Hazara people

Hazāra
هزاره‎

Hazara boys in Afghanistan.
Total population
12–14 million
Regions with significant populations
Afghanistan	10,000,000
Pakistan	2,000,000 including 500,000 in Quetta
Iran	1,000,000
Europe	130,000
Turkey	26,000
Australia	41,766
Canada	10,300
Indonesia	3,800
Languages
Dari and Hazaragi (eastern varieties of Persian)
Religion
Mostly Shia Islam

The Hazāra (Persian: هزاره) are a Mongolic people indigenous to Afghanistan who mainly live in the central highlands known as Hazarajat, and in southwestern Pakistan. They are mostly Muslims with a Shia majority.

Hazaras are the third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, forming between 20% and 30% of the population depending on the source. They are also a smaller ethnic group in Pakistan, especially in Quetta and northern Balochistan, and communities exist in Iran, Turkey, Europe, Australia, Canada, and Indonesia.

Origins and ancestry

The Hazaras are widely recognized as having **Mongol ancestry**, descending from Mongol soldiers and mongol tribes who settled in Afghanistan during the time of the Chagatai Khanate and the Ilkhanate. Genetic studies show that Hazaras share close markers with Central Asian peoples, especially Uzbeks and Uyghurs.

Many Hazara tribes trace their ancestry to earlier Mongolic groups. Historical traditions and ethnographic studies record lineages such as:

• **Turkoman Hazaras** – linked to Ghazanvid soldiers who settled in Afghanistan during medieval times.
• **Qarluq Hazaras** – connected to the Karluk confederation, which played a major role in Central Asia between the 8th and 10th centuries.
• **Lachin/Tatar Hazaras** – associated with Tatar and Mongol groups who settled in Afghanistan after the Mongol invasions.

These tribal names reflect the Mongolic elements in Hazara identity. Oral traditions, genealogies, and linguistic evidence in Hazaragi preserve many of these connections, showing that Hazara ancestry is closely tied to the broader history of Central Asian nomadic peoples.

Language

Hazaras speak Hazaragi, a dialect of Dari (Persian). Hazaragi contains many loanwords from Mongolic languages, showing their deep historical connections to Central Asian peoples.

History

After the rise of the Chagatai Khanate and the Ilkhanate, many settlers of Mongol origin established themselves in central Afghanistan. These groups mixed with local Iranian and Indo‑Afghan populations, contributing to the formation of the Hazara identity.

Early sources describe the Hazaras as distinct for their Central Asian features and Mongol heritage. The Mughal emperor Babur wrote in the Baburnama that the Hazaras of central Afghanistan were a separate people, noting their unique appearance and their descent from earlier Mongol settlers.

In the 16th–19th centuries, Hazaras were often autonomous in the Hazarajat region. They maintained tribal structures and local leadership, but later faced persecution under Afghan rulers such as Abdur Rahman Khan in the late 19th century, when many were displaced or enslaved.

Modern communities

Today, Hazaras are known for their strong cultural identity, Shia religious traditions, and close ties to Central Asian peoples. They have produced notable figures in politics, literature, and sports. Despite facing discrimination, Hazara communities remain an important part of Afghanistan and the wider Central Asian cultural sphere.

References

Related pages

• Ethnic groups in Afghanistan

• Ethnic groups in Pakistan

• Aimaq Hazara
• Aimaq people

Gallery

References

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