Total population | |
---|---|
(Approx. 49 million (2009)) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Pakistan | 30,699,037 (2008) |
Afghanistan | 13,750,117 (2016) |
UAE | 338,315 (2009) |
United States | 138,554 (2010) |
Iran | 110,000 (1993) |
United Kingdom | 100,000 (2009) |
Germany | 37,800 (2012) |
Canada | 26,000 (2006) |
India | 13,000 (2009) |
Russia | 9,800 (2002) |
Australia | 8,154 (2006) |
Malaysia | 5,500 (2008) |
Tajikistan | 4,000 (1970) |
Languages | |
Pashto Urdu, Dari and English as second languages |
|
Religion | |
Islam (Sunni) with small Shia minority |
The Pashtuns /ˈpʌʃˌtʊnz/ or /ˈpæʃˌtuːnz/ (Pashto: پښتانه Pax̌tānə; singular masculine: پښتون Pax̌tūn, feminine: پښتنه Pax̌tana; also Pukhtuns), historically known by the exonyms Afghans (Persian: افغان, Afğān), and Pathan (Hindi-Urdu: पठान, پٹھان, Paṭhān), are an ethnic group native to Afghanistan and North-Western Pakistan. They are generally classified as Eastern Iranian ethno-linguistically, who use Pashto language and follow Pashtunwali, which is a traditional set of ethics guiding individual and communal conduct. The origin of Pashtuns is unclear but historians have come across references to various ancient peoples called Pakthas (Pactyans) between the 2nd and the 1st millennium BC, who may be their early ancestors. Their history is mostly spread amongst various countries of South and Central Asia, centred on their traditional seat of power in medieval Afghanistan.