Romani diaspora

Countries with a significant Romani population according to unofficial estimates.
 + 1,000,000
 + 100,000
 + 10,000
Distribution of the Romani people in Europe (2007 Council of Europe "average estimates", totalling 9.8 million)
* The size of the wheel symbols reflects absolute population size
* The gradient reflects the percent in the country's population: 0%                              10%.

The Romani people have several distinct populations, the largest being the Roma and the Calé, who reached Anatolia and the Balkans in the early 12th century, from a migration out of the Indian subcontinent beginning about 1st century – 2nd century AD. They settled in the areas of present-day Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Moldova, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Hungary, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia, by order of volume, and Spain. From the Balkans, they migrated throughout Europe and, in the nineteenth and later centuries, to the Americas. The Roma population in the United States is estimated at more than one million.

There is no official or reliable count of the Romani populations worldwide. Many Romani refuse to register their ethnic identity in official censuses for fear of discrimination. Others are descendants of intermarriage with local populations and no longer identify only as Roma, or not at all.

As of the early 2000s, an estimated 4 to 9 million Romani people lived in Europe and Asia Minor, although some Romani organizations estimate numbers as high as 14 million.

Significant Romani populations are found in the Balkan peninsula, in some Central European states, in Spain, France, Russia, and Ukraine. The total number of Romani living outside Europe are primarily in the Middle East and North Africa and in the Americas, and are estimated in total at more than two million. Some countries do not collect data by ethnicity.

Most Romani populations overseas were founded in the 19th century by emigration from Europe. There were Roma with Christopher Columbus on his third voyage to Hispaniola in 1498.

The Romani people identify as distinct ethnicities based in part on territorial, religious, cultural and dialectal differences, and self-designation. The main branches are:

  1. Roma, concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe and Italy; they emigrated (mostly from the 19th century onwards) to the rest of Europe as well as the Americas.
  2. Calé, mostly in Spain (see Gitanos), but also in Portugal (see Romani people in Portugal), Southern France, and Latin America
  3. Finnish Kale, in Finland; communities also exist in Sweden.
  4. Welsh Kale, in Wales, specifically in the Northwestern part of the country in Welsh-speaking areas
  5. Romanichal, in England. Communities also exist in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Northeast Wales, South Wales and in the Scottish Borders.
  6. Sinti, in German-speaking areas of Europe and some neighboring countries
  7. Manush, in French-speaking areas of Europe (in French: Manouche)
  8. Romanisæl, in Sweden and Norway. The Romani-Swedish population is mostly located in the southern parts of the country.
  9. Scottish Lowland Gypsies are also considered a Romani group (at least by English Romanichal and Welsh Kale) although they are theorised to be a fusion between Romani and a native Traveller group. Their language is predominantly derived from Romani.
  10. Muslim Roma, Horahane, Romanlar in Turkey and the Balkans
  11. Middle East Gypsies

The Romani have additional internal distinctions, with groups identified as Bashaldé; Churari; Lori; Ungaritza; Lovari (Lovara) from Hungary; Machvaya (Machavaya, Machwaya, or Macwaia) from Serbia; Romungro from Hungary and neighbouring Carpathian countries; Erlides (Yerlii, Arli); Xoraxai (Horahane) from Greece and Turkey; Boyash (Lingurari, Ludar, Ludari, Rudari, Zlătari) from Romanian / Moldovan miners; Ursari from Romanian / Moldovan bear-trainers; Argintari from silversmiths; Aurari from goldsmiths; Florari from florists; and Lăutari from singers.

Population by country

This is a table of Romani people by country. The list does include the Dom people, who are often subsumed under "gypsies".

The official number of Romani people is disputed in many countries; some do not collect data by ethnicity; in others, Romani individuals may refuse to register their ethnic identity for fear of discrimination, or have assimilated and do not identify exclusively as Romani. In some cases, governments consult Romani organizations for data.

Country Region Population Subgroups
Afghanistan Asia 20,000 to 30,000
Albania Southern Europe, Balkans 8,301 (0.3%) (official 2011 census) Gabel (Vlax Roma), Jevgs
Algeria Africa 40,000 Kale, Xoraxane
Angola Africa 16,000 Kale (from Portugal)
Argentina South America 300,000 Kalderash, Boyash, Kale
Australia Oceania 5,000+ Romanichal, Boyash
Austria Central Europe 20,000–50,000 Burgenland-Roma, Sinti, Lovari, Arlije from Macedonia, Kalderash from Serbia, Gurbeti from Serbia and Macedonia
Azerbaijan Europe / Asia 2,000 Garachi
Belarus Eastern Europe 10,000 (census data)
or 50,000–60,000
(estimated data)
Belaruska Roma, Ruska Roma, Polska Roma, Litovska Roma, Lotfitka Roma, Servy, Kalderash
Belgium Western Europe 10,000–15,000 Romungro
Bosnia and Herzegovina Southern Europe, Balkans 12,000 / 58,000
Brazil South America 678,000–1,000,000 Kale, Kalderash, Machvaya, Xoraxane, Boyash
Bulgaria Southern / Eastern Europe, Balkans 370,908 (official census)
to 600,000
Yerli, Gurbeti, Kalderash, Boyash, Ursari
Canada North America 80,000 Kalderash, Romanichal
Chile South America 15,000–20,000 Xoraxane
China Asia 9,000 Vlax (Kalderash, Lovara, Potkovari)
Colombia South America 4,850 Kalderash
Croatia Central / Southern Europe, Balkans 2,500 (census results)
Estimated:3,000
Lovari, Boyash
Cyprus West Asia 1,250 (estimated) Kalderash, Kurbet, Mantides
Denmark Northern Europe 1,500–2,000
Ecuador South America 2,000 Kalderash
Estonia Northern Europe 456
Finland Northern Europe 10,000+ Kàlo
Egypt Northern Africa 50,000 Nawar people, Dom people
France Western Europe 500,000 (official estimation)
1,200,000–1,300,000 (unofficial estimation)
Manush, Kalderash, Lovari, Sinti
Germany Central / Western Europe 500,000 mostly Sinti, but also Balkan Roma, Vlax Roma
Georgia Eastern Europe, Western Asia 500+ Roma, Domari, Lom/Bosha
Greece Southern Europe, Balkans 200,000
or 300,000
Erlides, Xoraxane,
Hungary Central / Eastern Europe 205,984 (census);
394,000–1,000,000 (estimated)
Romungro, Boyash, Lovari
Iran Asia 2,000−760,000 Domari, Koeli, Ghorbati, Nawari, Zargar people
Iraq Asia 40,000 Nawar people, Qawliya, Kalderash, Xoraxane[citation needed]
Ireland Northern Europe 3,000
Italy Southern Europe 90,000–180,000 + 152,000 illegal Roma in 700 camps Sinti, Ursari, Kalderash, Xoraxane
Jordan Western Asia 48,000 Dom people
Kazakhstan Asia 7,000 Ruska Roma, Lyuli, Sinti
Kosovo Southeast Europe 15,696
Kyrgyzstan Central Asia 600 Dom people
Latvia Northern Europe 8,482 (2012 est.) or 13,000–15,000 Lofitka Roma (in same Baltic Romani dialect family as Polska Roma and Ruska Roma)
Lebanon Asia 12,000 Nawar people, Dom people
Libya Northern Africa 40,000 Nawar people, Dom people
Lithuania Northern Europe 3,000–4,000
Luxembourg Western Europe 100–150
North Macedonia Southern Europe, Balkans 53,879 Roma and 3,843 Balkan Egyptians
to 260,000
Yerli, Gurbeti, Cergari, Egyptians
Mexico North America 16,000 Kale, Boyash, Machwaya, Lovari, Gitanos, Kalderash
Moldova Eastern Europe 12,900 (census) to 20,000–25,000 or
150,000
Rusurja, Ursari, Kalderash
Montenegro Southern Europe, Balkans 2,601
to 20,000,
additionally 8,000 registered Roma refugees from Kosovo, the entire number of IDP Kosovarian Roma in Montenegro is twice as large.
Morocco Northern Africa 50,000 Nawar people, Dom people, Kale, Gitanos, Kalderash, Boyash
Netherlands Western Europe 35,000–40,000
New Zealand Oceania 132
Nicaragua Central America 14,000 Vlax Romani
Norway Northern Europe 6,500 or more Norwegian and Swedish Travellers (Romanoar, Tavringer), Vlax
Pakistan South Asia 24,000 Vlax Romani
Peru South America 8,400[dubious ] Kalderash, Calo
Poland Central / Eastern Europe 15,000–60,000 Polska Roma
Portugal Southern / Western Europe 40,000
Romania Southern / Central / Eastern Europe 621,573 (2011 census)
1,850,000 (estimated)
Kalderash, Ursari, Lovari, Vlax, Romungro
Russia Eastern Europe 182,766 (census 2002)
or
450,000–1,000,000 (estimated)
Ruska Roma (descended from Polska Roma, from Poland), Kalderash (from Moldova), Servy (from Ukraine and Balkans), Ursari (from Bulgaria) Lovare, Wallachian Roma (from Wallachia), Boshas (from Armenia).
Serbia Southeast Europe, Balkans 147,604 (census 2011)
or 400,000–800,000 (estimated)
See Romani people in Serbia. Main sub-groups include "Turkish Gypsies", "White Gypsies", "Wallachian Gypsies" and "Hungarian Gypsies".
Slovakia Central / Eastern Europe 92,500 or 550,000 Romungro
Slovenia Central / Southern Europe, Balkans 3,246–10,000
South Africa Southern Africa 7,900 Romanichal
Spain Southern / Western Europe 1,000,000 (official estimation)
600,000–800,000
or 1,500,000
Gitanos, Kalderash, Boyash, Erromintxela
Sudan Africa 50,000 Nawar people, Dom people
Sweden Northern Europe 30,000–65,000 Swedish Travellers (Tavringer), Vlax (Kalderash, Lovara), Kàlo (Finnish Roma)
Switzerland Central / Western Europe 30,000–35,000
Syria Asia 34,000 Nawar people, Dom people
Tajikistan Central Asia 3,200 Dom people
Tunisia Northern Africa 20,000 Nawar people, Dom people
Turkey Southern / Eastern Europe, Balkans, Asia 35,000 to 5,000,000 Bosha, Romani people in Turkey,

Garachi

Ukraine Eastern Europe 47,587 (census 2001)
or 400,000 (estimated)
Kelderare (Hungarian name for Kotlyary; Zakarpattia), Kotlyary (other Ukrainian regions), Ruska Roma (northern Ukraine), Servy (Serby, southern and central Ukraine, from Serbia), Lovare (central Ukraine), Kelmysh, Crymy (in Crimea), Servica Roma (in Zakarpattia from Slovakia), Ungriko Roma (in Zakarpattia from Hungary)
United Arab Emirates Western Asia 71,000 Dom people
United Kingdom Northern / Western Europe 44,000–94,000+ Unspecified number of Romani immigrants from Eastern Europe (among them in 2004 there were 4,100 Vlax Roma)
and additionally 200,000 recent migrants
Romanichal, Welsh Kale
United States North America 1,000,000 (Romani ancestry. Romani organizations' estimate)
Uruguay South America 2,000–5,000
Romani people Roma (Gypsy) population by country
Country Official Source Low estimate High estimate Note
Abkhazia Abkhazia* 261 (2011 census) 500 600
Afghanistan Afghanistan 20,000 30,000
Albania Albania 8,301 (2011 census) 80,000 150,000 Roma population lives in 71 communes.
Algeria Algeria 2,500 40,000
Angola Angola 12,000 16,000
Argentina Argentina 300,000 350,000
Armenia Armenia 48 (1989 census) 2,000 2,000 Armenianized.
Republic of Artsakh Artsakh* 1 (1989 census) 20 25
Australia Australia 775 (2011 census) 5,000 25,000
Austria Austria 6,273 (2001 census) 20,000 50,000
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 145 (1989 census) 2,000 2,000
Belarus Belarus 6,848 (2019 census) 25,000 70,000 Roma population lives in 104 districts.
Belgium Belgium 20,000 40,000
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 12,583 (2013 census) 40,000 76,000 Roma population lives in 92 municipalities. In 3 villages the Roma are the majority.
Brazil Brazil 800,000 (2010 census) 680,000 1,000,000 The 2010 IBGE Brazilian National Census encountered Romani camps in 291 of Brazil's 5,565 municipalities.
Bulgaria Bulgaria 325,343 (2011 census) 700,000 800,000 Roma population lives in 258 municipalities. In 43 villages and 1 town, the Roma are the majority.
Canada Canada 5,255 (2011 census) 5,000 80,000
Chile Chile 15,000 20,000
China China 9,000 9,000
Colombia Colombia 4,858 (2005 census) 6,000 8,000
Croatia Croatia 16,975 (2011 census) 30,000 40,000
Cyprus Cyprus 1,000 1,500
Czech Republic Czech Republic 4,458 (2021 census) 150,000 250,000
Ecuador Ecuador 2,000 2,000
Egypt Egypt 1,800,000 2,262,000
Estonia Estonia 676 (2021 census) 600 1,500
Denmark Denmark 1,000 4,000
Finland Finland 10,000 12,000
France France 500,000 1,200,000
Georgia (country) Georgia 1,744 (1989 census) 1,500 2,500
Germany Germany 70,000 140,000
Greece Greece 100,000 300,000
Hungary Hungary 309,632 (2016 census) 600,000 1,000,000
Iran Iran 100,000 800,000
Iraq Iraq 40,000 60,000
Republic of Ireland Ireland 30,987 (2016 census) 30,000 42,000
Israel Israel 2,000 4,000
Italy Italy 29,438 (2018 census) 120,000 180,000 Only a minority, estimated at 26,000 people, live in authorized slums. In 148 "formal" slums live 16,400 people, of which 43% are Italian. In the

"tolerated" micro-settlement there are 9,600 Roma with Romanian 86% and Bulgarian 14% EU passports.

Jordan Jordan 40,000 88,000
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 7,165 (1989 census) 10,000 15,000
Kosovo Kosovo* 35,784 (2011 census) 25,000 50,000 Roma population lives in 29 municipalities. In 3 villages the Roma are the majority.
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan 990 (1989 census) 1,500 2,500
Latvia Latvia 5,082 (2018 statistics) 9,000 16,000
Lebanon Lebanon 3,112 (2011 research) 5,000 12,000
Libya Libya 10,000 40,000
Lithuania Lithuania 2,251 (2021 census) 2,000 4,000
Luxembourg Luxembourg 100 500
Mexico Mexico 15,000 50,000
Moldova Moldova 9,323 (2014 census) 14,200 200,000 Roma population lives in 35 districts. In 1 village and 2 cities, the Roma are the majority.
Montenegro Montenegro 6,251 (2011 census) 15,000 25,000
Morocco Morocco 30,000 50,000
Netherlands Netherlands 32,000 48,000
New Zealand New Zealand 132 (2018 census) 1,500 3,000
North Macedonia North Macedonia 46,433 (2021 census) 134,000 260,000 Roma population lives in 62 municipalities.
Norway Norway 4,500 15,700
Pakistan Pakistan 30,000 80,000
State of Palestine Palestine* 35,000 46,000
Peru Peru 8,000 10,000
Poland Poland 12,855 (2002 census) 15,000 50,000
Portugal Portugal 34,000 70,000
Romania Romania 621,573 (2011 census) 1,200,000 2,500,000
Russia Russia 205,007 (2010 census) 450,000 1,200,000
Serbia Serbia 147,604 (2011 census) 400,000 800,000 Roma population lives in 115 municipalities.
Slovakia Slovakia 67,179 (2021 census) 380,000 600,000 Roma population lives in 78 of the districts.
Slovenia Slovenia 3,246 (2002 census) 7,000 10,000
South Africa South Africa 8,500 10,000
South Ossetia South Ossetia* 6 (2015 census) 15 20
Spain Spain 500,000 1,100,000
Sudan Sudan 40,000 50,000
Sweden Sweden 35,000 65,000
Switzerland Switzerland 25,000 35,000
Syria Syria 100,000 300,000
Tajikistan Tajikistan 2,334 (2010 census) 4,000 5,000
Tunisia Tunisia 20,000 20,000
Turkey Turkey 500,000 5,000,000
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan 119 (1989 census) 1,000 2,000
Ukraine Ukraine 47,587 (2001 census) 120,000 400,000
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 50,000 80,000
United Kingdom United Kingdom 63,193 (2011 census) 150,000 300,000
United States USA 1,000,000 1,000,000
Uruguay Uruguay 2,000 5,000
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 16,397 (1989 census) 20,000 30,000
Total 2,868,224 10,985,435 23,717,845

Central and Eastern Europe

An 1852 Wallachian poster advertising an auction of Romani slaves

A significant proportion of the world's Romanies live in Central and Eastern Europe. However, in some cases—notably the Kalderash clan in Romania, who work as traditional coppersmiths—they have prospered. Some Romani families choose to immigrate to Western Europe. Many of the former Communist countries like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria have entered the European Union, and free travel is permitted. During the 1970s and 1980s, many Romanies from former Yugoslavia migrated to other European countries, especially Austria, West Germany and Sweden.

Albania

Romani people have been living in Albania for more than 600 years. They arrived from Asia shortly before the Ottoman Turks in the middle of the fifteenth century. They started from India, traveled towards the direction of Persia, Syria, Iraq and through Armenia into the Western Byzantine territories, then through the Balkans into Europe. 1,300-120,000 Roma are estimated to live in Albania.

Austria

Belarus

Bulgaria

Romani people constitute the third largest ethnic group (after Bulgarians and Turks) in Bulgaria, they are referred to as "цигани" (cigani) or "роми" (romi). According to the 2001 census, there were 370,908 Roma in Bulgaria, equivalent to 4.7% of the country's total population.

Greece

The Romani people of Greece is currently estimated to be between 200,000 and 350,000 people.

Czech Republic

Crete

Since 1323 the Romani people are mentioned in Crete. Majority settlement are in Nea Alikarnassos,

Hungary

In the 2011 census, 315,583 people called themselves Roma. Various estimations put the number of Roma people to be between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people, or 8–10% of Hungary's population.

Romani nomads, c. 1857

Romania

There is a sizable minority of Romani people in Romania, known as Ţigani in Romanian and, recently, as Rromi, of 621,573 people or 3.3% of the total population (2011 census). There exist a variety of governmental and non-governmental programs for integration and social advancement, including the Foundation Policy Center for Roma and Minorities, the National Agency for the Roma and Romania's participation in the Decade of Roma Inclusion. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain participate in these programs. As an officially recognized ethnic minority, the Romani people also have guaranteed representation in Parliament.

Moldova

A big roma community of east-orthodox Christian faith, are the Basketmakers in Glodeni, their ancestors once came from Serbia, settled in Glodeni at the time of the Teleki Dynasty.

Russia

A Romani family travelling (1837 print)
Romani people from Ivanovo Oblast

In Russian the Romani people are referred to as tzigane. The largest ethnic group of Romani people in Russia are the Ruska Roma. They are also the largest group in Belarus. They are adherents of the Russian Orthodox faith.

They came to Russia in the 18th century from Poland, and their language includes Polish, German, and Russian words.

The Ruska Roma were nomadic horse traders and singers. They traveled during the summer and stayed in cottages of Russian peasants during the winter. They paid for their lodging with money, or with the work of their horses.

In 1812, when Napoleon I invaded Russia, the Romani diasporas of Moscow and Saint Petersburg gave large sums of money and good horses for the Russian army. Many young Romani men took part in the war as uhlans.

At the end of the 19th century, Rusko Rom Nikolai Shishkin created a Romani theatre troupe. One of its plays was in the Romani language.

During World War II some Ruska Roma entered the army, by call-up and as volunteers. They took part in the war as soldiers, officers, infantrymen, tankmen, artillerymen, aviators, drivers, paramedical workers, and doctors. Some teenagers, old men and adult men were also partisans. Romani actors, singers, musicians, dancers (mostly women) performed for soldiers in the front line and in hospitals. A huge number of Roma, including many of the Ruska Roma, died or were murdered in territories occupied by the enemy, in battles, and in the blockade of Leningrad.

After World War II, the music of the Ruska Roma became very popular. Romen Theatre, Romani singers and ensembles prospered. All Romanies living in the USSR began to perceive Ruska Roma culture as the basic Romani culture.

Slovenia

It is estimated that between 10,000 and 12,000 Romani people live in Slovenia.

Kosovo

Kosovan Roma speak either Serbian or Romani as their first language. Most Kosovan Roma are Christian Orthodox, but some practice Islam. 2010 OSCE estimates suggested that there were approximately 34,000 Roma living in Kosovo.

Germany

Roma in Germany are estimated to around 170,000-300,000 individuals, constituting around 0.2-0.4% of the German population.

Czech Republic

Poland

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Ukraine

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia

Montenegro

North Macedonia

Switzerland

Around 80,000 to 100,000 Roma live in Switzerland.

Western Europe

Basque Country

Belgium

There are about 30,000 Roma in Belgium. Approximately one third of these are described as Travellers, Roms or Manouches/Sinti.

Spain

Spanish Romani woman

Romanies in Spain are generally known as Gitanos and tend to speak Caló, a kind of Andalusian Spanish with a large number of Romani loanwords. Estimates of the Spanish Gitano population range between 600,000 and 1,500,000 with the Spanish government estimating between 650,000 and 700,000. Semi-nomadic Quinqui consider themselves apart from the Gitanos.

Portugal

The Romanies in Portugal are known as Ciganos, and their presence goes back to the second half of the 15th century. Early on, due to their socio-cultural difference and nomadic style of live, the Ciganos were the object of fierce discrimination and persecution.

The number of Ciganos in Portugal is difficult to estimate, since there are no official statistics about race or ethnic categories. According to data from Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance there are about 40,000 to 50,000 spread all over the country.[citation needed] According to the Portuguese branch of Amnesty International, there are about 30,000 to 50,000.

France

Fortune teller in the Romani shrine of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

Romanies are generally known in spoken French as Manouches or Tsiganes. Romanichels or Gitans are considered pejorative and Bohémiens is outdated. Traditionally referred to as gens du voyage ("traveling people"), a term still occasionally used by the media, they are today generally referred to as Roms or Rroms. By law, French municipalities over 5,000 inhabitants have the obligation to allocate a piece of land to Romani travellers when they arrive.

Approximately 500,000 Roma live in France as part of established communities. Additionally, the French Roma rights group FNASAT reports that there are at least 12,000 Roma, primarily from Romania and Bulgaria, living in illegal urban camps throughout the country. French authorities often close down these encampments. In 2009, the government returned more than 10,000 Roma illegal immigrants to Romania and Bulgaria. In the summer of 2012, with mounting criticism of their deportation of Roma migrants, French key ministers met for emergency talks on the handling of an estimated 15,000 Roma living in camps across France. They proposed to lift restrictions on migrants (including Roma) from Bulgaria and Romania who were working in France.

Italy

Romani in Italy are generally known as zingaro (with the plural zingari), a word also used to describe a scruffy or slovenly person or a tinker. The word is likely of Greek origin meaning "untouchables", compare the modern Greek designations Τσιγγάνοι (Tsingánoi), Αθίγγανοι (Athínganoi). People often use the term "Rom", although the people prefer Romani (in Italian Romanì), which is little used. They are sometimes called "nomads", although many live in settled communities.

Netherlands

Approximately 37,500 Roma people reside in the Netherlands (0.24% of the Dutch population).

Luxembourg

Approximately 300 Romanies live in Luxembourg (0.06% of the population).

Northern Europe

Northern Romani Traveller groups include:

  1. Romanichal Travellers in England (As well as North East Wales, South Wales and the Scottish Borders), with diaspora communities in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
  2. Romanisæl Travellers in Central Norway and Sweden.
  3. Scottish Lowland Travellers in Lowland Scotland.
  4. Welsh Kale Travellers in the Welsh-speaking parts of Northwestern Wales.
  5. Finnish Kale in Finland and parts of Sweden.

Northern Romani generally identify as "Travellers" more than they do as "Gypsies". These groups have much European heritage due to mixing with Indigenous Traveller groups (British Romani Travellers mix with Irish Travellers, Scottish Highland Travellers and Funfair Traveller and Scandinavian Romani Travellers mix with Indigenous Norwegian Travellers) and even non-Travellers over the centuries. This has led to these Romani groups generally looking White in appearance.

It is also a reason why these groups speak mixed languages rather than more purer forms of Romani:

  • Romanichal Travellers speak Angloromani (A mix of English and Romani).
  • Romanisæl Travellers speak Scandoromani (A mix of Norwegian, Swedish and Romani).
  • Scottish Lowland Travellers speak Scottish Cant (A mix of Scots and Romani).
  • Welsh Kale speak Kalá (A mix of Welsh, English and Romani).
  • Finnish Kale speak Kalo (A mix of Finnish and Romani).

Northern European Romani groups culturally have more in common with Indigenous Northern European Traveller groups, such as Irish Travellers, Dutch Travellers, Scottish Highland Travellers and Norwegian Travellers then what they do with Romani from the rest of Europe. Northern Romani groups have common ancestry from the wave of Romani who migrated to England and Scotland in the 16th century.

Denmark

The Council of Europe estimates that there are around 5,500 Romanies living in Denmark (0.1% of the population).

Estonia

The Roma population in Estonia is small. The official number of Roma people in Estonia is 584 with the average estimate of 1,250 and the percentage of Estonian Roma in the total population is 0.1% The oldest data on Roma in Estonia date back to the year 1533.

Iceland

Romani families from Romania, Bulgarian and Poland have been living and working in Iceland as part of the East European labour migrant communities.

Finland

The Kale (or Kaale) Romani of Finland are known in Finnish as mustalaiset ('blacks', cf. Romani: kalò, 'black') or romanit. Approximately 10,000 Romani live in Finland, mostly in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. In Finland, many Romani people wear their traditional dress in daily life. Finnish Kale speak Finnish Kalo.

Norway and Sweden

Romanisæl Travellers in Sweden are the Romani group or Norway and Sweden. They speak Scandoromani.

Recently the term romer has been adopted as a collective designation referring to both Romanisæl Travellers and Eastern European Roma migrant communities, with Resande (Travellers) referring to Romanisæl only.

Approximately 120,000 Romani live in Sweden, including 65,000~ Romanisæl Travellers, the Norwegian and Swedish Romani group, 3,000~ Finnish Kale, the Finnish Romani group who immigrated in the 1960s, and 50,000~ Eastern European Roma, who have only started to immigrate to Sweden (as well as Norway, Finland and Britain) in recent years.

Romanisæl Travellers in Sweden have periodically suffered discrimination at the hands of the state. For example, the state has taken children into foster care, or sterilised Romani women without their consent. Prejudice against Romanies is widespread, with most stereotypes portraying the Romani as welfare cheats, shoplifters, and con artists. For example, in 1992, Bert Karlsson, a leader of Ny Demokrati, said, "Gypsies are responsible for 90% of crime against senior citizens" in Sweden. He had earlier tried to ban Romani from his Skara Sommarland theme park, as he thought they were thieves. Some shopkeepers, employers and landlords continue to discriminate against Romani.

The situation is improving. Several Romani organisations promote education about Romani rights and culture in Sweden. Since 2000, Romani chib is an officially recognised minority language in Sweden. The Swedish government has established a special standing Delegation for Romani Issues. A Romani folk high school has been founded in Gothenburg.

United Kingdom

Romanichal Travellers in England are generally known as Romany Gypsies, English Travellers or English Gypsies. They are found in England (As well as South Wales, Northeast Wales and the Scottish Borders), and they speak Angloromani.

Welsh Kale are Welsh Romani, they are found in the Welsh-speaking parts of Northwestern Wales, and they speak Welsh Kalá.

Scottish Lowland Travellers are Scottish Romani. They are found in Lowland Scotland and they speak Scottish Cant.

Romani have been recorded in the UK since at least the early 16th century. Records of Romani people in Scotland date to the early 16th century.

Many Romanichal emigrated to the British colonies and to the United States during the centuries. Romani number around 300,000 in the UK. This includes the sizable population of Eastern European Roma, who immigrated into the UK in the late 1990s/early 2000s, and also after EU expansion in 2004.

The first recorded reference to "the Egyptians" appeared to be in 1492, during the reign of James IV, when an entry in the Book of the Lord High Treasurer records a payment "to Peter Ker of four shillings, to go to the king at Hunthall, to get letters subscribed to the 'King of Rowmais'". Two days after, a payment of twenty pounds was made at the king's command to the messenger of the 'King of Rowmais'.

According to the Scottish Traveller Education Programme, an estimated 20,000 Scottish Gypsies/Travellers live in Scotland. this includes Scottish Lowland Romani Travellers, Indigenous Scottish Lowland Travellers, Irish Travellers, Funfair Travellers (Showman) as well as Eastern European Roma.

The term "gypsy" in the United Kingdom has come to mean anyone who travels with no fixed abode (regardless of ethnic group). In some parts of the UK, the Romani are commonly called "tinkers" because of their traditional trade as tinsmiths.

Irish Travellers, Scottish Highland Travellers, Funfair Travellers (Showman) are non-Romani Travelling groups found in the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Latvia

The Roma are one of Latvia's oldest ethnic minorities. According to the Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs there were 7,456 Roma living in Latvia as of 1 January 2017, comprising 0.3% of the total population.

Lithuania

According to The Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, in 2011 general population and housing census data shows that 2,115 Roma lived in Lithuania. The Roma are concentrated in Vilnius, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Panevėžys and Šalčininkai in Lithuania. Kirtimai is the largest Romani settlement in Vilnius.

Central Asia

There is a small Roma community in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

West Asia

One route taken by the medieval proto-Romani cut across Indian Subcontinent to Roman Egypt and Asia Minor to Europe. Numerous Romani continue to live in Asia Minor. Other Romani populations in the Middle East are the result of modern migrations from Europe. Also found in the Middle East are various groups of the Dom people, often identified as "gypsies." They are derived from a migration out of northwestern India beginning about 600 years earlier.

Armenia

There is a Lom community in Armenia. They speak Lomavren.

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Approximately 1,500 Roma are registered in Georgia. They primarily live in Tbilisi and Gachiani.

Cyprus

History

Historians estimate that the first immigrants came between 1322 and 1400, when Cyprus was under the rule of the Lusignan (Crusader) kings. These Roma were part of a general movement from Asia Minor to Europe. Those who landed on Cyprus probably came across from the Crusader colonies on the eastern Mediterranean coast.

There is no evidence suggesting one cause for the Roma to leave mainland Asia, but historical events caused widespread upheaval and may have prompted a move to the island. In 1347 the Black Death had reached Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire; in 1390 the Turks defeated the Greek kingdom in Asia; and ten years later, the Battle of Aleppo marked the advance of the Mongols under Tamerlane.

The first surviving written record of Roma in Cyprus is from 1468. In the Chronicle of Cyprus compiled by Florio Bustron, the Cingani are said to have paid tax to the royal treasury, at that time under King James II. Later, in 1549, the French traveler Andre Theret found "les Egyptiens ou Bohemiens" in Cyprus and other Mediterranean islands. He noted their simple way of life, supported by the production of nails by the men and belts by the women, which they sold to the local population.

During the Middle Ages, Cyprus was on a regular shipping route from Bari, Italy to the Holy Land. Second immigration likely took place sometime after the Turks dominated the island in 1571. Some Kalderash came in the 19th century.

Currently, Muslim Roma in Cyprus refer to themselves as Gurbeti, and their language as Kurbetcha, although most no longer speak it. Christian or Greek-speaking Roma are known as Mantides.

According to the Council of Europe there are 1000–1500 (0.16%) Romanis living in Cyprus .

Names of Roma in Cyprus

  • Tsinganos: the official term used in Greek documents and written material. It comes from the term Cingani (used in the 1468 text), which in turn comes from the archaic word Adsincan, used in mediaeval Byzantium.
  • Yiftos: the Cypriot dialect form of mainland Greek Yiftos. This is common in speech and comes from earlier Aigiptos, a reference to the earlier belief that the Romanies came from Egypt.
  • Gurbeti: the local term used by Turkish-speaking Cypriots, a Roma group of Doms which is also present in Syria.

(For additional names of Roma in Greek-speaking Cyprus, see Roma in Greece)

Iran

There is a gypsy community in Persia.

Israel

A community anciently related to the Romani are the Dom people. Some live in Israel, the Palestinian territories and in neighboring countries.

Jordan

70,000 Doms live in Jordan.

Lebanon

It is estimated that there are 5,000 Romanis or Domaris in Lebanon. The language of Romanis is called Domari in Lebanon and neighboring countries. There is evidence that child labor was prevalent in Romani communities in Lebanon.

Turkey

Romani people in Turkey are generally known as Romanlar, Çingene, Çingen, or Çingan, as well as Çingit (West Black Sea region), Kıptî (meaning Coptic), Şopar (Kırklareli), Romanlar (İzmir) and Gipleri (derived from the term "Egyptian"). Since the late twentieth century, some have started to recognize and cherish their Romani background as well. Music, blacksmithing and other handicrafts are their main occupations.



North America

Most Romani people in the Americas speak English, French, Spanish or Portuguese.

United States

At the beginning of the 19th century, the first major Romani group, the Romanichal from Great Britain, arrived in North America, although some had also immigrated during the colonial era. They settled primarily in the United States, which was then more established than most English-speaking communities in Upper Canada. Later immigrants also settled in Canada.

The ancestors of the majority of the contemporary local Romani population in the United States, who are Eastern European Roma, started to immigrate during the second half of the century, drawn by opportunities for industrial jobs. Among these groups were the Romani-speaking peoples such as the Kalderash, Machvaya, Lovari and Churari, as well as groups who had adopted the Romanian language, such as the Boyash (Ludari). Most arrived either directly from Romania after their liberation from slavery between 1840 and 1850, or after a short-period in neighboring states, such as Russia, Austria-Hungary, or Serbia. The Bashalde arrived from what is now Slovakia (then Austria-Hungary) about the same time. Many settled in the major industrial cities of the era.

Immigration from Eastern Europe decreased drastically in the post-World War II era, during the years of Communist rule. It resumed in the 1990s after the fall of Communism. Romani organizations estimate that there are about one million Romani in the United States.

Cuba

An Afro-Romani population exists in central Cuba.

Barbados

England banished the Roma to Barbados during the colonial era. According to folklore, the Romani population intermarried with the local indigenous people.

Canada

According to the 2006 Canadian census, there were 2,590 Canadians of full or partial Romani descent.

Mexico

According to data collected by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía, the Romani in Mexico numbered 15,850, however, the total number is likely larger.

Caribbean

During the early modern era, Romani slaves were transported to European colonies in the Caribbean from the 15th to 18th centuries. The first Romani slaves to arrive in the Caribbean came as part of the third voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1498. In 1793, writer John Moreton noted in his work West India Customs and Manners that many Romani in Jamaica worked as prostitutes.

South America

Argentina

The Romani people in Argentina number more than 300,000. They traditionally support themselves by trading used cars and selling their jewelry, while travelling all over the country.

Brazil

Romani groups settled the Brazilian states of Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais primarily in the late 19th century. The Machvaya came from present-day Serbia (then Austria-Hungary), the Kalderash from Romania, the Lovari from Italy, and the Horahane from Greece and Turkey. Initially, the Romani in Brazil were believed to be descended from ancestors who were exiled in the colony by the Portuguese Inquisition but more has been learned about the peoples. The current population of ethnic Romani is estimated at 600,000. Most are descended from ethnic Kalderash, Macwaia, Rudari, Horahane, and Lovara.

Chile

A sizeable population of Romani people live in Chile. As they continue their traditions and language, they are a distinct minority who are widely recognized. Many continue semi-nomadic lifestyles, travelling from city to city and living in small tented communities. A Chilean telenovela called Romane was based on the Romani. It portrayed their lifestyles, ideas and occasionally featured the Chilean-born actors speaking in the Romani language, with subtitles in Spanish.

Colombia

The first Romani in Colombia are thought to have come from Spain and were formerly known as Egipcios settling primarily in the Departments of Santander, Norte de Santander, Atlántico, Tolima, Antioquia, Sucre, Bogotá D.C. and in smaller numbers in the Departments of Bolívar, Nariño and Valle del Cauca.

In 1999, the Colombian Government recognized the Romani people as a national ethnic minority, and today, around 8,000 Roma are present in Colombia. Their language has been officially recognized as a minority language.

Venezuela

There is a significant Romani population in Venezuela.

Uruguay

Africa

Angola

In spite of a ban introduced in 1720, a number of Romani families arrived in the country during the time when Angola was a Portuguese colony. It is unlikely the community survived to the present day.

South Africa

A small number of Kalderash live in South Africa.

Egypt

Algeria

Cape Verde

Portuguese Roma were banished to Cape Verde.

Tunisia

Libya

Sudan

Oceania

Australia

There is a small Romani population in Australia.

New Zealand

A small Romani community exists in New Zealand. There are an estimated 1,500–3,000 Roma individuals in New Zealand.

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-01-21 04:00 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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