List of countries and territories where Persian is an official language facts for kids
The Persian language, also known as Farsi, is an ancient and beautiful language spoken by millions of people around the world. It belongs to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. Persian has a rich history, especially in literature, poetry, and science. It's the official language in a few countries and is also spoken by many people as a minority language in others.
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Where Persian is an Official Language
An "official language" means it's used by the government, in schools, and for official documents. Persian is the official language in three main countries.
| Country | Region | Total Population | People who speak Persian as their first language | Total Persian speakers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | West Asia | 83,783,945 | 50,568,000 | ~70,000,000 |
| Afghanistan | South Asia | 32,890,171 | 16,650,000 | ~30,000,000 |
| Tajikistan | Central Asia | 9,313,800 | 6,373,834 | ~9,300,000 |
- Iran: Persian is the national language of Iran, where most of its speakers live.
- Afghanistan: In Afghanistan, Persian is known as Dari. It's one of the two official languages there.
- Tajikistan: In Tajikistan, Persian is called Tajik. It's also the official language of this Central Asian country.
Where Many People Speak Persian
Even where Persian isn't an official language, many people still speak it. These are called "significant minority languages" because a large group of people use them.
| Country | Region | Total Population | Number of Persian speakers | Percentage of Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | Central Asia | 34,412,349 | 1,544,700–10,000,000 | 4.8–30% |
| Bahrain | West Asia | 1,592,000 | 100,000 | 14% |
| Pakistan | South Asia | 227,000,000 | 1,000,000–1,500,000 | 0.44-0.66% |
- Uzbekistan: Many people in Uzbekistan speak Persian, especially in cities like Samarkand and Bukhara.
- Bahrain: A notable number of people in Bahrain also speak Persian.
- Pakistan: There are also many Persian speakers in Pakistan, especially those with historical ties to the language.
Persian's Rich History
Persian has been an important language for centuries, especially in different empires and regions.
Persian in the Indian Subcontinent
Before the British arrived, Persian was a very important language in the Indian subcontinent, which includes modern-day India and Pakistan. It was often used for government and official business.
- How it arrived: Different dynasties, like the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Dynasty, brought Persian to the region. These rulers used Persian in their courts and for administration.
- Influence on other languages: Persian greatly influenced many local languages, especially Urdu and Hindi. You can find many Persian words in these languages, not just in books but also in everyday speech. Languages like Balochi, Pashto, Punjabi, and Sindhi also have strong Persian influences. Even Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali have many words borrowed from Persian.
- End of official status: In 1835, the British changed the official language to English. After that, Hindustani and English slowly took over as the most important languages in the region.
Persian in the Ottoman Empire
Persian was also a very influential language in the Ottoman Empire, alongside Ottoman Turkish and Arabic.
- Early use: Educated people in the northern parts of the Ottoman Empire used Persian.
- Language of literature: While Ottoman Turkish was the official language for government, Persian was often used for literature and poetry. Many educated Ottoman Turks learned Persian.
- Sufism and culture: Persian was especially important in Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam. Famous poets like Rumi wrote in Persian, and their works helped spread the language. Ottoman rulers even supported and promoted the Persian language, showing its deep impact on their culture and literature.
See also
- List of countries where Arabic is an official language
