What are the main ethnic groups in China?

China is a multinational country with a population composed of a large number of ethnic and linguistic groups. The Han are the largest group, comprising approximately 90 percent of the population in mainland China. They form a homogeneous majority in most provinces and autonomous regions, sharing a common culture, traditions, and written language.12

Beyond the Han, there are some 55 recognized minority groups spread across approximately three-fifths of the country's total area. Notable minority groups include:1

• Zhuang: The largest minority group, primarily residing in the Zhuang Autonomous Region of Guangxi.3
• Hui: Chinese Muslims who are intermingled with the Han throughout much of the country, with a major concentration in the Hui Autonomous Region of Ningxia.3
• Tibetans: The clear majority in Tibet, with additional populations in the Qinghai-Tibetan highland region.132
• Uyghurs: A major ethnic group in Xinjiang.12
• Manchu, Miao, Yi, Dong, Buyi, and Yao: Various groups with distinct cultural, linguistic, or geographic distributions, often organized into autonomous prefectures or counties.3

While the government promotes these groups' cultures, some minorities have faced varying degrees of repression.1