An ethnolinguistic map of Burma (note: A number of ethnic minorities are not acknowledged on this map including the Rakhine who make up 3.5 percent of the population).
Myanmar (also known as Burma) is an ethnically diverse nation with 135 distinct
ethnic groups officially recognised by the
Burmese government . These are grouped into eight "major national ethnic races":
Bamar
Zomi
Kachin
Karen
Kayah
Mon
Rakhine
Shan
[1]
The "major national ethnic races" are grouped primarily according to region rather than linguistic or ethnic affiliation, as for example the Shan Major National Ethnic Race includes 33 ethnic groups speaking languages in at least four widely differing language families.
[2]
The list has faced criticism for overcounting the number of ethnic groups. Specifically, it represents clans and dialectical differences as distinct ethnic groups, sometimes even repeating the same group under a different name.
[3]
According to Gamanii, a researcher who scrutinized the claim, only 59 out of the 135 ethnic groups mentioned can be verified as existing entities.
[4]
Many unrecognised ethnic groups exist, the largest being the
Burmese Chinese and
Panthay (who together form 3% of the population),
Burmese Indians (who form 2% of the population),
Rohingya ,
Anglo-Burmese and
Gurkha . There are no official statistics regarding the population of the latter two groups, although unofficial estimates place around 52,000 Anglo-Burmese in Burma with around 1.6 million outside the country.
Officially recognized ethnic groups
Note : The list is very controversial. Many of the names and spelling variants are known only from this list.
[4]
[5]
Kachin comprises 12 different ethnic groups
1. Kachin see:
Jingpo people
2. Tarone see:
Taron people
3. Dalaung, unknown
[6]
4. Jinghpaw see:
Singpho people
5. Guari, unknown
[6]
6. Hkahku see:
Jingpo people
7. Duleng, unknown
[6]
8.
Maru (Lawgore )
9. Rawang see
Nung Rawang
10.
Lashi (La Chit )
11. Atsi see
Zaiwa language
12.
Lisu
Kayah comprises 9 different ethnic groups
Note, a known questionable source.
[7]
13.
Kayah (Karenni )
14.
Zayein (Lahta; Gaungto; Loilong Karens )
15.
Ka-Yun (Kayan; Padaung )
16.
Gheko (Karen, Geko )
17. Kebar, maybe translation error for
Geba Karen language
18.
Bre (Ka-Yaw; Kayaw )
19.
Manu Manaw (Manumanaw )
20. Yin Talai, maybe
Yintale
21. Yin Baw (Yinbaw )
Kayin comprises 11 different ethnic groups
22.
Karen (Kayin )
23. Kayinpyu (Geba Karen )
24. Pa-Le-Chi, maybe
Mobwa
25. Mon Kayin (Sarpyu ), unknown
[6]
26.
Sgaw (Karen, S’gaw )
27. Ta-Lay-Pwa, maybe
Thalebwa
[6]
28. Paku (Karen, Paku )
29.
Bwe (Bwe Karen )
30. Monnepwa (Karen, Paku )
31. Monpwa, unknown
[6]
32.
Shu (Pwo Kayin )
Chin comprises 53 different ethnic groups
Possibly originally a list of tax rate districts. With the highest tax first.
33.
Chin
34.
Meithei (Meitei ; Kathe )
35. Saline (ethnic group)
36. Ka-Lin-Kaw people (Lushay )
37. Khumi (Khami )
38.
Mro-Khimi people
39. Khawno
40. Kaungso
41. Kaung Saing Chin
42. Kwelshin (Khualsim)
43. Kwangli (Sim )
44. Gunte people (Lyente; Falam )
45.
Gwete (Guite )
46. Ngorn (Chin, Ngawn )
47. Siyin (Sizaang), (Sizang)
[6]
48. Sentang
49. Saing Zan
50. Za-How (Zahau)
51.
Zotung
52.
Zo-Pe
53.
Zo
54.
Zanniat (Zanniet )
55.
Tapong
56.
Tiddim (Hai-Dim )
57. Tay-Zan
58.
Taishon (Tashon)
59.
Thado
60. Torr people (Tawr )
61.
Dim
62.
Dai (Yindu )
63.
Naga
64.
Tangkhul
65. Malin
66. Panun
67. Magun
68. Matu
69.
Miram (Mara, Shendu, Lakher , etc.)
70. Mi-er
71.
Mgan
72. Lushei (Lushay )
73.
Laymyo
74. Lyente
75.
Lautu
76.
Lai (Haka Chin )
77. Laizao
78.
Mro (Wakim)
79. Hualngo
80. Anu
81. Anun
82.
Oo-Pu
83. Lhinbu
84.
Asho (Plain )
85.
Rongtu
Burman comprises 9 ethnic groups
86.
Burman (Bamar )
87. Dawei of
Dawei city
88. Beik
89.
Yaw
90. Yabein
91. Kadu (Kado )
92. Ganan
93.
Salone (Salon; Moken )
94.
Hpon
Mon comprises 1 ethnic group
95.
Mon
Rakhine comprises 7 ethnic groups
96.
Rakhine (Arakanese )
97.
Kamein
98.
Khami
99.
Daingnet
100.
Maramagyi
101.
Mro people (Awa Khami)
102. Thet
Shan comprises 33 ethnic groups
103.
Shan (Tai )
104. Yun (Lao )
105. Kwi
106.
Pyin
107.
Yao (Hmong; Mien )
108. Danaw (Danau )
109. Pale
110. Eng (En )
111. Son
112.
Khamu (Khmu )
113.
Kaw (Akha-E-Kaw )
114.
Kokant (Kokang )
115.
Khamti Shan
116. Hkun (Khün )
117.
Taungyo
118.
Danu
119.
Palaung
120. Man Zi
121.
Yin Kya
122.
Yin Net
123. Shan Gale
124. Shan Gyi
125.
Lahu
126.
Intha
127. Eik-swair
128.
Pa-O (Taungthu; Black Karen )
129.
Tai-Loi
130. Tai-Leng (Red Shan)
131. Tai-Lon
132. Tai-Lay
133.
Maingtha (Achang )
134. Maw Shan
135.
Wa (Va )
List grouped by language family
Chinese
Kokang (Mandarin Chinese dialect; sometimes spelled Kokant)
Tibeto-Burman
Burman (Bamar)
Anu
Asho (Plain)
Atsi
Beik
Bwe
Chin
Ngawn
Dalaung
Danu
Dawei
Dim
Duleng
Ganan
Gheko
Gunte (Lyente)
Haulngo
Hpon
Intha
Kachin (Jingpo)
Kadu (Kado)
Karen (Kayin)
Kaw (Akha-E-Kaw, Akha)
Kayinpyu (Geba Karen)
Khams Tibetan
Kwelshin
Lahu
Tai
Shan
Hkun (also spelled Khün)
Khamti Shan
Thai
Indo-Aryan
Daignet people
Kamein
Maramagyi
Lai (Haka Chin)
Laizo
Lashi (La Chit)
Lisu
Lyente
Maingtha
Marma
Maru (Lawgore)
Meitei/Pangal (also spelled Meithei or Kathe)
Miram (Mara)
Monnepwa
Mro (Wakim )
Naga
Pa-O
Pyin
Rakhine (Arakanese)
Rawang
Sgaw
Shu (Pwo)
Taron
Taungyo
Thet
Tiddim (Hai-Dim)
Torr (also spelled Tawr)
Yaw
Zo
Zophei
Zotung
Mon–Khmer
Mon
Danaw (also spelled Danau)
Khmu (Khamu)
Tai-Loi
Wa (Va)
Palaung
Pale
Malayo-Polynesian
Malay
Moken (also spelled Salon or Salone)
Unrecognised ethnic groups
The government of Myanmar does not recognise several ethnic groups as being among the list of 135 officially recognised ethnic groups:
Language ISO 639-3 codes
[10]
Note : This is a list of is languages, and the name of a language are not always the same as the name of an ethnic group.
Achang [acn]
Akeu [aeu]
Akha [ahk]
Anal [anm]
Anong [nun]
Blang [blr]
Burmese [mya]
Chak [ckh]
Chakma [ccp]
Chin :
Chin,
Anu-Hkongso [anl]
Chin,
Asho [csh]
Chin,
Bawm [bgr]
Chin,
Bualkhaw [cbl]
Chin,
Chinbon [cnb]
Chin,
Daai [dao]
Chin, Dim [ctd]
Chin,
Eastern Khumi [cek]
Chin,
Falam [cfm]
Chin,
Haka [cnh]
Chin,
Kaang [ckn]
Chin,
Khumi [cnk]
Chin,
Laitu [clj]
Chin,
Lautu [clt]
Chin,
Mara [mrh]
Chin,
Matu [hlt]
Chin,
Mizo [lus]
Chin,
Mro-Khimi [cmr]
Chin,
Müün [mwq]
Chin,
Ngawn [cnw]
Chin,
Rawngtu [weu]
Chin,
Rungtu [rtc]
Chin,
Senthang [sez]
Chin,
Siyin [csy]
Chin,
Songlai [csj]
Chin,
Sumtu [csv]
Chin,
Tawr [tcp]
Chin,
Tedim [ctd]
Chin,
Thado [tcz]
Chin,
Thaiphum [cth]
Chin,
Zotung [czt]
Chin,
Zyphe [zyp]
Chin,
Zanniat language
Chinese :
Danau [dnu]
Danu [dnv]
Drung [duu]
Hmong Njua [hnj]
Hpon [hpo]
Intha [int]
Jingpho [kac]
Kadu [zkd]
Kanan [zkn]
Karen :
Kayah :
Kedah Malay [meo]
Kayan [pdu]
Kayaw [kvl]
Khamti [kht]
Khün [kkh]
Lahta [kvt]
Lahu [lhu]
Lahu Shi [lhi]
Lashi [lsi]
Lhao Vo [mhx]
Lisu [lis]
Lü [khb]
Manumanaw [kxf]
Moken [mwt]
Mon [mnw]
Mru [mro]
Naga :
Naga,
Akyaung Ari [nqy]
Naga,
Khiamniungan [kix]
Naga,
Koki [nxk]
Naga,
Konyak [nbe]
Naga,
Kyan-Karyaw [nqq]
Naga,
Lao [nlq]
Naga,
Leinong [lzn]
Naga,
Long Phuri [lpn]
Naga,
Makuri [jmn]
Naga,
Makyan [umn]
Naga,
Para [pzn]
Naga,
Ponyo-Gongwang [npg]
Naga,
Tangkhul [ntx]
Naga,
Tase [nst]
Nusu [nuf]
Palaung :
Pali [pli]
Pa’o [blk]
Pyen [pyy]
Rakhine [rki]
Rawang [raw]
Riang [ril]
Samtao [stu]
Shan [shn]
Tai Laing [tjl]
Tai Loi [tlq]
Tai Nüa [tdd]
Taman [tcl]
Taungyo [tobacco]
Tavoyan [tvn]
Tibetan :
Wa :
Wewaw [wea]
Yinbaw [kvu]
Yinchia [yin]
Yintale [yin]
Zaiwa [atb]
Zayein [kxk]
Zo [zom]
Thaungtha is similar with rabain
See also
References
External links
Books
U Min Naing, National Ethnic Groups of Myanmar (Trans. by Hpone Thant).
Yangon: Thein Myint Win Press, 2000.
"National Races of Myanmar" (1960) by the Ministry of Culture