They live along the right bank of the longitudinal stretch of the river Panj from (Zewar) Dasht in the North to to Darmorakht in the south, as well as along the valleys of its eastern tributaries. They also constitute the major population group in the high mountain valley of Baju(w)dara to the north of Khorog. Small, compact groups are also found in central Tajikistan, including Khatlon, Romit, Kofarnikhon, and other regions. They also have compact settlements in Afghanistan mainly on the left bank of the river Panj in Badakhshan Province. A sizeable Shughni-speaking population community is also found in Kabul and in Faizabad, the capital of Afghan Badakhshan.

Shughnan district, Roshkala district and Khorog city, Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan;
Shughnan district, Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan

The Shughnis inhabit the right bank of the River Pyandzh, from the village of Darmoraht to the village of Dashti, (on other evidence, from Sohtsharv to Khasharag), also the valleys of the Shokhdar (Shakh-Dar) and Gund (Gunt), two rivers which converge at the town of Khorog and flow into the Pyandzh.

Spoken on both sides of Afghanistan-Tajikistan border: Pamir mountains.