What are the major ethnic groups in southwest and south Asia?
The major ethnic groups in Southwest and South Asia are as follows:
Southwest Asia:
1. Arabs: Predominantly found in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Jordan, and Lebanon.
2. Persians (Iranians): Primarily located in Iran, but also found in parts of Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf countries.
3. Turks: Mostly concentrated in Turkey, but present in parts of Iraq, Syria, and Armenia.
4. Kurds: Primarily residing in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, with smaller populations in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
5. Jews: Historically, several Jewish communities lived in Southwest Asia, with Israel being the largest concentration today.
6. Azeris: Mainly found in Azerbaijan but also live in parts of Iran.
7. Assyrians: Mostly residing in northern Iraq, Syria, and southeastern Turkey.
8. Balochis: Primarily located in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
9. Druze: Mostly concentrated in Lebanon, with smaller populations in Syria and Israel.
10. Armenians: Traditional inhabitants of Armenia and parts of Turkey, but communities are also found in Iran and Syria.
South Asia:
1. Indo-Aryans: Dominate the Indian subcontinent, including countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
2. Dravidians: Predominantly found in southern India, mainly in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
3. Bengalis: Primarily residing in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.
4. Punjabis: Mostly found in the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab.
5. Gujaratis: Predominantly located in the Indian state of Gujarat and significant communities in Pakistan.
6. Tamils: Concentrated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and smaller communities in other South Indian states.
7. Pashtuns: Mainly residing in Afghanistan and Pakistan (particularly the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and tribal areas).
8. Sinhalese: Predominantly found in Sri Lanka, making up the majority of the population.
9. Sindhis: Primarily located in the Indian state of Sindh (Pakistan) and Gujarat (India).
10. Muhajirs: Referring to Indian Muslims who migrated to Pakistan during the partition in 1947, primarily living in Karachi and other urban areas.
It is important to note that these are only some of the major ethnic groups and there are numerous other ethnic communities present in Southwest and South Asia. Additionally, the boundaries and categorization of these groups can sometimes be complex due to historical, cultural, and political factors.