Romani people are predominantly found in Europe, particularly in the Balkans, parts of Central Europe and Spain. The total number of Romani people 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.[8][9] Most Romani populations overseas were founded in the 19th century by emigration from Europe. There were Romani people with Christopher Columbus on his third voyage to Hispaniola in 1498.[10] Some countries do not collect data by ethnicity. As of the early 2000s, an estimated 4 to 9 million Romani people lived in Europe and Asia Minor,[11] although some Romani organizations estimate numbers as high as 14 million.[12]
There is no official or reliable count of the Roma populations worldwide.[13] Many Roma refuse to register their ethnic identity in official censuses for fear of discrimination.[14] There are also some descendants of intermarriage with local populations who no longer identify exclusively as Romani, or who do not identify as Romani at all.
The Romani people identify with distinct sub-ethnic groups based in part on territorial, religious, cultural and dialectal differences, and self-designation. The main branches are:[15][16][17][18]
Since the 19th century, many Romani people have migrated from Europe to the Americas. They have also migrated to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Romani people have additional internal distinctions, with groups identified as; Xoroxane (Muslim Roma in the Balkans); Xaladytka (Ruska Roma); Bashaldé; Churari; Ungaritza; Machvaya (Machavaya, Machwaya, or Macwaia) in Serbia; Romungro in Hungary and neighbouring Carpathian countries; Erlides (Yerlii, Arli); Argintari from silversmiths; Aurari from goldsmiths; Florari from florists; and Lăutari from singers.
^3.8 million according to Pan and Pfeil, National Minorities in Europe (2004), ISBN978-3-7003-1443-1, p. 27f.; 9.1 million in the high estimate of Liégois, Jean-Pierre (2007). Roms en Europe, Éditions du Conseil de l'Europe.