Pashto, Northern

A language of Pakistan

Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Peshawar district and Yusufzai area; Punjab province: Mianwali district; all along Afghanistan border.

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Afghanistan

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

5,190,000 in Afghanistan, all users. L1 users: 3,830,000 in Afghanistan (2017), increasing. L2 users: 1,360,000 (2021).

Location

Nangarhar province and surrounding regions; scattered.

Alternate Names

Afghan, Eastern Afghan Pashto, Northwestern Pakhto, Pakhtoon, Pakhtun, Paktu, Pashtoon, Sharqi

Dialects

Ghilzai, Khogyani.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Pashto is 1 of 2 national languages taught in schools. Ghilzai are nomadic, 24% of the Pashto population. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Dari [prs], in some communities, and educated people in all communities. Used as L2 by Ashkun [ask], Kamviri [xvi], Northeast Pashai [aee], Northwest Pashai [glh], Shumashti [sts], Southeast Pashai [psi], Southwest Pashai [psh], Tregami [trm], Waigali [wbk].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Taught in all primary and secondary schools in predominantly Pashto-speaking regions; taught as subject in primary schools in some other regions.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Pashto clans include: Mohmandi, Ghilzai, Durani, Yusufzai, Afridi, Kandahari (Qandahari), Waziri, Chinwari (Shinwari), Mangal, and Wenetsi. Muslim.

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Australia

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

9,230 in Australia (2016 census). Census does not distinguish between Central Pashto [pst], Northern Pashto [pbu] and Southern Pashto [pbt].

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Canada

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

16,900 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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India

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

21,700 in India (2011 census).

Location

Punjab state: Pathankot; Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir states: where the 3 states meet in southwest Kashmir valley; Kupwara district, Changnar and Dhakki villages; Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra states; New Delhi; Uttar Pradesh: Rampur district.

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

1,270 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Saudi Arabia

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

197,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Turkmenistan

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

9,900 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Arab Emirates

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

404,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Pakhtoo, Pashtu, Passtoo, Pushto, Pusto

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Came from Pakistan. Muslim.

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United States

Language NamePashto, Northern

User Population

22,800 in United States (2015 census). Census does not distinguish between Central Pashto [pst], Northern Pashto [pbu] and Southern Pashto [pbt].

Location

Arizona; California; Colorado; Georgia; Illinois; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Texas; Utah; Virginia; Washington.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Pashto, Northern

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A language of Pakistan

Also spoken in:

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