Kalash DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Pakistan · South Asia
The Kalash live in three small valleys of the Hindu Kush near Chitral, in northwestern Pakistan. They number only a few thousand, speak Kalasha, a Dardic language of the Indo-Aryan family, and are known for keeping their own polytheistic religion and seasonal festivals. Their long isolation in high valleys made them one of the most distinctive populations in early genome-wide studies of South Asia. In our model, the Kalash average is 35.3% steppe, 34.3% Iranian Neolithic farmer and only 23.8% South Asian hunter-gatherer related ancestry (Irula proxy), with 5.0% Anatolian Neolithic farmer and 1.7% Caucasus hunter-gatherer: a similar steppe share to the Jats (36.4%), but much less of the South Asian hunter-gatherer component (35.1% there). The closest modern average is the Dameli, a neighbouring Dardic-speaking group of Chitral, at a very close 0.0063; Nuristanis and northeastern Pashtuns follow at around 0.023. The closest ancient group is Iron Age Barikot in the Swat valley (0.0309).
- Largest ancient components in our model: Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 35.3%, Iranian Neolithic farmers 34.3%, South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) 23.8%
- Closest modern population in our data: Dameli, distance 0.0063
- Closest ancient group in our data: Pakistan IA Barikot, distance 0.0309
Where does Kalash DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Kalash individuals sampled in Pakistan and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Kalash average
The ancient make-up of the Kalash average is led by Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (35.3%), followed by Iranian Neolithic farmers (34.3%) and South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) (23.8%). The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) component reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC. The Iranian Neolithic farmers share (34.3%) reflects the early farmers and herders of the Zagros mountains in Iran.
Smaller traces of Caucasus hunter-gatherers (under 5%) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.029): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Sindhu – South Asian Report
Closest modern populations to Kalash
Genetically, the Kalash average sits nearest to Dameli at 0.006, Nuristani at 0.023 and Pashtun (Afghanistan Northeast) at 0.024. On our scale, a distance of 0.006 counts as very close. By the tenth closest (Pashayi) the distance grows to 0.033, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dameli | 0.0063 | Very close |
| 2 | Nuristani | 0.0229 | Very close |
| 3 | Pashtun (Afghanistan Northeast) | 0.0240 | Very close |
| 4 | Pashtun (Kakakhel) | 0.0268 | Close |
| 5 | Pashtun (Uthmankhel) | 0.0269 | Close |
| 6 | Yusufzai | 0.0298 | Close |
| 7 | Tarkalani | 0.0298 | Close |
| 8 | Tajik (Kapisa) | 0.0307 | Close |
| 9 | Palula | 0.0317 | Close |
| 10 | Pashayi | 0.0331 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Kalash
Looking back in time, the ancient sample that most resembles the Kalash average is Pakistan IA Barikot (Iron Age), at 0.031. Pakistan Early Modern Singoor and Pakistan IA Udegram come next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pakistan IA Barikot | Iron Age | 0.0309 |
| 2 | Pakistan Early Modern Singoor | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.0413 |
| 3 | Pakistan IA Udegram | Iron Age | 0.0420 |
| 4 | Pakistan High Medieval Ghaznavid Udegram | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0434 |
| 5 | Pakistan High Medieval Barikot | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0438 |
| 6 | Pakistan Late Medieval Barikot | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0446 |
| 7 | Pakistan IA Butkara | Iron Age | 0.0456 |
| 8 | Pakistan IA Loebanr | Iron Age | 0.0479 |
| 9 | Xinjiang HP Junmachanyilian (South Asian Profile) | Historical period | 0.0483 |
| 10 | Pakistan IA Gogdara | Iron Age | 0.0504 |
Ancient DNA from Pakistan
Our ancient DNA database holds 136 individuals excavated in present-day Pakistan, dated from about 1,266 BC to 1568 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are L1a (14), E1b (11) and R2a (10), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are U2 (14), M30 (9) and M65 (8). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Kalash population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Pakistan
- Contrasting maternal and paternal genetic histories among five ethnic groups from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (2025)
- Phylogenetic analysis of the enigmatic Kalash population in Pakistan (2025)
- Ethnogenetic analysis reveals the Bronze Age genetic affiliation of Yashkuns with West Eurasians (2024)
- Multiple-Wave Admixture and Adaptive Evolution of the Pamirian Wakhi People (2024)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 136 from Pakistan.
Compare yourself with Kalash
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Kalash average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Kalash and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Kalash individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Kalash. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Kalash average. Your own DNA has its own story: Sindhu – South Asian Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people of South Asian ancestry: ancient regional core (Indus Valley Civilization, BMAC, Steppe migration, Himalayan Iron Age & Classical layers) versus non-regional outside admixture, across 13 communities (Punjabi...
More populations from South Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Kalash?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Kalash average is about 35.3% Steppe herders (Yamnaya), 34.3% Iranian Neolithic farmers and 23.8% South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy). These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Kalash?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Kalash average are Dameli, Nuristani and Pashtun (Afghanistan Northeast). The closest ancient matches are Pakistan IA Barikot, Pakistan Early Modern Singoor and Pakistan IA Udegram.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Kalash?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Kalash average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Kalash ancestry?
For the Kalash average, the regional report to choose is Sindhu – South Asian Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.