Total population | |
---|---|
94,240,863 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Pakistan | 91,379,615 |
Saudi Arabia | 500,000 est. |
United Kingdom | 500,000 |
United Arab Emirates | 300,000 est. |
India | 500,000 est. |
United States | 263,699 |
Canada | 100,310 |
China | 43,000 |
South Korea | 25,000 |
Netherlands | 19,408 est. |
Hong Kong | 13,000 |
Languages | |
Punjabi, Urdu | |
Religion | |
Islam 100% (majority Sunni, while 5% being Shia) |
Punjabi Muslims (Punjabi: پنجابی مسلمان (Shahmukhi); also spelled Panjabi) are a linguistic, geographic and religious ethnic group living in the region of Punjab, found between eastern Pakistan and northern India. Forming the majority of the Punjabi ethnicity at large, Punjabi Muslims are those who profess Islam and speak the Punjabi language. With a population of more than 90 million they are the largest ethnic group in Pakistan and the third largest ethnic group among the Muslim ummah, after the Arabs and Bengalis. The majority of Punjabi Muslims are adherents of the Sunni branch of Islam. A minority adheres to Shia and other sects, including the Ahmadiyya community which originated in Punjab.
The homelands of Punjabi Muslims are mainly concentrated in the Pakistani province of Punjab. They have a worldwide diaspora, with significant communities in North America and the United Kingdom, and large expatriate populations in the Middle East.
Punjab literally means the land of five waters (Persian:پنج آب panj ("five") āb ("waters")). Punjab is often referred to as the breadbasket in both Pakistan and India.