Languages and Ethnic Groups
The major groups in this category include Persians, Kurds, Gilakis, Mazandaranis, Lurs, and Baluchis. Turkic speakers, such as the Azeri, Turkmen, and the Qashqai peoples, comprise a substantial minority. The remainder are primarily Semitics such as Arabs and Assyrians or other Indo-Europeans such as Pashtuns and Armenians. There are also small communities of Brahui in southeastern Iran. The Georgian language is spoken only by those Iranian Georgians that live in Fereydan and Fereydunshahr. All other communities of Iranian Georgians in Iran have already lost their language.
CIA World Factbook, which is based on (2008) statics gives us the following numbers: Persian, Luri, Gilaki and Mazandarani 67%, Azeri and other Turkic languages 18%, Kurdish 10%, Arabs 2%, Baloch 2%, other 1%.
Another source, Library of Congress like the Encyclopedia of Islam (Leiden) states Iran's ethnic group as following: Persians 65%, Azeris 16%, Kurds 7%, Lurs 6%, Arabs 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmens 1%, Turkic tribal groups (e.g. Qashqai) 1%, and non-Persian, non-Turkic groups (e.g. Pashtuns, Armenians, Assyrians, and Georgians) less than 1%. For sources prior to 2000, see Languages and ethnicities in Iran.
Read more about this topic: Demographics Of Iran
Famous quotes containing the words languages, ethnic and/or groups:
“People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we can’t pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as “exotic” but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.”
—Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)
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“And seniors grow tomorrow
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Games mistresses turn grey.”
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