979 estimate). East of Ishkashim, Pamir Mts., in 64 villages on the left bank of the Panj River in the Wakhan Corridor, as far as Sarhad village (about 73E). Center is Khandud. Most have scattered as refugees in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Alternate names: WAKHANI, WAKHIGI, VAKHAN, KHIK, GUHJALI.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pamir.
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| WARDUJI | [WRD]
5,000 (1994). Werdoge River area west of Ishkashim, northeast Afghanistan.
Classification: Unclassified.
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| WOTAPURI-KATARQALAI | [WSV]
2,000 (1994). South of Waigali area in Nuristan in the towns of Wotapuri and Katarqalai.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kohistani.
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