Afghanistan people groups, languages and religions | Joshua Project
- ️Joshua Project
| Photo | People Group |
Population this Ctry |
Population Global |
Count Ctrys |
Indigenous | Primary Language |
Primary Religion |
Progress Scale |
% Christian Adherent |
% Evangelical |
Needed Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Afghan, Tajik | 11,983,000 | 12,392,000 | 4 | ● | Dari | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 240 |
|
Afshari | 16,000 | 420,000 | 2 | Azerbaijani, South | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.04 % | 0.04 % | 1 | |
|
Aimaq | 1,777,000 | 2,310,000 | 5 | ● | Aimaq | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 36 |
|
Americans, U.S. | 500 | 197,948,000 | 104 | English | Christianity | 5 ● | 84.50 % | 30.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Ansari | 2,700 | 17,148,000 | 6 | Urdu | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Arab, Tajiki | 5,000 | 6,600 | 2 | Arabic, Tajiki | Islam | 1 ● | 0.20 % | 0.20 % | 1 | |
|
Arora (Hindu traditions) | 1,700 | 4,562,000 | 3 | Saraiki | Hinduism | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Azerbaijani | 14,000 | 9,152,000 | 20 | Azerbaijani, North | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Baloch, Western | 393,000 | 1,333,000 | 4 | ● | Balochi, Western | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 8 |
|
Bania (Muslim traditions) | 7,200 | 7,200 | 1 | Urdu | Islam | 1 ● | 0.23 % | 0.20 % | 1 | |
|
Bengali Muslim Moghal | 2,500 | 3,414,000 | 6 | ● | Dari | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 |
|
Brahmin | 4,100 | 39,620,000 | 6 | Urdu | Hinduism | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Brahui | 359,000 | 707,000 | 4 | ● | Brahui | Islam | 1 ● | 0.10 % | 0.10 % | 7 |
|
Changgar | 3,400 | 393,000 | 3 | Urdu | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Darwazi, Badakhshani | 18,000 | 18,000 | 1 | ● | Dari | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 |
|
Deaf | 434,000 | 50,266,000 | 216 | ● | Afghan Sign Language | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.05 % | -1 | 9 |
|
Garwi, Kohistani | 2,100 | 2,100 | 1 | ● | Gawri | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 |
|
Gujar (Muslim traditions) | 20,000 | 5,825,000 | 3 | ● | Gujari | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.03 % | 0.03 % | 1 |
|
Hazara | 3,728,000 | 4,546,000 | 9 | ● | Hazaragi | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.03 % | 0.03 % | 75 |
|
Ishkashimi | 3,500 | 5,300 | 2 | ● | Ishkashimi | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.06 % | 0.06 % | 1 |
|
Kalash (Chitrali) | 11,000 | 39,000 | 2 | Khowar | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Karakalpak | 3,600 | 935,000 | 8 | Karakalpak | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Kazakh | 3,600 | 16,898,000 | 24 | Kazakh | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Khatri (Sikh traditions) | 3,000 | 344,000 | 2 | Punjabi, Eastern | Other / Small | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Khik (Wakhi) | 23,000 | 126,000 | 4 | ● | Wakhi | Islam | 0 ☀︎ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 |
| Totals: 70 | 43,206,000 | 61 ☀︎ 68 ● | 0.02 % | 0.02 % | 904 | ||||||
| Unclassified / Other Individuals | 167,000 | ||||||||||
| UN Country Population (2024) | 43,373,000 |
* An estimate of the number of pioneer workers needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups by country. Estimates are calculated only for unreached people groups and are based on ratio of 1 worker-unit (single person or married couple) per 50,000 living in an unreached people group by country, or for example one team of four worker-units per 200,000 people. Some workers may already be onsite. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.
| Province ▲ | Estimated Population |
|---|---|
| Badakhshan | 1,439,000 |
| Badghis | 751,000 |
| Baghlan | 1,382,000 |
| Balkh | 2,042,000 |
| Bamyan | 676,000 |
| Daykundi | 706,000 |
| Farah | 768,000 |
| Faryab | 1,514,000 |
| Ghazni | 1,861,000 |
| Ghor | 1,044,000 |
| Hilmand | 1,975,000 |
| Hirat | 2,902,000 |
| Jawzjan | 821,000 |
| Kabul | 6,878,000 |
| Kandahar | 1,892,000 |
| Kapisa | 668,000 |
| Khost | 870,000 |
| Kunar | 682,000 |
| Kunduz | 1,544,000 |
| Laghman | 675,000 |
| Logar | 593,000 |
| Nangarhar | 2,315,000 |
| Nimroz | 250,000 |
| Nuristan | 224,000 |
| Paktika | 1,060,000 |
| Paktya | 781,000 |
| Panjshir | 232,000 |
| Parwan | 1,007,000 |
| Samangan | 587,000 |
| Sari Pul | 848,000 |
| Takhar | 1,172,000 |
| Uruzgan | 547,000 |
| Wardak | 903,000 |
| Zabul | 525,000 |
| Provinces: 34 | 42,134,000 |
| UN Country Population | 43,373,000 |
| Language ▲ | Code | # Peoples w/ this Primary Language |
# Unreached w/ this Primary Language |
Scripture Status |
YouVersion Bible Resources |
Faith Comes By Hearing Bible Resources |
Jesus Film Online |
Global Recordings Resources |
Gospel Tract Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghan Sign Language | afg | 1 | 1 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Aimaq | aiq | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Arabic, Tajiki | abh | 1 | 1 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Ashkun | ask | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Azerbaijani, North | azj | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Azerbaijani, South | azb | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Balochi, Western | bgn | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Brahui | brh | 1 | 1 | 4 New Testament | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Dari | prs | 9 | 9 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Domari | rmt | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| English | eng | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gawar-Bati | gwt | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Gawri | gwc | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 | -1 |
| Grangali | nli | 1 | 1 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Gujari | gju | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Hazaragi | haz | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Ishkashimi | isk | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Karakalpak | kaa | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Kateviri | bsh | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Kazakh | kaz | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Khowar | khw | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Kohistani, Indus | mvy | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 | -1 |
| Komviri | xvi | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Kurdish, Central | ckb | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kyrgyz | kir | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Munji | mnj | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Parachi | prc | 1 | 1 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Parya | paq | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Pashai, Northeast | aee | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Pashai, Northwest | glh | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Pashai, Southeast | psi | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Pashai, Southwest | psh | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Pashto, Northern | pbu | 2 | 2 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pashto, Southern | pbt | 4 | 4 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Persian, Iranian | pes | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Prasuni | prn | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Punjabi, Eastern | pan | 3 | 3 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Punjabi, Western | pnb | 1 | 1 | 4 New Testament | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Russian | rus | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sanglechi | sgy | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Saraiki | skr | 1 | 1 | 4 New Testament | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Savi | sdg | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Shughni | sgh | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Shumashti | sts | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Sindhi | snd | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Tregami | trm | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Turkish | tur | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Turkmen | tuk | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Urdu | urd | 4 | 4 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Uyghur | uig | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Uzbek, Southern | uzs | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Waigali | wbk | 1 | 1 | 0 Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Wakhi | wbl | 1 | 1 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Totals: | 53 | 70 | 68 | 19 | 20 | 29 | 47 | 11 |
Networking Possibilities
Search the Web
- MissionNext - connect with mission agencies or schools worldwide
- The Mission App - connecting you to mission agencies that match your calling
- Linking Global Voices - networks and global collaboration for followers of Christ
- visionSynergy - developing high impact missional networks
- GetInvolved - frontier people group (FPGs) prayer communities
Search the Web
There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in Afghanistan. Internet searches are probably the best way to find these organizations. The following are some example search topics you might try:
- Church planting agencies in Afghanistan
- Christian ministry in Afghanistan
- Business as mission
- Christian literature distribution
- Evangelism agencies
- Christian discipleship
- Short term Christian missions
- Long term Christian missions
- Urban ministries
- Christian media opportunities
- Bible translation opportunities
- Relief and development agencies
- Clean water projects
- Christian medical outreaches
* An estimate of the number of pioneer workers needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups by country. Estimates are calculated only for unreached people groups and are based on ratio of 1 worker-unit (single person or married couple) per 50,000 living in an unreached people group by country, or for example one team of four worker-units per 200,000 people. Some workers may already be onsite. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.