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China is a country with the world's largest population, estimated at over 1.4 billion people in 2026. The dominant ethnic group is the Han Chinese, who also have significant populations in Taiwan and Singapore, as well as minority groups across Southeast Asia and beyond. The Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) was a golden age that consolidated Chinese culture and administration, and the term "Han" eventually came to represent the Chinese ethnicity itself.12

Beyond the Han, China is home to numerous ethnic and linguistic groups. The Zhuang are the largest minority group. Other significant groups include the Buyi, Miao, Dong, Tibetans, and Mongolians, often found in diverse geographical mixes, particularly in southwestern China. These groups speak languages from various families, with Sino-Tibetan languages, including Mandarin, being the most prominent. The written Chinese language has been central to its culture for millennia, serving as a medium for preserving knowledge and distinguishing Chinese identity.134

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