Jammu and Kashmir is a multi-lingual, multi-religious and multiracial State and each group has its own distinct and peculiar cultural ethos further deepened by geographical divisions created by formidable mountain ranges. The Jammu region is dominantly Hindu with Muslims being in the majority in certain areas. Most of the people speak Dogri.

Dogri -the language of the Dogras is spoken in the region which includes parts of three States, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and undivided Punjab. The whole of Jammu Province south of Pir Panjal, some parts of Himachal Pradesh, viz. Kangra, Chamba, Kullu,Mandi, Suket, some parts of Punjab viz. Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Nurpur, Hoshiarpur and some parts of Pakistan, viz. Shakargarh tehsil of Sialkot comprise the area of Dogri language (Ghai 1965, Shivanath 1976). John Beams including Dogri in the group of eleven Indian languages gives its area as lying between the Punjab and the valley of Kashmir.The earliest known mention of Dogri language is found in Amir Khusru's list of Indian languages-Sindhi, Lahauri, Kashmiri, Dogri, Dhursamundari, Tilangi, Gujarati,Malbari, Gaudi Bengali, Awadhi and Dehalavi. As Amir Khusru lived from 1253 to 1325AD, the existence of Dogri language earlier to 13th century is proved. Inscriptions dating from 12th century AD contain Dogri expressions (See Dogri Inscriptions by Shivnath. 1976.pp. 52-55) and R.N. Shastri's Dogri Shodh. 1981. pp 40ff)

In the mountains, there are three distinct communities with traits of their own viz. Gujjars, Bakerwals and Gaddis, who speak the Pahari Language. The Kashmir Valley presents a heterogeneous population with two broad divisions i.e. Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits, both of whom speak Kashmiri, The people of Ladakh are believed to be descendants of a blended race of the Mons of North India, the Dards of Baltistan and the Mongols of Central Asia. Majority of the population is Buddhist. The Northern area occupied by Pakistan is inhabited by different races like Mongols, Tadjik, Kirghiz, Uygur, Yagis and others. The Muslim population is almost equally divided into three sects i.e. Sunni, Shia (Jaffaria) and Shia (Ismailis). Sectarian violence is a common feature in the area because of Pakistan's official patronage of the minority Sunni community. The southern portion of POK, where the majority of people are concentrated, the common language is Dogri or Punjabi.