List of ethnic groups in Myanmar


is an extremely ethnically diverse nation with 135 distinct ethnic groups officially recognised by the Burmese Government. These are grouped into eight "major national ethnic races":
  1. Bamar
  2. Chin
  3. Kachin
  4. Kayin
  5. Kayah
  6. Mon
  7. Rakhine
  8. Shan
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.
Many unrecognised ethnic groups exist, the largest being the Burmese Chinese and Panthay, Burmese Indians, 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 recognised ethnic groups

Note: The list is very controversial. Many of the names and spelling variants are known only from this list.
;Kachin comprises 12 different ethnic groups:
;Kayah comprises 9 different ethnic groups:
Note, a known questionable source.
;Kayin comprises 11 different ethnic groups:
;Chin comprises 53 different ethnic groups:
Possibly originally a list of tax rate districts. With the highest tax first.
;Bamar comprises 9 ethnic groups:
;Mon comprises 1 ethnic group:
;Rakhine comprises 7 ethnic groups:
;Shan comprises 33 ethnic groups:

List grouped by language family

Sino-Tibetan




Tai–Kadai">Tai–Kadai languages">Tai–Kadai

Unrecognised ethnic groups

The Government of Myanmar does not recognise several ethnic groups as being among the list of 135 officially recognised ethnic groups:
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.
  1. Achang
  2. Akeu
  3. Akha
  4. Anal
  5. Anong
  6. Blang
  7. Burmese
  8. Chak
  9. Chakma
  10. Chin:
  11. * Chin, Anu-Hkongso
  12. * Chin, Asho
  13. * Chin, Bawm
  14. * Chin, Bualkhaw
  15. * Chin, Chinbon
  16. * Chin, Daai
  17. * Chin, Dim
  18. * Chin, Eastern Khumi
  19. * Chin, Falam
  20. * Chin, Haka
  21. * Chin, Kaang
  22. * Chin, Khumi
  23. * Chin, Laitu
  24. * Chin, Lautu
  25. * Chin, Mara
  26. * Chin, Matu
  27. * Chin, Mizo
  28. * Chin, Mro-Khimi
  29. * Chin, Müün
  30. * Chin, Ngawn
  31. * Chin, Rawngtu
  32. * Chin, Rungtu
  33. * Chin, Senthang
  34. * Chin, Siyin
  35. * Chin, Songlai
  36. * Chin, Sumtu
  37. * Chin, Tawr
  38. * Chin, Tedim
  39. * Chin, Thado
  40. * Chin, Thaiphum
  41. * Chin, Zotung
  42. * Chin, Zyphe
  43. Chinese:
  44. * Chinese, Mandarin
  45. Danau
  46. Danu
  47. Drung
  48. Hmong Njua
  49. Hpon
  50. Intha
  51. Jingpho
  52. Kadu
  53. Kanan
  54. Karen:
  55. * Karen, Bwe
  56. * Karen, Geba
  57. * Karen, Geko
  58. * Karen, Mobwa
  59. * Karen, Paku
  60. * Karen, Pwo Eastern
  61. * Karen, Pwo Western
  62. * Karen, S’gaw
  63. Kayah:
  64. * Kayah, Eastern
  65. * Kayah, Western
  66. Kedah Malay
  67. Kayan
  68. Kayaw
  69. Khamti
  70. Khün
  71. Lahta
  72. Lahu
  73. Lahu Shi
  74. Lashi
  75. Lhao Vo
  76. Lisu
  77. Lü
  78. Manumanaw
  79. Moken
  80. Mon
  81. Mru
  82. Naga:
  83. * Naga, Akyaung Ari
  84. * Naga, Khiamniungan
  85. * Naga, Koki
  86. * Naga, Konyak
  87. * Naga, Kyan-Karyaw
  88. * Naga, Lao
  89. * Naga, Leinong
  90. * Naga, Long Phuri
  91. * Naga, Makuri
  92. * Naga, Makyan
  93. * Naga, Para
  94. * Naga, Ponyo-Gongwang
  95. * Naga, Tangkhul
  96. * Naga, Tase
  97. Nusu
  98. Palaung:
  99. * Palaung, Ruching
  100. * Palaung, Rumai
  101. * Palaung, Shwe
  102. Pali
  103. Pa’o
  104. Pyen
  105. Rakhine
  106. Rawang
  107. Riang
  108. Samtao
  109. Shan
  110. Tai Laing
  111. Tai Loi
  112. Tai Nüa
  113. Taman
  114. Taungyo
  115. Tavoyan
  116. Tibetan:
  117. * Tibetan, Khams
  118. Wa:
  119. * Wa, Parauk
  120. Wewaw
  121. Yinbaw
  122. Yinchia
  123. Yintale
  124. Zaiwa
  125. Zayein
  126. Zo

    Books

Yangon: Thein Myint Win Press, 2000.