How many ethnic minorities are there: Chinese ethnic composition and latest data analysis
China is a multi-ethnic country, and all ethnic groups together constitute a rich and colorful Chinese culture. According to the latest statistics, there are 56 ethnic groups in China, of which the Han ethnic group is the main ethnic group, and the other 55 ethnic groups are collectively called ethnic minorities. The following will combine recent hot topics to analyze the composition of China's ethnic minorities in detail from the aspects of population, distribution and culture.
1. China's ethnic minority population data
According to the data from the Seventh National Population Census (2020), the total population of ethnic minorities in China is about 125 million, accounting for 8.89% of the country's total population. Here are the 10 most populous ethnic minorities and their population data:
| Ranking | nationality | Population (10,000 people) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhuang people | 1956.85 | 1.27 |
| 2 | Hui people | 1137.79 | 0.81 |
| 3 | Manchus | 1042.33 | 0.74 |
| 4 | Uighur | 1177.45 | 0.84 |
| 5 | Miao people | 1106.79 | 0.79 |
| 6 | Yi people | 983.03 | 0.70 |
| 7 | Tujia | 958.77 | 0.68 |
| 8 | Tibetan | 706.07 | 0.50 |
| 9 | Mongolian people | 629.02 | 0.45 |
| 10 | Dong people | 349.60 | 0.25 |
2. Distribution of ethnic minority areas
China's ethnic minorities are mainly distributed in the border areas and the western regions. The following are provincial administrative regions with a relatively high proportion of ethnic minority population:
| area | Percentage of ethnic minority population (%) | Major ethnic groups |
|---|---|---|
| Tibet Autonomous Region | 86.0 | Tibetan |
| Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region | 59.1 | Uighur |
| Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region | 37.5 | Zhuang people |
| Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region | 36.3 | Hui people |
| Yunnan Province | 33.6 | Yi people, Bai people, etc. |
3. Recent hot topics related to ethnic minorities
1.National culture protection and inheritance: Recently, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued the "Notice on Promoting the Deep Integration and Development of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism", emphasizing the need to strengthen the protection and utilization of intangible cultural heritage of ethnic minorities.
2.Economic development of ethnic areas: The National Development and Reform Commission and other departments jointly issued the "Several Policy Measures on Supporting High-Quality Development of Ethnic Areas", and proposed a series of policy measures to support the economic development of ethnic areas.
3.Minority Language Protection: The Ministry of Education and other departments are promoting the informatization of ethnic minority languages and characters, and more than 20 ethnic minority languages have been digitally processed.
4. Cultural characteristics of ethnic minorities
Chinese ethnic minorities have rich and colorful cultural traditions. The following are some representative cultural characteristics:
| nationality | Representative Festivals | Characteristic culture |
|---|---|---|
| Tibetan | Tibetan New Year | Thangka paintings, Tibetan opera |
| Uighur | Gurbon Day | Mukam music, dance |
| Mongolian people | Nadamu Conference | Long tune folk songs, horse-headed qin |
| Miao people | Miao Nian | Silver jewelry craftsmanship, Lusheng dance |
| Dai people | Water Splashing Festival | Peacock dance, elephant foot drum |
V. Trends of Changes in Ethnic Minority Population
Judging from the data of previous census, the ethnic minority population has the following characteristics:
1. The growth rate of ethnic minority population is higher than the national average.
2. The education level of ethnic minority population has increased significantly, and the illiteracy rate has dropped significantly.
3. The urbanization process of ethnic minorities is accelerating, and more and more ethnic minorities are entering urban life.
4. The aging degree of ethnic minority population is relatively low and the age structure is relatively young.
Conclusion
The 56 ethnic groups in China together form the big family of the Chinese nation. With the continuous improvement of national ethnic policies and the development of economy and society, the cultures of various ethnic minorities have been effectively protected and inherited, and remarkable achievements have been made in the economic and social development of ethnic areas. Understanding the basic situation of ethnic minorities will help us better understand China's diverse culture and promote national unity and progress.
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