Afghans in Germany
Total population | |
---|---|
156,000 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Hamburg, Northrhine-Westphalia (Essen), Hessen (Frankfurt), Bayern (Munich), Lower Saxony (Hanover) | |
Languages | |
Pashto, Dari (Afghan Persian), German | |
Religion | |
majority Islam with minorities of Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism and Irreligion |
Afghans in Germany are the largest Afghan community in Europe und part of the Afghan diaspora. In 2015, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany estimated the number of people of Afghan descent residing in Germany at 156,000.[1] In particular, there are 35,805 Afghans in Hamburg.[2]
The Afghan community in Germany is heterogeneous with various political views, as they are in Afghanistan (see Demography of Afghanistan). Though with the NATO involvement in Afghanistan, the community has come closer together due to shared hopes and worries; however, there are relatively few representative associations or organizations.
The community is currently undergoing rapid expansion due to the European migrant crisis.
Religion
Most Germans with Afghan heritage are Sunni Muslims, with some Shia minority. There is also a small population of Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jews and nonreligious in Germany.
References
- ↑ Population with a migration background in Germany - Results of the German microcensus (PDF), p. 66. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ↑ Population with a migration background in Hamburg's districts at the end of 2015 (PDF), p. 3. Retrieved October 25, 2016.