Punjabi diaspora
Encyclopedia
The Punjabi diaspora refers to the descendants of ethnic Punjabis who emigrated out of the Punjab region
to the rest of world. Punjabis are one of the largest ethnic groups in both the Pakistani
and Indian diasporas. The Punjabi diaspora numbers around 10 million, mainly concentrated in Britain, North America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
from other parts of the Punjabi diaspora, as well from the state of Punjab itself. The Majority were Sikh & Hindu Punjabis instead of Muslims being the majority.
in British Columbia
and Ontario
are Punjabi Sikhs.
In 1939, Hong Kong's police force included 272 Europeans
, 774 Indians (mainly Punjabis) and 1140 Chinese
. Punjabis dominated Hong Kong's police force until the 1950s.
From the 2006 Government by-census results, it shows a poupluation of roughly 20,444 Indians and roughly 11,111 Pakistanis residing at the former British territory. .
minority.
In the United Kingdom, around two-thirds of direct migrants (excluding South Asians that immigrated from the Caribbean, Fiji and other regions) from South Asia were Punjabi. The remaining third is mostly Marwaris
and Bengali
. They form a majority of both the South Asian British Sikh and Muslim communities.
Most "twice-migrants" were also Punjabi
or Marwaris
.
, particularly California
. Half of Pakistani American
s are Punjabis. 85% of the early Indian immigrants to the US were Sikhs, although they were branded by White American
s as "Hindoos". 90% of Indians who settled in the Central Valley of California
were Punjabi Sikhs.
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
to the rest of world. Punjabis are one of the largest ethnic groups in both the Pakistani
Pakistani diaspora
The Pakistani diaspora, or an overseas Pakistani is a Pakistani citizen who has migrated to another country or a person of Pakistani origin who is born outside Pakistan. There are approximately 7 million Pakistanis living abroad...
and Indian diasporas. The Punjabi diaspora numbers around 10 million, mainly concentrated in Britain, North America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Australia
Punjabis migrated to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from other parts of the Punjabi diaspora, as well from the state of Punjab itself. The Majority were Sikh & Hindu Punjabis instead of Muslims being the majority.
Canada
85% of Indo-CanadiansIndo-Canadians
Indo-Canadians are Canadians whose origins trace back to India. The terms East Indian and South Asian are used to distinguish people of ancestral origin from India, from the First Nations peoples of Canada who are often referred to as Indian, and from the people of the Caribbean, who are sometimes...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
are Punjabi Sikhs.
Gulf states
In the Gulf states, the largest group among Pakistani expatriates are the Punjabis, then Pashtuns.Hong Kong
Among Hong Kong Indian adolescents, Punjabi is the most common language other than Cantonese. The Punjabis were influential in the military, and in line with the British military thinking of the time (namely, the late 19th century and early 20th century) Punjabi Sikhs,Punjabi Hindus and Punjabi Muslims formed two separate regiments.The regiments were as follows:- Punjabi regiment-25,000 soldiers(50% Muslim,40% Hindu and 10% Sikh)
- Sikh Regiment-10,000 soldiers(80% Sikh,20% Hindu)
In 1939, Hong Kong's police force included 272 Europeans
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
, 774 Indians (mainly Punjabis) and 1140 Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
. Punjabis dominated Hong Kong's police force until the 1950s.
From the 2006 Government by-census results, it shows a poupluation of roughly 20,444 Indians and roughly 11,111 Pakistanis residing at the former British territory. .
Kenya
Most Kenyan Asians are Gujaratis, but the second largest group are Punjabis. There is also a small GoanGoans
Goan is the demonym used to describe the people of the Indian state of Goa who form an ethno-linguistic group which is a result of assimilation of Indo-Portuguese, Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Proto-Australoid, Indo-Scythian, Indo-Greeks and Indo-Iranians ethnic and/or linguistic ancestries.They speak...
minority.
Malaysia
Although most Malaysian Indians are Tamils, there were also many Punjabis that immigrated to Malaysia. According to Amarjit Kaur as of 1993 there were 60, 000 Punjabis in Malaysia. Robin Cohen estimates the number of Malaysian Sikhs as 30, 000 (as of 1995). Recent figures state that there are 130,000 Sikhs in Malaysia.Singapore
The third largest group among Indo-Singaporeans in 1980 were Punjabis (after Tamils - who form a majority of Indo-Singaporeans - and Malayalis), at 7.8% of the Indo-Singaporean population.United Kingdom
Marwaris
Marwari or Marwadi or Rajasthani people are Indian ethnic group, that inhabit the Rajasthan region of India. Their language Rajasthani is a part of the western group of Indo-Aryan languages....
and Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
. They form a majority of both the South Asian British Sikh and Muslim communities.
Most "twice-migrants" were also Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
or Marwaris
Marwaris
Marwari or Marwadi or Rajasthani people are Indian ethnic group, that inhabit the Rajasthan region of India. Their language Rajasthani is a part of the western group of Indo-Aryan languages....
.
Population of Sikhs by UK Censuses
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1951 | 10,000 |
| 1961 | 26,000 |
| 1971 | 120,000 |
| 1981 | 216,020 |
| 1991 | 269,000 |
| 2001 | 336,000 |
United States
The earliest South Asian immigrants to the United States were Punjabis, who mostly immigrated to the West CoastWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
, particularly California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Half of Pakistani American
Pakistani American
A Pakistani American is any citizen or resident of the United States who has Pakistani heritage.- History in the United States :Muslim immigrants from areas that are now part of Pakistan have been migrating to America and first entered the United States as early as the eighteenth century, working...
s are Punjabis. 85% of the early Indian immigrants to the US were Sikhs, although they were branded by White American
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
s as "Hindoos". 90% of Indians who settled in the Central Valley of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
were Punjabi Sikhs.
Native speakers of Punjabi per country
| Rank | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Pakistan |
76,335,300 |
| 2 |  India |
29,109,672 |
| 3 |  United Kingdom |
2,300,000 |
| 4 |  Canada |
1,100,000 |
| 5 |  United Arab Emirates |
720,000 |
| 6 |  United States |
640,000 |
| 7 |  Saudi Arabia |
620,000 |
| 8 |  Malaysia |
185,000 |
| 9 |  South Africa |
140,000 |
| 10 |  Myanmar |
120,000 |
| 11 |  Early Modern France |
90,000 |
| 12 |  Italy |
80,000 |
| 13 |  Thailand |
75,000 |
| 14 |  Japan |
75,000 |
| 15 |  Mauritius |
70,000 |
| 16 |  Singapore |
70,000 |
| 17 |  Oman |
68,000 |
| 18 |  Libya |
65,000 |
| 19 |  Bahrain |
60,000 |
| 20 |  Kenya |
55,000 |
| 21 |  Australia |
50,000 |
| 22 |  Tanzania |
45,000 |
| 23 |  Kuwait |
40,000 |
| 24 |  Germany |
35,000 |
| 25 |  Hong Kong |
26,000 |