As a multi-ethnic country, China has 56 distinct nationalities. Han nationality outnumbers other 55 ones which constitute only 8.41% of the total population. The following table shows the distribution of different ethnic groups in the number of population.
|
Population |
Nationalities |
|
Over 1,000,000 |
Zhuang, Hui, Uygur, Yi, Miao, Manchu, Tibetan, Mongolian, Tujia, Bouyei, Korean, Dong, Yao , Bai, Hani |
|
Between 1,000,000 and 100,000 |
Kazak, Dai, Li, Lisu, She, Lahu , Va , Shui, Dongxiang, Naxi, Tu , Kirgiz , Qiang |
|
Below 100,000 |
Daur, Jingpo, Mulao, Xibe, Salar, Bulang, Gelo, Maonan, Tajik, Pumi, Nu, Achang, Ewenki, Jino, Ozbek, Jing, Benglong, Yugur, Bonan, Moinba, Drung, Oroque, Tatar, Russian, Lhoba, Gaoshan, Hezhe | Before People's Republic of China was founded, the development of most minority nationalities was on a lower level than that of Han people. In accordance with a cautious policy of making steady progress while taking into account the special characteristics of various minority nationalities, Chinese government made great efforts to promote the development of culture, education and medical work in the minority areas. Now due to mutual influence on each other in the fields of economy, politics and culture and close ties with the Han people, minority nationalities have developed communities of their own which are full of culture distinction. |
