Ethnic Groups in China

China is a large country noted for its dense population and vast territory. At present, there are altogether 1.4 billion people from 56 ethnic groups in China. The defining elements of an ethnic group are language, homeland, and social values. As the majority of the population is of the Han ethnic group, the other 55 ethnic groups are customarily referred to as ethnic minorities because of their relatively smaller population size compared with Han people.

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Ethnic Groups in China Facts

The ethnic groups in China include: Han, Achang, Bai, Blang, Bonan, Bouyei, Dai, Daur, De'ang, Dong, Dongxiang, Dulong, Ewenki, Gaoshan, Gelo, Hani, Hezhe, Hui, Jing, Jino, Jingpo, Kazak, Kirgiz, Korean, Lahu, Li, Lisu, Lhoba, Manchu, Maonan, Miao, Moinba, Mongolian, Mulam, Naxi, Nu, Oroqen, Ozbek, Pumi, Qiang, Russian, Salar, She, Shui, Tatar, Tajik, Tibetan, Tu, Tujia, Uygur, Wa, Xibe, Yao, Yi, Yugur, Zhuang.

Various ethnic groups are widely scattered in China. In most of China's cities and county town, two or more ethnic groups live together. There are ethnic minorities living in Han nationality areas and Han people living in ethnic minority autonomous regions. This distribution pattern is formed by the interaction and flow of various ethnic groups in the long historical development process.

Ethnic Groups in China Statistics

According to the fifth national census taken in 2000, the Han people made up 91.59 percent of the country's total population, totaling 1159.4 million; and the other 55 ethnic groups, 8.41 percent, totaling 106.43 million. The Han people can be found throughout the country, though mainly on the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Pearl River valleys, and the Northeast Plain. The ethnic minorities, though fewer in number, are also scattered over a vast area, mainly distributed in the border regions from northeast China to north, northwest and southwest China.

Yunnan province has the largest ethnic composition in China, with 52 of the country's 56 ethnic groups, including 26 ethnic groups with a population of more than 5,000, and 25 ethnic minorities except the Han.

Guizhou is another province where many ethnic groups live together. There are 56 ethnic groups in guizhou, among which the Han, Miao, Buyi, Dong, Tujia, Yi, Gelao, Shui, Hui, Bai, Yao, Zhuang, She, Maonan, Manchu, Mongolian, Mulam and Qiang are the 18 main ethnic groups in Guizhou.

Ethnic Groups in China Policy

China exercises a policy of regional autonomy for various ethnic groups, allowing ethnic groups living in compact communities to establish self-government and direct their own affairs.

In May 1947, China established its first provincial-level ethnic autonomous region -- Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Tibet Autonomous Region were successively established. By 2017, 155 ethnic autonomous areas had been established, including five autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous counties.

Of the 55 ethnic minorities in China, 44 have established ethnic autonomous areas. The number and layout of autonomous areas basically correspond to the distribution and composition of China's ethnic groups.

Ethnic Groups in China Languages and Religions

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Party and the government have adhered to the policy of ethnic equality and language equality, and the use and development of spoken and written languages of ethnic minorities have received due respect and legal protection.

Among the 55 ethnic minorities, 54 have their own languages, except the Hui, who have all switched to Chinese. With the acceleration of China's modernization, some minority languages are in danger of dying out. Although China has made some achievements in the protection of minority languages, the situation of language diversity protection is still grim.

China is a country with many religions, mainly Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism. Most of the ethnic minorities in China have religious beliefs.

Among China's ethnic minorities, Tibetan, Mongolian, Tuan, Yugu, Mengba, Pumi and Naxi believe in Tibetan Buddhism (also known as Lamaism); Dai, Brown, Deang believe in Hinayana/Theravada Buddhism, ten ethnic groups including Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Dongxiang, Bao 'an, Salah, Kirgiz, Tatar, Uzbek and Tajik believe in Islam; Part of yi, Miao, Lahu, Jingpo, and Susu believe in Christianity.

Small groups of ethnic Russians and Ewenki follow orthodox Christianity. Some ethnic minorities, such as dulong, Nu, Wa, Jingpo, Gaoshan, Oroqen and Lhoba, still maintain their primitive worship of nature and various beliefs.

What are the Major Ethnic Groups in China?

According to the fifth national census in 2000, 18 ethnic minorities have a population of over one million, namely the Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uygur, Yi, Tujia, Mongolian, Tibetan, Bouyei, Dong, Yao, Korean, Bai, Hani, Li, Kazak and Dai.

What are the 3 Largest Ethnic Groups in China?

Han, population of 1.3 billion. Han nationality is the name of the Huaxia nationality. The appellation began in the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago and is still used today.

Zhuang, population of 17 million, has the largest population of ethnic minorities in China, and mainly lives in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region other some other areas of Southern China.

Hui, population of 1.06 million, is the most widely distributed minority in China.

The 56 Ethnic Groups in China: