List of ethnic groups in China
The Han people are the largest ethnic group in mainland China. In 2010, 91.51% of the population were classified as Han (~1.2 billion).[1] Besides the Han Chinese majority, 55 other ethnic (minority) groups are categorized in present-day China, numbering approximately 105 million people (8%), mostly concentrated in the bordering northwest, north, northeast, south and southwest but with some in central interior areas.
The major ethnic minorities in China are the Zhuang (19.6 million), Uyghurs (11 million), Hui (11.4 million), Miao (11 million), Manchu (10.4 million), Yi (9.8 million), Tujia (9.6 million), Tibetans (7 million), Mongols (6.3 million), Buyei (3.5 million), Dong (3.5 million), Yao (3.3 million), Bai (2 million), Koreans (1.7 million), Hani (1.7 million), Li (1.6 million), Kazakhs (1.5 million), and Dai (1.2 million).[2] At least 126,000 people from Canada, the United States, and Europe are living in mainland China.[3] In addition, there are a number of unrecognized ethnic groups which together comprise over 730,000 people.
Officially recognized groups
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Officially recognized ethnic groups receive or have received certain benefits over Han Chinese under the regional ethnic autonomy system, including affirmative action, exemptions from the one-child policy, designated seats in political organs and government support to preserve their culture. Ethnic minority autonomous areas receive additional state subsidies.[4][5] Languages of officially recognized minorities are used in official government documents.[6]
Soon after the establishment of the
English Name |
Standard Romanization |
CodeA |
Simplified Chinese |
Mandarin Pinyin |
2020 National Shares | 2020 PopulationB | 2010 PopulationB |
2000 PopulationB |
1990 PopulationB |
Year of recognitionC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Han1 | Han | HA | 汉族 | Hànzú | 91.1098% | 1,284,446,389 | 1,220,844,520 | 1,139,773,008 | 1,042,482,187 | 1954 |
Zhuang | Zhuang | ZH | 壮族 | Zhuàngzú | 1.3801% | 19,568,546 | 16,926,381 | 16,187,163 | 15,489,630 | 1954 |
Uyghur | Uygur | UG | 维吾尔族 | Wéiwú'ěrzú | 0.8352% | 11,774,538 | 10,069,346 | 8,405,416 | 7,214,431 | 1954 |
Hui2 | Hui | HU | 回族 | Huízú | 0.8070% | 11,377,914 | 10,586,087 | 9,828,126 | 8,602,978 | 1954 |
Miao3 | Miao | MH | 苗族 | Miáozú | 0.7851% | 11,067,929 | 9,426,007 | 8,945,538 | 7,398,035 | 1954 |
Manchu | Man | MA | 满族 | Mǎnzú | 0.7394% | 10,423,303 | 10,387,958 | 10,708,464 | 9,821,180 | 1954 |
Yi | Yi | YI | 彝族 | Yízú | 0.6973% | 9,830,327 | 8,714,393 | 7,765,858 | 6,572,173 | 1954 |
Tujia | Tujia | TJ | 土家族 | Tǔjiāzú | 0.6801% | 9,587,732 | 8,353,912 | 8,037,014 | 5,704,223 | 1964 |
Tibetan4 | Zang | ZA | 藏族 | Zàngzú | 0.5008% | 7,060,731 | 6,282,187 | 5,422,954 | 4,593,330 | 1954 |
Mongol | Mongol | MG | 蒙古族 | Měnggǔzú | 0.4461% | 6,290,204 | 5,981,840 | 5,827,808 | 4,806,849 | 1954 |
Bouyei | Bouyei | BY | 布依族 | Bùyīzú | 0.2537% | 3,576,752 | 2,870,034 | 2,973,217 | 2,545,059 | 1954 |
Dong5 | Dong | DO | 侗族 | Dòngzú | 0.2480% | 3,495,993 | 2,879,974 | 2,962,911 | 2,514,014 | 1954 |
Yao | Yao | YA | 瑶族 | Yáozú | 0.2347% | 3,309,341 | 2,796,003 | 2,638,878 | 2,134,013 | 1954 |
Bai | Bai | BA | 白族 | Báizú | 0.1484% | 2,091,543 | 1,933,510 | 1,861,895 | 1,594,827 | 1954 |
Hani6 | Hani | HN | 哈尼族 | Hānízú | 0.1229% | 1,733,166 | 1,660,932 | 1,440,029 | 1,253,952 | 1954 |
Korean | Chosŏn | CS | 朝鲜族 | Cháoxiǎnzú | 0.1207% | 1,702,479 | 1,830,929 | 1,929,696 | 1,920,597 | 1954 |
Li | Li | LI | 黎族 | Lízú | 0.1136% | 1,602,104 | 1,463,064 | 1,248,022 | 1,110,900 | 1954 |
Kazakh | Kazak | KZ | 哈萨克族 | Hāsàkèzú | 0.1108% | 1,562,518 | 4,447,588 | 4,251,023 | 3,111,718 | 1954 |
Dai7 | Dai | DA | 傣族 | Dǎizú | 0.0943% | 1,329,985 | 1,261,311 | 1,159,231 | 1,025,128 | 1954 |
Lisu | Lisu | LS | 傈僳族 | Lìsùzú | 0.0541% | 762,296 | 702,839 | 635,101 | 574,856 | 1954 |
She | She | SH | 畲族 | Shēzú | 0.0529% | 746,385 | 708,651 | 710,039 | 630,378 | 1964 |
Dongxiang | Dongxiang | DX | 东乡族 | Dōngxiāngzú | 0.0550% | 774,947 | 621,500 | 513,826 | 373,872 | 1954 |
Gelao | Gelao | GL | 仡佬族 | Gēlǎozú | 0.0481% | 677,521 | 550,746 | 579,744 | 437,997 | 1964 |
Lahu | Lahu | LH | 拉祜族 | Lāhùzú | 0.0354% | 499,167 | 485,966 | 453,765 | 411,476 | 1954 |
Sui | Sui | SU | 水族 | Shuǐzú | 0.0352% | 495,928 | 411,847 | 407,000 | 345,993 | 1954 |
Wa | Wa | WA | 佤族 | Wǎzú | 0.0306% | 430,997 | 429,709 | 396,709 | 351,974 | 1954 |
Nakhi8 | Naxi | NX | 纳西族 | Nàxīzú | 0.0230% | 323,767 | 326,295 | 309,477 | 278,009 | 1954 |
Qiang | Qiang | QI | 羌族 | Qiāngzú | 0.0222% | 312,981 | 309,576 | 306,476 | 198,252 | 1954 |
Tu | Tu | TU | 土族 | Tǔzú | 0.0200% | 281,928 | 289,565 | 241,593 | 191,624 | 1954 |
Mulao9 | Mulao | ML | 仫佬族 | Mùlǎozú | 0.0197% | 277,233 | 216,257 | 207,464 | 159,328 | 1964 |
Kyrgyz | Kirgiz | KG | 柯尔克孜族 | Kē'ěrkèzīzú | 0.0145% | 204,402 | 186,708 | 160,875 | 141,549 | 1954 |
Xibe | Xibe | XB | 锡伯族 | Xībózú | 0.0136% | 191,911 | 190,481 | 189,357 | 172,847 | 1954 |
Salar | Salar | SL | 撒拉族 | Sālāzú | 0.0117% | 165,159 | 130,607 | 104,521 | 87,697 | 1954 |
Jingpo10 | Jingpo | JP | 景颇族 | Jǐngpōzú | 0.0114% | 160,471 | 147,828 | 132,158 | 119,209 | 1954 |
Daur | Daur | DU | 达斡尔族 | Dáwò'ěrzú | 0.0094% | 132,299 | 131,992 | 132,747 | 121,357 | 1964 |
Blang | Blang | BL | 布朗族 | Bùlǎngzú | 0.0090% | 127,345 | 119,639 | 91,891 | 82,280 | 1964 |
Maonan11 | Maonan | MN | 毛南族 | Máonánzú | 0.0088% | 124,092 | 101,192 | 107,184 | 71,968 | 1964 |
Tajik12 | Tajik | TA | 塔吉克族 | Tǎjíkèzú | 0.0036% | 50,896 | 51,069 | 41,056 | 33,538 | 1954 |
Pumi | Pumi | PM | 普米族 | Pǔmǐzú | 0.0032% | 45,012 | 42,861 | 33,628 | 29,657 | 1964 |
Achang | Achang | AC | 阿昌族 | Āchāngzú | 0.0031% | 43,775 | 39,555 | 33,954 | 27,708 | 1964 |
Nu | Nu | NU | 怒族 | Nùzú | 0.0026% | 36,575 | 37,523 | 28,770 | 27,123 | 1964 |
Evenki | Ewenki | EW | 鄂温克族 | Èwēnkèzú | 0.0025% | 34,617 | 30,875 | 30,545 | 26,315 | 1954 |
Vietnamese13 | Gin | GI | 京族 | Jīngzú | 0.0024% | 33,112 | 28,199 | 22,584 | 18,915 | 1964 |
Jino | Jino | JN | 基诺族 | Jīnuòzú | 0.0018% | 26,025 | 23,143 | 20,899 | 18,021 | 1979 |
Bonan | Bonan | BO | 保安族 | Bǎo'ānzú | 0.0017% | 24,434 | 20,074 | 16,505 | 12,212 | 1954 |
De'ang14 | Deang | DE | 德昂族 | Dé'ángzú | 0.0016% | 22,354 | 20,556 | 17,935 | 15,462 | 1964 |
Russian | Russ | RS | 俄罗斯族 | Éluósīzú | 0.0011% | 16,136 | 15,393 | 15,631 | 13,504 | 1954 |
Yugur | Yugur | YG | 裕固族 | Yùgùzú | 0.0010% | 14,706 | 14,378 | 13,747 | 12,297 | 1954 |
Uzbek | Uzbek | UZ | 乌孜别克族 | Wūzībiékèzú | 0.0009% | 12,742 | 10,569 | 12,423 | 14,502 | 1954 |
Monba | Monba | MB | 门巴族 | Ménbāzú | 0.0008% | 11,143 | 10,561 | 8,928 | 7,475 | 1964 |
Oroqen | Oroqen | OR | 鄂伦春族 | Èlúnchūnzú | 0.0007% | 9,168 | 8,659 | 8,216 | 6,965 | 1954 |
Derung | Derung | DR | 独龙族 | Dúlóngzú | 0.0005% | 7,310 | 6,930 | 7,431 | 5,816 | 1964 |
Hezhen15 | Hezhen | HZ | 赫哲族 | Hèzhézú | 0.0004% | 5,373 | 5,354 | 4,664 | 4,245 | 1964 |
Lhoba | Lhoba | LB | 珞巴族 | Luòbāzú | 0.0003% | 4,237 | 3,682 | 2,970 | 2,312 | 1965 |
Tatars | Tatar | TT | 塔塔尔族 | Tǎtǎ'ěrzú | 0.0003% | 3,544 | 3,556 | 4,895 | 4,873 | 1954 |
Gaoshan16 | Gaoshan | GS | 高山族 | Gāoshānzú | 0.0002% | 3,479 | 4,009 | 4,488 | 2,909 | 1954 |
Undistinguished | — | none | 未识别民族 | Wèi Shìbié Mínzú | 0.0593% | 836,488 | 640,101 | 734,438 | 749,341 | — |
Naturalized Citizen | — | none | 外国人加入中国籍 | Wàiguórén Jiārù Zhōngguójí | 0.0012% | 16,595 | 1,448 | 941 | 3,421 | — |
AGB 3304-91 "Names of ethnicities of China in romanization with codes";[8]
BThe population only includes mainland China;
CFor ethnic groups officially recognised in 1964 or earlier, this is the year of first inclusion in the national census, which were in 1954[9] and 1964;[10]
1Also included are the
2Also includes
3One subset of which is also known as
4including Amdowa and Khampa, as well as roughly half of Pumi speakers, the remainder of whom are classified as a separate Pumi ethnicity;
5Also known as Kam;
6Also included are the
7This category includes several different Tai-speaking groups historically referred to as Bai-yi. In fact, the
8Also included are the Mosuo;
9Also included are the Qago (木佬人);
10Known as Kachin in Myanmar;
11Also included are the
12They are not
13The same group as
14Known as Palaung in Myanmar;
15The same group as
16A collective name for all Taiwanese aborigine groups in Taiwan. In fact, the numbers of Gaoshan in census covers only those who lives in mainland China (mainly in Fujian) and consists of Amis (autonym: Pangcah), Paiwan and Bunun peoples.[citation needed]
Taiwanese aborigines
The People's Republic of China government officially refers to all Taiwanese aborigines (Chinese: 原住民族; pinyin: Yuánzhùmínzú) as Gaoshan (Chinese: 高山族; pinyin: Gāoshānzú), whereas the Republic of China (Taiwan) recognizes 16 groups of Taiwanese aborigines.[11] The term Gaoshan has a different connotation in Taiwan than it does in mainland China.[clarification needed]
Unlisted ethnic groups
This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2024) |
The following ethnic groups living in China are not recognized by the Chinese government:
- Äynu people – classified as Uyghurs
- Altai people – classified as Mongols[12]
- Fuyu Kyrgyz people – classified as Kyrgyz
- Gejia people – classified as Miao
- Bajia (八甲人; Bājiǎrén)
- Deng people
- Hu people – classified as Bulang
- Khmu people – classified as Bulang
- Kucong
- Mảng people
- Ili Turk people– classified as Uzbek
- Sherpa people – classified as Tibetan
- Tanka people, including Fuzhou Tanka
- Tebbu people
- Tuvans – classified as Mongols[13]
- Waxiang people
- Jewish people
- Macanese people, mixed race Catholic Portuguese speakers who lived in Macau since 16th century of various ethnic origins
- Utsuls – classified as Hui
During the
Hong Kong and Macau
Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions within China. The governments of Hong Kong and Macau do not use the official PRC ethnic classification system, nor does the PRC's official classification system take ethnic groups in Hong Kong and Macau into account. Minority groups such as Western Europeans (mainly English and Portuguese), and Southern or Southeastern Asians (mainly Filipinos, Indians, Indonesians, Nepalese, and Pakistanis) live in Hong Kong.[15] Macau's main ethnic groups are of Chinese and Portuguese descent, but other ethnicities also live in the territory.[16]
Gallery
-
Manchu
See also
- Affirmative action in China
- Demographics of China
- Demographics of Taiwan
- Local ethnic nationalism
- Taiwanese people
- Ethnic minorities in China
- Han Chinese subgroups
- Hua–Yi distinction
- Languages of China
- List of endangered languages in China
- Kra–Dai ethnic groups in China
- Taiwanese indigenous peoples
- Unrecognized ethnic groups in China
- Minzu (anthropology)
References
- ^ "Han Chinese proportion in China's population drops: census data". Xinhua News (English). 28 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ "index". www.stats.gov.cn.
- ^ "Expats in China: Nationalities and in which cities they settle".
- ^ Jarmuth, Anna (2020-09-22). "Ethnic Minorities and the Fight against Poverty in China: The Case of Yunnan". Institute for Security and Development Policy. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Lai, Hongyi. "China's Ethnic Policies and Challenges" (PDF).
- ^ "White Paper 1999: Ethnic Minorities Policy in China". un.china-mission.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- Southwest University for NationalitiesUniversity Press (in Chinese) (4).
- ^ GB 3304-91 Names of nationalities of China in romanization with codes Archived 2009-11-01 at the Wayback Machine.
- First National Population Census of the People's Republic of China
- Second National Population Census of the People's Republic of China
- ^ "Gov't officially recognizes two more aboriginal people groups". China Post. CNA. 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ISBN 0-313-28853-4.
- ^ Mongush, M. V. (1996). "Tuvans of Mongolia and China". International Journal of Central Asian Studies (1): 225–243.
- Fifth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China(2000). Table 1-6: Population of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities by ethnicity). (in Chinese)
- ISBN 9780367580605.
- ^ João de Pina Cabral. "THE 'ETHNIC' COMPOSITION OF MACAO". Cultural Bureau of Macau. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-313-28853-4.
- Schwars, Henry G. (1984). The Minorities of Northern China: A Survey.