Population and Demographics

The population of Afghanistan is divided into a wide variety of ethnic groups. Because a systematic census has not been held in the country in decades, exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnic groups are not available. Therefore most figures are approximations only.

Language

Pashto and Persian (Dari) are both official languages of the country. Persian is spoken by at least half of the population and serves as a lingua franca for most Afghans. Pashto is spoken widely in the south, east and south west, Uzbek and Turkmen are spoken in the north. Smaller groups throughout the country also speak more than 70 other languages and numerous dialects.

Ethnic Groups

The demographics of Afghanistan are ethnically mixed. This reflects its location astride historic trade and invasion routes leading from Central Asia into South and Southwest Asia. The term Afghan, historically synonymous with Pashtun, is nowadays used to describe a person from the country of Afghanistan. It is, however, hard to combine the varying groups. Often the Pashtun are referred to as Afghans while other groups hold to their ethnic name (e.g., Tajiks are known as Tajiks, etc.). The citizens of Afghanistan are in many ways somewhat distinct from the notion of ethnic Afghans as a result of this understanding. Thus, in recent years, the term Afghanistani has been suggested for the citizens of Afghanistan in contrast to (ethnic) Afghans who would be the Pashtuns. However, currently even the non-Pashtun groups usually refer to their nationality as Afghan (or Afghani) rather than Afghanistani.

Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group, accounting for about 42% of the population. Tajik (27%), Hazara (9%), Uzbek (9%), Aimak (4%), Turkmen (3%), Baloch (2%) and other small groups (4%) make up the remaining 58%.

Religion

99% of Afghanistan's population adheres to Islam. An estimated 80% of the population is Sunni, following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence; 19% is predominantly Shi'a. Despite attempts during the years of communist rule to secularise Afghan society, Islamic practices pervade all aspects of life. In fact, Islam served as the principal basis for expressing opposition to communist rule and the Soviet invasion. Likewise, Islamic religious tradition and codes, together with traditional practices, provide the principal means of controlling personal conduct and settling legal disputes. Excluding urban populations in the principal cities, most Afghans are divided into tribal and other kinship-based groups, which follow traditional customs and religious practices.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 31,889,923
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 44.6% (male 7,282,600/female 6,940,378)
  • 15-64 years: 53% (male 8,668,170/female 8,227,387)
  • 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 374,426/female 396,962)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 17.6 years
  • Male: 17.6 years
  • Female: 17.6 years
• Population Growth Rate: 2.625%
• Birth Rate: 46.21 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 19.96 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.049 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.054 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.943 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.049 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 157.43 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 161.81 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 152.83 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 43.77 years
  • Male: 43.6 years
  • Female: 43.96 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 6.64 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.01%
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Pashtun 42%
  • Tajik 27%
  • Hazara 9%
  • Uzbek 9%
  • Aimak 4%
  • Turkmen 3%
  • Baloch 2%
  • Other 4%
• Religions:
  • Sunni Muslim 80%
  • Shi'a Muslim 19%
  • Other 1%
• Languages:
  • Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%
  • Pashtu (official) 35%
  • Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%
  • 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%
  • Much bilingualism
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 28.1%
  • Male: 43.1%
  • Female: 12.6%