Dari is spoken by over 75% of the population in Afghanistan, followed by Pashto 48%, Uzbek 11%, English 6%, Turkmen 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashayi 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, and Balochi 1% (2020 est).

Other regional languages, such as Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi, and Nuristani are spoken by minority groups across the country.

Minor languages include: Ashkunu, Kamkata-viri, Wasi-wari, Tregami, Kalasha-ala, Pamiri (Shughni, Munji, Ishkashimi and Wakhi), Brahui, Arabic, Pashai, Kyrgyz, and Punjabi.

[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][Note 2] The Persian or Dari language functions as the nation's lingua franca and is the native tongue of several of Afghanistan's ethnic groups including the Tajiks, Hazaras, and Aimaqs.

The exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnolinguistic groups are unavailable since no systematic census has been held in Afghanistan in decades.

A sizeable population in Afghanistan, especially in Kabul, can also speak and understand Urdu due to the mass migration of Afghan refugees during the Soviet–Afghan War.

[22] This policy was codified in the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan, which established Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi, Nuristani, and Pamiri as a third official language in areas where they are spoken by a majority of the population.