Chinese ethnic groups

As a large united multi-national state with long history, China is composed of 56 ethnic groups. Among them Han Chinese account for 91.59% of the overall Chinese population and the other 55 make up the remaining 8.41% according to the Fifth National Population Census of 2000. As the combined population of these other ethnic groups is far fewer than that of the Han, they form the 55 ethnic minorities of China.
 

 Although ethnic minorities make up only a small proportion of the overall Chinese population, the 55 minority ethnic groups are distributed extensively throughout different regions of China. The regions where they are most concentrated are Southwest China, Northwest China and Northeast China. No matter whether it is Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Ningxia, Guangxi, Tibet, Yunnan, Guizhou, Qinghai or Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan or another province, one can find Chinese ethnic minorities. From the areas listed above, the greatest number of minorities can be found in Yunnan Province (25 ethnic groups). Zhuang has the largest population (more than 16 million) of minority ethnic groups. 

 In order to ensure that the 56 Chinese ethnic groups live together in harmony, the Chinese government introduced a series of policies including ones to secure the equality and unity of ethnic groups, give regional autonomy to ethnic minorities and promote respect for the faith and customs of ethnic groups. Among these the policy of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities is the most fundamental. Under this policy, five autonomous regions; Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Guangxi, Ningxia and Tibet, as well as numerous autonomous prefectures, counties, nationality townships and towns have been set up. With guidance from the Chinese government, the ethnic minorities in areas that have been given regional autonomy are entitled to deal with their own affairs. Together with the Han people, the Chinese ethnic minorities are making great efforts to build a prosperous China.

 

Ethnic groups  

蒙古族          menggu zu               Mengol ethnic minority group

回族            hui zu          Hui ethnic minority group

藏族            zang zu         Tibetan ethnic minority group

维吾尔族                weiwuer zu              Uygur ethnic minority group

苗族            miao zu         Miao ethnic minority group

壮族            zhuang zu               Zhuang ethnic minority group

布依族          buyi zu         Bouyei ethnic minority group

朝鲜族          chaoxian zu             Korean ethnic minority group

满族            man zu          Manchu ethnic minority group

侗族            dong zu         Dong ethnic minority group

瑶族            yao zu          Yao ethnic minority group

白族            bai zu          Bai ethnic minority group

土家族          tujia zu                Tujia ethnic minority group

哈尼族          hani zu         Hani ethnic minority group

哈萨克族                hasake zu               Kazak ethnic minority group

傣族            dai zu          Dai ethnic minority group

黎族            li zu           Li ethnic minority group

彝族            yi zu           Yi ethnic minority group

傈僳族          lisu zu         Lisu ethnic minority group

佤族            wa zu           Va ethnic minority group

畲族            she zu          She ethnic minority group

高山族          gaoshan zu              Gaoshan ethnic minority group

拉祜族          lahu zu         Lahu ethnic minority group

水族            shui zu         Shui ethnic minority group

东乡族          dongxiang zu            Dongxiang ethnic minority group

纳西族          naxi zu         Naxi ethnic minority group

景颇族          jingpo zu               Jingpo ethnic minority group

柯尔克孜族              ke'erkezi zu            Kirgiz ethnic minority group

土族            tu zu           Tu ethnic minority group

达斡尔族                dawo'er zu              Daur ethnic minority group

仫佬族          mulao zu                Mulam ethnic minority group

羌族            qiang zu                Qiang ethnic minority group

布朗族          bulang zu               Blang ethnic minority group

撒拉族          sala zu         Salar ethnic minority group

毛南族          maonan zu               Maonan ethnic minority group

仡佬族          gelao zu                Gelao ethnic minority group

锡伯族          xibo zu         Xibe ethnic minority group

阿昌族          achang zu               Achang ethnic minority group

普米族          pumi zu         Pumi ethnic minority group

塔吉克族                tajike zu               Tajik ethnic minority group

怒族            nu zu           Nu ethnic minority group

乌兹别克族              wuzibieke zu            Ozbek ethnic minority group

俄罗斯族                eluosi zu               Russian ethnic minority group

鄂温克族                ewenke zu               Ewenki ethnic minority group

德昂族          de'ang zu               De'ang ethnic minority group

保安族          bao'an zu               Bonan ethnic minority group

裕固族          yugu zu         Yugur ethnic minority group

京族            jing zu         Jing ethnic minority group

塔塔尔族                tata'er zu              Tatar ethnic minority group

独龙族          dulong zu               Drung ethnic minority group

鄂伦春族                elunchun zu             Oroqen ethnic minority group

赫哲族          hezhe zu                Hezhen ethnic minority group

门巴族          menba zu                Moinba ethnic minority group

珞巴族          luoba zu                Lhoba ethnic minority group

基诺族          jinuo zu                Jino ethnic minority group

汉族           han zu                    Han ethnic group