List of ethnic groups in Myanmar

Note: This map is based on 1972 Burmese census. Other ethnic groups like Rakhine, Kayah, Pa’O and Shanni might not appear on this map because government merge sub ethnic groups into a large single ethnic group. (i.e. Kayah and Pa’O are Karen sub groups so government merge them into a one single ethnic identity.)

Myanmar (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
* Kayin
* Rakhine
* Shan
* Mon
* Chin
* Kachin
* Karenni

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.[1] Myanmar's contemporary politics around ethnicity surround treating ethnicity as a minoritising discourse, pitting a "pan-ethnic" national identity against minority groups. Often ethnicity identities in practice are flexible- sometimes as flexible as simply changing clothes- in part due to a lack of religious or caste stratification prior to British colonialism.[2]

The list has faced criticism for overcounting the number of ethnic groups. Specifically, it represents clans and people with 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.

Ethnic composition of Myanmar (2019 GAD township reports)[5][6]

1. Bamar (68.5%)
2. Kayin (6.6%)
3. Shan (4.7%)
4. Rakhine (4.3%)
5. Mon (2.1%)
6. Chin (2.1%)
7. Pa-O (2.1%)
8. Kachin (1.5%)
9. Ta'ang (0.6%)
10. Danu (0.6%)
11. Lahu (0.5%)
12. Kokang (0.4%)
13. Karenni (0.4%)
14. others (5.60%)

## Officially recognized ethnic groups

[edit]

Note: The list is very controversial. Many of the names and spelling variants are known only from this list.[4][7]

### Kachin

[edit]

Kachin comprises 12 different ethnic groups:

* Kachin
* Tarone
* Dalaung[8]
* Jinghpaw
* Guari[8]
* Hkahku see: Jingpo people

* Duleng[8]
* Maru (Lawgore), see Maru language
* Rawang
* Lashi (La Chit)
* Atsi, see Zaiwa language
* Lisu

### Kayah

[edit]

Nine groups:[note 1][9]

* Kayah (Karenni)
* Zayein (Lahta; Gaungto; Loilong Karens)
* Paku ( Karen )
* Ka-Yun (Kayan; Padaung)
* Gheko (Karen, Geko)
* Kebar, maybe translation error for Geba Karen language

* Bre (Ka-Yaw; Kayaw)
* Manu Manaw (Manumanaw)
* Yin Talai, maybe Yintale
* Yin Baw (Yinbaw)

1. ^ The source of this list is the nine captions from an unscientific Italian book, using Italian spelling.

### Kayin

[edit]

11 groups:

* Karen (Kayin)
* Kayinpyu (Geba Karen)
* Pa-Le-Chi, maybe Mobwa
* Mon Kayin (Sarpyu), unknown[8]
* Sgaw (Karen, S’gaw)
* Ta-Lay-Pwa, maybe Thalebwa[8]

* Paku (Karen, Paku)
* Bwe (Bwe Karen)
* Monnepwa (Karen, Paku)
* Monpwa, unknown[8]
* Shu (Pwo Kayin)

### Chin

[edit]

53 groups. This list was possibly originally a list of tax rate districts with the highest tax first.

* Chin
* Meithei (Meitei; Kathe)
* Saline
* Ka-Lin-Kaw people (Lushay)
* Khumi (Khami)
* Mro-Khimi people
* Kaungso
* Kaung Saing Chin
* Kwelshin (Khualsim)
* Kwangli (Sim)
* Gunte people (Lyente; Falam)
* Ngorn (Chin, Ngawn)
* Sentang

* Za-How (Zahau)
* Zotung
* Zo-Pe
* Zanniat (Zanniet)
* Tapong
* Zomi (Zomi)
* Tay-Zan
* Taishon (Tashon)
* Thado
* Torr people (Tawr)
* Dai (Yindu)
* Naga
* Tangkhul
* Malin
* Panun

* Magun
* Matu
* Mara
* Mi-er
* Mgan
* Lushei (Lushay)
* Laymyo
* Lyente
* Lautu
* Lai (Haka Chin)
* Laizao
* Mro (Wakim)
* Hualngo
* Anu
* Anun
* Oo-Pu
* Lhinbu
* Asho (Plain)
* Rongtu
* Zo/Zou
* Sizang/ Siyin

### Bamar

[edit]

Nine groups:

* Burman (Bamar)
* Dawei of Dawei city
* Beik
* Yaw
* Yabein

* Kadu (Kado)
* Ganan
* Salone (Salon; Moken)
* Hpon

### Mon

[edit]

* Mon

### Rakhine

[edit]

Seven groups:

* Rakhine (Arakanese)
* Kamein
* Khami
* Daingnet
* Maramagyi
* Mro people (Awa Khami)
* Thet

### Shan

[edit]

33 groups:

* Shan (Tai)
* Yun (Tai Yuan/Northern Thai)
* Kwi
* Pyin
* Yao (Mien)
* Danaw (Danau)
* Pale
* Eng (En)
* Son
* Khamu (Khmu)
* Kaw (Akha- Kaw

* Kokant (Kokang)
* Khamti Shan
* Hkun (Khün)
* Taungyo
* Danu
* Palaung
* Man Zi/Myaung Zi (Hmong)
* Yin Kya
* Yin Net
* Shan Gale
* Shan Gyi

* Lahu
* Intha
* Eik-swair
* Pa-O (Taungthu; Black Karen)
* Tai-Loi
* Tai-Leng (Red Shan)
* Tai-Lon
* Tai-Lay
* Maingtha (Achang)
* Maw Shan
* Wa (Va)

## Unrecognised ethnic groups

[edit]

The government of Myanmar does not recognise several ethnic groups as being among the list of 135 officially recognised ethnic groups:

* Anglo-Burmese people
* Burmese Chinese
* Panthay[10]
* Burmese Indians[11]
* Taungtha people
* Rohingya people
* Burmese gorkhas/Nepalese
* Burmese Mizos
* Jews
* Bamar Muslims (Pathi)

Thaungtha is similar with rabain

## See also

[edit]

* Myanmar portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Myanmar People & Races". Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2007. For example, the Shan speak a Tai–Kadai language, the Lahu speak a Tibeto-Burman language, the Khmu people speak a Mon–Khmer language, and the Yao speak a Hmong–Mien language.
2. ^ Cho, Violet (2020). "Ethnicity and Identity". In Simpson, Adam; Farrelly, Nicholas; Holliday, Ian (eds.). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Myanmar. Routledge. pp. 43–54\. ISBN 9781138820777.43-54&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2020&rft.isbn=9781138820777&rft.aulast=Cho&rft.aufirst=Violet&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:List+of+ethnic+groups+in+Myanmar" class="Z3988">
3. ^ "2014 Population Census: The problematic of 135 ethnic groups categorization". Shan Herald. 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
4. ^ a b Gamanii (25 September 2012). "135: Counting Races in Burma". Shan Herald. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
5. ^ "PoneYate ethnic population dashboard".
6. ^ Jap, Jangai; Courtin, Constant (22 November 2022). Deciphering Myanmar's Ethnic Landscape: A Brief Historical and Ethnic Description of Myanmar's Administrative Units. International IDEA. p. 18\. doi:10.31752/idea.2022.57. ISBN 978-91-7671-577-2.
7. ^ "Composition of the Different Ethnic Groups". Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
8. ^ a b c d e f "Ethnologue". Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2006.
9. ^ Manna, Paolo (1902). I Ghekù, tribù cariana della Birmania orientale | WorldCat.org. Milan: Tipografia pontificia S. Giuseppe. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
10. ^ Mullins, Jeremy; Aye, Mon Mon (30 March 2014). "Panthay Muslims protect their name". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
11. ^ Tracing an Indian Diaspora: Contexts, Memories, Representations – Google Books

## External links

[edit]

* List of ethnic groups in Myanmar – Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism
* Ethnologue page for Burma languages
* Minorities in Burma and Burma: Time for Change by Minority Rights Group International

## Books

[edit]

* 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

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Ethnic groups in Myanmar

Burmese people

Kachin (12)|

* Jingpaw
* Dalaung
* Gauri
* Hkahku
* Duleng
* Maru (Lawgore)
* Hpon
* Lashi (La Chit)
* Atsi
* Lisu
* Rawang
* Taron
* Ngochang

Kayah (9)|

* Geba Karen
* Gheko
* Karenni
* Ka-Yun (Kayan; Padaung)
* Manu Manaw
* Pale
* Yin Baw
* Yin Talai
* Zayein

Kayin (Karen) (11)|

* Pa-Le-Chi
* Mon Kayin (Sarpyu)
* S'gaw
* Ta-Hlay-Pwa
* Paku
* Bwe
* Monpwa
* Monnepwa
* Shu (Pwo)

Chin (53)|

* Anu
* Anun
* Asho
* Bre (Ka-Yaw)
* Cumtu
* Daai (Yindu)
* Dim
* Eik-swair
* Gunte (Lyente)
* Guite
* Hualngo
* Kaung Saing Chin
* Kaungso
* Kebar
* Khawno
* Kwangli (Sim)
* Kwelshin
* Kwe Myi
* Lai (Haka Chin)
* Laizao
* Lawhtu
* Laymyo
* Lhinbu
* Lyente
* Magun
* Malin
* Marma
* Matu
* Meithei (Kathe)
* Mgan
* Mi-er
* Lusayy
* Mro-Khimi people
* Naga
* Ngawn
* Oo-Pu
* Panun
* Rongtu
* Saing Zan
* Saline
* Senthang
* Tangkhul
* Tapong
* Tay-Zan
* Thado
* Tiddim (Hai-Dim)
* Torr (Tawr)
* Yin Gog
* Zahau
* Zahnyet (Zanniat)
* Sizang
* Zophei
* Zotung
* Zou

Bamar (Burman) (9)|

* Dawei
* Beik
* Yaw
* Yabein
* Kadu (Kado)
* Ganan
* Hpon

Mon (1)|

* Mon

Rakhine
(Arakanese) (7)|

* Kamein (Kaman)
* Khami
* Daingnet
* Maramagyi
* Miram (Mara)
* Mru (Taung Mro)
* Thet

Shan (33)|

* Danaw (Danau)
* Danu
* Intha
* Pa-O
* Khamti Shan
* Khmu (Khamu)
* Kwi
* Kokang
* Lahu
* Palaung
* Shan Gale
* Shan Gyi
* Tai-Loi
* Tai Nua
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* Yao
* Yin Kya
* Yin Net
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* Son
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