Ethnic Groups of China

China officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups. The Han Chinese constitute approximately 91.1% of the population, while the remaining 55 minority groups account for about 8.9%. Despite their smaller share, these minorities cover over 60% of China's land area, concentrated in border regions, autonomous zones, and mountainous areas. This guide covers all 56 groups with population data, geographic distribution, and cultural highlights.

Population Overview

CategoryCountPopulation (2020 Census)ShareLand Area
Han Chinese11,286.3 million91.11%~40%
Minority Groups55125.5 million8.89%~60%
Total561,411.8 million100%9.6M km²

Largest Minority Groups (Top 20)

RankEthnic GroupPopulation (2020)Main ProvincesLanguage Family
1Zhuang19,568,546GuangxiTai-Kadai
2Hui11,377,914Ningxia, GansuSino-Tibetan
3Manchu10,423,303Liaoning, HeilongjiangTungusic
4Uyghur11,624,257XinjiangTurkic
5Miao11,067,929Guizhou, HunanHmong-Mien
6Tujia8,353,912Hunan, HubeiTibeto-Burman
7Yi9,830,327Yunnan, SichuanTibeto-Burman
8Mongol6,290,204Inner MongoliaMongolic
9Tibetan7,060,731Tibet, QinghaiTibeto-Burman
10Bouyei3,576,502GuizhouTai-Kadai
11Dong2,879,974Guizhou, HunanTai-Kadai
12Yao3,309,591Guangxi, HunanHmong-Mien
13Bai1,933,510YunnanTibeto-Burman
14Korean1,702,479Jilin, LiaoningKoreanic
15Hani1,733,166YunnanTibeto-Burman
16Li1,602,104HainanTai-Kadai
17Kazakh1,562,518XinjiangTurkic
18Dai1,329,985YunnanTai-Kadai
19She746,385Fujian, ZhejiangHmong-Mien
20Lisu733,288YunnanTibeto-Burman

All 56 Ethnic Groups by Population

RankEthnic GroupPopulation (2020)RankEthnic GroupPopulation (2020)
1Han1,286,310,0002Zhuang19,568,546
3Hui11,377,9144Uyghur11,624,257
5Miao11,067,9296Manchu10,423,303
7Yi9,830,3278Tujia8,353,912
9Mongol6,290,20410Tibetan7,060,731
11Bouyei3,576,50212Dong2,879,974
13Yao3,309,59114Bai1,933,510
15Korean1,702,47916Hani1,733,166
17Li1,602,10418Kazakh1,562,518
19Dai1,329,98520She746,385
21Lisu733,28822Dongxiang776,741
23Gelao550,74624Lahu485,966
25Va429,70926Sui495,928
27Naxi323,23228Qiang312,981
29Tu289,56530Tatar35,556
31Blang127,34532Salar130,997
33Maonan101,19234Gelo48,506
35Mulam216,25736Jing33,112
37Kirgiz201,33838Daur132,299
39Sibe191,91140Achang39,555
41Pumi42,86142Tajik50,896
43Nu37,52344Ozbek12,455
45Russian16,13646Ewenki34,617
47Deang20,75648Bonan20,736
49Yugur14,70650Jingpo147,828
51Tatar35,55652Derung7,031
53Oroqen9,16854Hezhen5,373
55Monba12,14356Lhoba4,237

Five Autonomous Regions

China has five province-level ethnic autonomous regions, each designed to give minorities self-governance in their traditional homelands:

RegionCapitalPrimary MinorityMinority Pop.AreaEstablished
Inner MongoliaHohhotMongol4.2M1,183,000 km²1947
XinjiangUrumqiUyghur12.9M1,664,900 km²1955
GuangxiNanningZhuang18.8M237,600 km²1958
NingxiaYinchuanHui2.5M66,400 km²1958
Tibet (Xizang)LhasaTibetan7.1M1,228,400 km²1965

Language Families

China's ethnic groups speak languages from 5 major language families, plus several isolates:

Language FamilyGroupsNotable Languages
Sino-TibetanHan, Tibetan, Yi, Bai, Tujia, Naxi, Qiang, Hani, Lisu, Lahu, Jingpo, NuMandarin, Tibetan, Yi, Bai
Tai-KadaiZhuang, Bouyei, Dong, Dai, Li, Sui, Gelao, Maonan, MulamZhuang, Dai, Dong
Hmong-MienMiao, Yao, SheHmong, Iu Mien
TurkicUyghur, Kazakh, Kirgiz, Salar, Uzbek, Tatar, Yugur (one branch)Uyghur, Kazakh
MongolicMongol, Dongxiang, Bonan, Daur, Yugur (one branch)Mongolian
TungusicManchu, Xibe, Hezhen, Oroqen, EvenkiManchu (endangered), Xibe
KoreanicKoreanKorean
AustronesianGaoshan (Taiwan indigenous)Amis, Atayal
Indo-EuropeanTajik, RussianTajik, Russian

Smallest Ethnic Groups (Endangered)

Several minority groups have very small populations and face cultural preservation challenges:

Ethnic GroupPopulationMain LocationStatus
Lhoba4,237TibetSmallest recognized group
Hezhen5,373HeilongjiangFishing culture
Derung7,031YunnanIsolated valley communities
Oroqen9,168HeilongjiangReindeer herding
Monba12,143TibetSoutheast Tibet
Yugur14,706GansuBilingual (Mongolic + Turkic)
Bonan20,736GansuMuslim metalworkers
Deang20,756YunnanTea cultivation
Russian16,136Xinjiang19th-century migrants
Uzbek12,455XinjiangCentral Asian heritage

Minority Autonomous Prefectures & Counties

Beyond the five autonomous regions, China has 30 ethnic autonomous prefectures and 120+ autonomous counties. These provide local self-governance for minorities outside the five major autonomous regions:

TypeCountExamples
Autonomous Prefectures30Xishuangbanna Dai (Yunnan), Yanbian Korean (Jilin), Enshi Tujia (Hubei), Qiandongnan Miao (Guizhou)
Autonomous Counties120+Taoyuan Tujia (Hunan), Jingning She (Zhejiang), Morin Dawa Daur (Inner Mongolia)
Ethnic Townships1,000+Scattered nationwide

Cultural Highlights by Region

Southwest (Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi) — The most ethnically diverse region, home to 25+ minority groups. Highlights include the Dai Water Festival, Miao Silver Jewelry, Yi Torch Festival, and Dong Grand Choirs.

Northwest (Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai) — Turkic and Mongolic peoples dominate. Silk Road heritage, Uyghur dance and music, Kazakh eagle hunting, and Dongxiang Islamic architecture.

Northeast (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia) — Tungusic and Mongolic peoples. Manchu cultural revival, Korean drum dance, Oroqen reindeer herding, and Mongolian Naadam festival.

Central South (Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Hainan) — Tujia, Miao, Yao, and Li peoples. Tujia hanging houses, Miao batik, Li brocade weaving, and Yao rice wine ceremonies.

Tibet & Qinghai — Tibetan plateau cultures. Buddhist monasteries, thangka painting, butter sculpture, and Lhoba traditional hunting.

Population Trends (2010 vs 2020)

Group2010 Census2020 CensusChange
Han1,220,844,5201,286,310,000+5.4%
Zhuang16,926,38119,568,546+15.6%
Uyghur10,069,34611,624,257+15.4%
Hui10,586,08711,377,914+7.5%
Miao9,426,00711,067,929+17.4%
Manchu10,387,95810,423,303+0.3%
Yi8,714,3939,830,327+12.8%
Tibetan6,282,1877,060,731+12.4%
Mongol5,981,8406,290,204+5.2%
Total Minorities113,792,211125,467,000+10.3%

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