Afghan Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Afghanistan is a mountainous country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, with a rich history of poetry, trade and craftsmanship. Afghans have come to Birmingham over several decades, many fleeing conflict, and more families arrived after 2021 under the government's resettlement schemes for those who had worked alongside British forces.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 6,501 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Afghan; 4,628 people living in the city had been born in Afghanistan; and 6,993 residents gave Pashto as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Afghan residents work in retail, transport, construction, catering and healthcare, and Afghan-run shops, bakeries and restaurants are a feature of several Birmingham neighbourhoods. Interpreters, doctors, engineers and teachers are rebuilding professional careers, and a new generation is studying at the city's colleges and universities.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Afghan residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

Nowruz, the new year on the spring equinox, is celebrated with family meals and hope for the year ahead, and Eid is a time of generosity. Afghan food, from kabuli pulao to mantu dumplings and fresh naan, is winning fans, and the poetry of Rumi, born in Balkh, is treasured.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Afghan community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.