Stateless nation
A stateless nation is an ethnic group or nation that does not possess its own state and is not the majority population in any nation state. The term "stateless" implies that the group "should have" such a state. Members of stateless nations may be citizens of the country in which they live, or they may be denied citizenship by that country. Stateless nations are usually not represented in international sports or in international organisations such as the United Nations. Nations without state are classified as fourth-world nations. Some of the stateless nations have a history of statehood, some were always a stateless nation, dominated by another nation.
The term was coined in 1983 by political scientist Jacques Leruez in his book L'Écosse, une nation sans État about the peculiar position of Scotland within the British state. It was later adopted and popularized by Scottish scholars such as David McCrone, Michael Keating and T. M. Devine.
Stateless nations either are dispersed across a number of states or form the native population of a province within a larger state. Some stateless nations historically had a state, which was absorbed by another; for example, Tibet's declaration of independence in 1913 was not recognized, and it was invaded in 1951 by the People's Republic of China which claims that Tibet is an integral part of China, while the Tibetan government-in-exile maintains that Tibet is an independent state under an unlawful occupation. Some ethnic groups were once a stateless nation that later became a nation state.
Stateless nations can have large populations; for example the Kurds have an estimated population of over 30 million people, which make them one of the largest stateless nations. Multiple stateless nations can reside in the same geographical region or country; for example, Cantabrians, Bercians, Catalans, Canarians, Castilians, Basques, Aragonese, Galicians, Asturians, Valencians and Andalusians within Spanish State, or the Brahui, Santhals, Maithils and Balochs in South Asia, or Rohingya in Myanmar, and Kabyle people within Algeria in North Africa. However, not all peoples within multi-cultural states have the same awareness of being a stateless nation. In Spain, only Basques and Catalans have claimed their right of self-determination, which in the Basque country gave rise to the militant movement ETA, and in the case of Catalonia, has led to multiple attempts to secede from Spain during the past four centuries, as an independent Catalan Republic.
As not all states are nation states, there are ethnic groups who live in multinational states without being considered "stateless nations".
Nation-states and nations without states
The symbiotic relationship between nations and states arose in early modern Western Europe and it was exported to the rest of the world through colonial rule. Whereas the Western European nation-states are at present relinquishing some of their powers to the European Union, many of the former colonies are now the zealous defenders of the concept of national-statehood.Only a small fraction of the world's national groups have associated nation-states. The proportion was estimated to be 3 percent by Minahan. The rest are distributed in one or more states. Of the 192 member states of the United Nations in 2006, fewer than 20 are nation-states. Thus nation-states are not as common as often assumed, and stateless nations are the overwhelming majority of nations in the world.
Consequences of colonialism and imperialism
During the imperial and colonial era, powerful nations extended their influence outside their homeland and this resulted in many colonized nations ceasing to be self-governing and have since been described as stateless nations. Some nations have been victims of "carve out" and their homeland was divided among several countries. Even today the colonial boundaries form modern national boundaries. These often differ from cultural boundaries. This results in situations where people of the same language or culture are divided by national borders, for example New Guinea splits as West Papua and Papua New Guinea. During decolonization, the colonial powers imposed a unified state structure irrespective of the ethnic differences and granted independence to their colonies as a multinational state. This led to successor states with many minority ethnic groups in them, which increased the potential for ethnic conflicts. Some of these minority groups campaigned for self-determination. Stateless nations were not protected in all countries and become victims of atrocities such as discrimination, ethnic cleansing, genocide, forced assimilation, Exploitation of labour and natural resources.Nationalism and stateless nations
People with a common origin, history, language, culture, customs or religion can turn into a nation by awakening of national consciousness. A nation can exist without a state, as is exemplified by the stateless nations. Citizenship is not always the nationality of a person. In a multinational state different national identities can coexist or compete: for example, in Britain English nationalism, Scottish nationalism and Welsh nationalism exist and are held together by British nationalism. Nationalism is often connected to separatism, because a nation achieves completeness through its independence.Throughout history, numerous nations declared their independence, but not all succeeded in establishing a state. Even today, there are active autonomy and independence movements around the world. The claim of the stateless nations to self-determination is often denied due to geopolitical interests and increasing globalization of the world. Stateless nations sometimes show solidarity with other stateless nations and maintain diplomatic relations.
Not all peoples claim that they are nations or aspire to be states. Some see themselves as part of the multinational state and they believe that their interests are well represented in it. This is also associated with Pan-nationalism.
Claims of stateless nations
The following is a list of stateless nations that meet these criteria:- has no sovereign state of its own.
- does not form a majority in any sovereign state.
- one or more autonomist or secessionist movements are known to exist.
- not recognized by any UN members as a state.
- not a subgroup of a nation.
| People | Flag | Language | Predominant religion | Population | Continent | States | Homeland | Irredentist movement | Notes | ||
| Tamils | Tamil language | Hinduism | 76,000,000 | Asia | India, Sri Lanka | Tamil Nadu, Tamil Eelam | Tamil nationalism, Greater Tamil Nadu, TNRT, Tamil Nadu Liberation Army, Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism, LTTE, Sri Lankan Civil War, TGTE, Vaddukoddai Resolution | Historically ruled Tamilakam and parts of Sri Lanka. Has regional autonomy in Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Demand autonomy in North Eastern Province or total secession from Sri Lanka. | |||
| Sikhs | Punjabi language | Sikhism | 27,000,000 | Asia | India, Pakistan | Punjab | Khalistan Movement | Separate country called Khalistan in Punjab India include parts Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan And Punjab Pakistan include parts Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sind. | |||
| Kurds | Kurdish | Islam with minorities of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Yazdânism Deism and Agnosticism | 30,000,000–45,600,000 | Asia | Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria | Kurdistan | Kurdish nationalism, Kurdish–Turkish conflict, Kurdish-Iranian conflict, Iraqi–Kurdish conflict, and Kurdish–Syrian conflict | Regional autonomy in Iraqi Kurdistan and Rojava. | |||
| Yoruba people | Yoruba language | Christianity, Islam | 35,000,000 | Africa | Nigeria, Benin and Togo | Yorubaland | Oodua Peoples Congress | ||||
| Igbo people | Igbo language | Christianity.svg|50px|border|center | Occitan, French, Italian, Spanish | Roman Catholicism | 16,000,000 | Europe | France, Monaco, Italy and Spain | Occitania | Occitan nationalism | Seek self-determination, greater autonomy or total secession from France. | |
| Assamese people | Assamese language | Hinduism | 15,000,000 | Asia | India | Assam | Assam separatist movements, ULFA Insurgency in Northeast India | Regional autonomy in Assam. | |||
| Uyghur people | Uyghur language | Islam | 15,000,000 | Asia | China, Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan49,000, Russia 3,700 ) | East Turkestan | Irredentism is politically fragmented | Limited autonomy in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. | |||
| Palestinian people | Arabic | Islam, Christianity | 13,000,000 | Asia | West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Israel, Syria, Lebanon | Palestine | Palestinian nationalism | Seek self-determination from occupying powers. | |||
| Zulu people | Zulu language | Christianity, Zulu religion | 12,159,000 | Africa | South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Eswatini | KwaZulu-Natal | Inkatha Freedom Party | Limited autonomy in the KwaZulu-Natal region, which maintains a traditional Zulu king. | |||
| Bavarians | German, Bavarian | Christianity | 12,500,000 | Europe | Germany | Bavaria | Bavarian nationalism, Bavaria Party | National devolution, further autonomy or total secession from Germany. | |||
| Kongo people | Kongo language, Lingala, Portuguese, French | Christianity, African Traditional Religion | 10,000,000 | Africa | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Angola | Kongo | Kongo nationalism, Bundu dia Kongo | Historically occupied the independent Kingdom of Kongo. | |||
| Baloch people | Balochi | Islam | 10,000,000 | Asia | Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan | Balochistan | Balochistan conflict, Baloch nationalism | ||||
| Kabyle people | Kabyle language, Algerian Arabic | Islam | 4,000,000 | Africa | Algeria | Kabylie | Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie, Provisional Government of Kabylia | ||||
| Ahwazi Arabs | Arabic | Islam | 1,320,000 | Asia | Iran | Al Ahwaz | Arab separatism in Khuzestan Democratic Solidarity Party of Ahwaz | Ahwazi includes 30 tribes which see themselves as a distinct Arab nation. Seek self-determination, greater autonomy or total secession from Iran. | |||
| Andalusians | Andalusian Spanish, English | Christianity | 9,500,000 | Europe | Spain, Gibraltar | Andalusia | Andalusian nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. | |||
| Puerto Rican people | Spanish, English | Christianity | 9,000,000 | America | United States | Puerto Rico | Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña, Boricua Popular Army, Puerto Rican Independence Party | Unincorporated territory of the United States. | |||
| Catalans | Catalan, Spanish, Occitan, French, Italian | Agnosticism | 8,500,000 | Europe | Spain, Italy, Andorra and France | Catalan Countries | Catalan independence movement, Catalan nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. | |||
| Québécois | French language | Christianity | 8,215,000 | America | Canada | Quebec | Quebec sovereignty movement | The total population of the Province of Quebec is 8.2 million, of which over 80% are French speakers. | |||
| Mon people | Mon language | Buddhism | 8,145,500 | Asia | Myanmar, Thailand | Mon State | Mon Nationalism, Mon National Party, All Mon Region Democracy Party | Historically occupied the Mon kingdoms | |||
| Circassians | Circassian language, Russian | Islam | 8,000,000 | Europe | Russia | Circassia | Russo-Circassian War, Circassian nationalism | Regional autonomy in Circassia. | |||
| Karen people | Karen language | Christianity, Theravada Buddhism | 7,000,000 | Asia | Myanmar, Thailand | Kawthoolei | Karen nationalism, Karen National Union, Karen National Liberation Army | ||||
| Maya peoples | Mayan languages | Christianity, Maya religion | 7,000,000 | America | Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador | Mesoamerica | Pan-Maya movement, Rigoberta Menchú, Zapatista Army of National Liberation | Historically occupied the Maya civilization | |||
| Volga Tatars | Tatar language, Russian | Islam | 7,000,000 | Europe | Russia | Tatarstan | All-Tatar Public Center | Regional autonomy in Tatarstan. | |||
| Flemings | Dutch, West Flemish, East Flemish, Picard, French | Roman Catholicism, Protestant minority | 7,000,000 | Europe | France, Belgium, Netherlands | Flanders | Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, Vlaams Belang, Flemish Movement | Independence and reunification of Flanders or union with the Netherlands. | |||
| Tibetan people | Tibetan language | Buddhism | 7,000,000 | Asia | China | Tibet | Tibetan independence movement | Limited autonomy in the Tibet Autonomous Region. | |||
| Indian Gorkhas | Nepali language | Hinduism | 6,360,000 | Asia | India | Gorkhastan | Gorkha National Liberation Front, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha | Gorkhaland is a proposed state in India demanded by the people of the Darjeeling Hills and the people of Gorkha ethnic origin on the Northern part of West Bengal. | |||
| Riffian people | Riffian language | Islam | 6,000,000 | Africa | Morocco and Spain | Rif | Rif War, Rif Republic | 95% of the land is controlled by Morocco with the rest being controlled by the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla as autonomous cities. | |||
| Shan people | Shan language | Buddhism | 6,000,000 | Asia | Myanmar | Shan State | Shan State Army, Declaration of independence in 2005; see also Hso Khan Pha | ||||
| Kashmiri people | Kashmiri language | Islam | 5,600,000 | Asia | India, Pakistan and China | Kashmir | Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir | Administered by India, Pakistan and China. | |||
| Lozi people | Lozi | Christianity | 5,153,000 | Africa | Zambia | Barotseland | Barotse Patriotic Front | ||||
| Valencians | Valencian, Catalan, Spanish | Roman Catholicism | 5,111,706 | Europe | Spain | Valencian Community | Valencian nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. | |||
| Moro people | Filipino language, other Philippine languages | Islam | 5,100,000 | Asia | Philippines | Bangsamoro | National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front | ||||
| Kuki-Mizo-Zo-Chin people | Kuki-Chin languages | Christianity | 5,000,000 | Asia | Myanmar, Bangladesh, India | Mizoram, Zogam and Chin State | Mizo National Front, Chin National Front, Kuki National Army, Zomi Revolutionary Army, Zomi nationalism | Kuki-Mizo-Zo-Chin are an ethnic group known by different names and speak different dialects. | |||
| Scottish people | Scottish Gaelic, Scots, English | Christianity | 5,000,000 | Europe | United Kingdom | Scotland | Scottish independence | Regional autonomy in Scotland. | |||
| Sicilians | Sicilian, Italian, Gallo-Italic of Sicily, Arbëresh | Christianity | 5,000,000 | Europe | Italy | Sicily | Sicilian nationalism | Regional autonomy in Sicily. | |||
| Mthwakazi people | IsiNdebele, Venda, Khalanga, Shona, Tonga, Xhosa, Sotho, Nambya, Tswana | 3,500,000 | Africa | South Africa and Namibia | Volkstaat | Afrikaner Nationalism, Freedom Front | Afrikaners are an Ethno-racial group. Demand autonomy or total secession from South Africa. | ||||
| Walloons | Walloon, French, Picard | Christianity | 3,500,000 | Europe | Belgium, France | Wallonia | Partition of Belgium, Walloon Movement | Regional autonomy in Wallonia; seeks independence from Belgium or union with France. | |||
| Assyrian people | Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Turoyo, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic | Christianity | 3,300,000 | Asia | Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey | Assyria | Assyrian nationalism, Assyrian independence movement | Historically occupied the Assyrian empire. | |||
| Breton people | Breton, French, Gallo | Christianity | 3,120,288 | Europe | France | Brittany | Breton nationalism | Historically occupied the Kingdom of Brittany | |||
| Basque people | Basque, French, Spanish | Christianity | 3,000,000 | Europe | France and Spain | Basque Country | Basque nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. | |||
| Iraqi Turkmen people | Turkish language, Azerbaijani language | Islam | 3,000,000 | Asia | Iraq | Turkmeneli | Iraqi Turkmen Front | Not to be confused with Syrian Turkmen of Latakia or Central Asian Turkmens of Turkmenistan who share only their ethnonym. | |||
| Welsh people | Welsh, English | Christianity | 3,000,000 | Europe | United Kingdom | Wales | Welsh independence, Welsh nationalism, Meibion Glyndŵr, Plaid Cymru | Regional autonomy in Wales. | |||
| Galician people | Galician language, Spanish, Portuguese | Christianity | 2,800,000 | Europe | Spain | Galicia | Galician nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. Historically occupied the Kingdom of Galicia. | |||
| Kachin people | Jingpo, Zaiwa, Maru, Lashi, Azi | Buddhism, Christianity, Animism | 2,750,000 | Asia | Myanmar | Kachin State | Kachin Independence Army, Kachin Independence Organisation, Kachin conflict | The tribes of Kachin Hills form the Kachin Nation. | |||
| Aragonese people | Aragonese language, Spanish | Christianity | 2,278,000 | Europe | Spain | Aragon | Aragonese nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. Historically occupied the Kingdom of Aragon. | |||
| Meitei people | Meitei language | Hinduism | 2,500,000 | Asia | India | Manipur | UNLF, PLA, Insurgency in Manipur, Anglo-Manipur War | Historically occupied the Kingdom of Manipur. | |||
| Chechen people | Chechen language, Russian | Islam | 2,000,000 | Europe | Russia | Chechnya | Chechen insurgency, Chechen Republic of Ichkeria | Regional autonomy in Chechnya. | |||
| Naga people | Tibeto-Burman dialects / Nagamese creole | Christianity | 2,000,000 | Asia | India | Nagaland | Naga National Council, Insurgency in Northeast India | Regional autonomy in Nagaland. | |||
| Alsatians | Alsatian, French, German | Christianity | ~1,800,000 | Europe | France | Alsace | Alsace independence movement, Alsace First, Unser Land | National devolution, further autonomy or total secession from France. | |||
| Sardinian people | Sardinian, Corso-Sardinian, Italian, Catalan, Ligurian | Christianity | 1,661,521 | Europe | Italy | Sardinia | Sardinian nationalism | National devolution, further autonomy or total secession from Italy. | |||
| Canarian people | Guanche language, Spanish | Christianity | 1,600,000 | Africa | Spain | Canary Islands | Canarian nationalism | National devolution, further autonomy or total secession from Mainland Spain. | |||
| Ryukyuan people | Ryukyuan, Japanese | Buddhism | 1,600,000 | Asia | Japan | Ryukyu Islands | Ryukyu independence movement | Historically occupied the Ryukyu Kingdom. | |||
| Frisians | Frisian, Dutch, German, Danish | Christianity | 1,500,000 | Europe | Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany | Frisia | Frisian National Party, Groep fan Auwerk | The creation of a new Frisian state. | |||
| Tripuri people | Kokborok | Hinduism | 1,520,000 | Asia | India | Tripura | Tripuri nationalism, All Tripura Tiger Force, National Liberation Front of Tripura | Historically occupied the Twipra Kingdom. 1949, Tripuris had a population of 85% in Tripura, 2002 they make up 29% and became a minority in their own homeland. | |||
| Bodo people | Bodo language | Bathouism | 1,300,000 | Asia | India | Bodoland | Bodo nationalism, National Democratic Front of Bodoland | National devolution or further autonomy from the India. | |||
| Tuareg people | Tuareg language | Islam | 1,200,000 | Africa | Mali and Niger | Azawad | National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, Tuareg rebellion, Northern Mali conflict | National devolution, further autonomy or total secession from Mali. | |||
| Mapuche | Mapudungun | Christianity | 1,000,000 | America | Argentina and Chile | Araucanía | Mapuche conflict | ||||
| Asturian people | Asturian language, Spanish | Christianity | 925,000 | Europe | Spain | Asturias | Asturian nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. | |||
| Silesians | Silesian, Polish, German, Czech | Christianity | 900,000 | Europe | Poland, Czech Republic and Germany | Silesia | Silesian Autonomy Movement | Divided into Upper Silesia and Lower Silesia. | |||
| Lezgins | Lezgian | Islam | 800,000+ | Europe | Russia, Azerbaijan | Lezgistan | Lezgin Nationalism | Unification of the Lezgin people in Azerbaijan and Dagestan. | |||
| Fur people | Fur, Arabic | Islam | 800,000 | Africa | Sudan | Dafur | War in Darfur, SLM/A | Historically occupied the Sultanate of Darfur. | |||
| Māori people | Māori, English | Christianity with native | 750,000 | Oceania | New Zealand | New Zealand | Māori protest movement | ||||
| Aboriginal Australians | Aboriginal languages | Christianity with native | 680,000 | Oceania | Australia | Australia | Movement is fragmented or focused on specific aboriginal groups | ||||
| Karakalpaks | Karakalpak language | Islam | 620,000 | Asia | Uzbekistan | Karakalpakstan | Karakalpak Nationalism | Regional autonomy in Karakalpakstan | |||
| Cornish people | Cornish, Cornish English, English | Christianity | 534,300 | Europe | United Kingdom | Cornwall | Cornish nationalism, Mebyon Kernow, Cornish Nationalist Party | National devolution or further autonomy from the United Kingdom. | |||
| Hawaiian people | Hawaiian language | Christianity with native | 527,000 | Oceania | United States | Hawaii | Hawaiian sovereignty movement | Historically occupied the Kingdom of Hawaii. | |||
| Moravians | Czech, Slovak | Traditionally Roman Catholicism presently Irreligion | 525,000 | Europe | Czech Republic and Slovakia | Moravia | Moravians | Historically occupied the Moravian Empire | |||
| Kashubians | Kashubian | Christianity | ~0.5 million of which 233,000 as ethnic-national identity | Europe | Poland | Pomerania | Kaszëbskô Jednota | Kashubians with Slovincians formed the West Slavic tribes of Pomeranians. | |||
| Ogoni people | Ogoni language | Christianity with native | 500,000 | Africa | Nigeria | Ogoniland | Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People | ||||
| Crimean Tatars | Crimean Tatar, Russian, Ukrainian | Islam | 500,000 | Europe | Ukraine | Crimea | Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Tatars in Republic of Crimea Deportation of the Crimean Tatars | Previously an autonomous republic within Ukraine, after being invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014 the Crimean Tatars are currently seeking autonomy | |||
| Sahrawi people | Hassaniya Arabic, Berber languages, Modern Standard Arabic, and Spanish | Islam | 500,000 | Africa | Morocco, Algeria, Mauretania | Western Sahara | Western Sahara conflict, Polisario Front, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | partially controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and partially Moroccan-occupied | |||
| Yakuts | Yakut language, Russian language | Christianity, Shamanism, Tengrism | 480,000–510,000 | Asia | Russia | Yakutia | Yakut revolt | Regional autonomy in Sakha Republic, Yakut leaders declared Yakutia's sovereignty in 1991 in an attempt to take advantage of the fall of the Soviet Union, though this was unsuccessful | |||
| Chams | Cham language | Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism | 400,000 | Asia | Vietnam | South Central Coast | United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races, Cham rights movement | Historically occupied the Champa state. The Cham in Vietnam are only recognized as a minority, and not as an indigenous people by the Vietnamese government despite being indigenous to the region. Vietnamese continue to destroy evidence of Cham culture and artifacts left behind. | |||
| Corsican people | Corsican, French, Ligurian, Italian | Christianity | 300,460 | America | United States | Navajo Nation | Navajo Wars | Regional autonomy in the Navajo Nation. | |||
| Tuvans | Tuvan language, Russian language, Mongolian language, Chinese language | Tibetan Buddhism, Tengrism | 300,000 | Asia | Russia, Mongolia, China | Tuva | People's Front "Free Tuva", People's Party of Sovereign Tuva | Regional autonomy in Tuva. | |||
| Sikkimese people | Sikkimese language | Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity | 290,000 | Asia | India | Sikkim | Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee | Formerly the Kingdom of Sikkim. The Sikkimese people are split among the Lepcha, Limbu and Bhutias In 1990 Sikkimese Nationalist leaders declared the annexation of Sikkim by India to be illegal | |||
| Lakota people | Lakota, English | Christianity with native | 170,000 | America | United States | Lakotah | Sioux Wars, Lakota Freedom Movement | Native American reservation politics. | |||
| Sami people | Sami languages, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Russian | Christianity, Animism | 163,400 | Europe | Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia | Sapmi | Sámi politics | Have their own Parliaments in Norway, Sweden & Finland but Sami groups seek more territorial autonomy. | |||
| Inuit | Inuit languages, Danish | Christianity with native | 135,991 | America | Canada, United States and Denmark | Siberia, Alaska, Northern Canada and Greenland | Greenland Referendum, | Semi-autonomous rule in Greenland with autonomy in Denmark. | |||
| Pamiris | Pamir languages | Islam | 135,000 | Asia | Tajikistan | Badakhshan | Pamiri nationalism, Lali Badakhshan party, Tajikistani Civil War | Regional autonomy in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region | |||
| Acadians | Acadian French, American English, French, English | Catholicism, minority irreligious | 102,250 | America | United States and Canada | Acadia | There have been several attempts at splitting Aroostook County off of Maine, and the short lived Republic of Madawaska in the 1800s | - | |||
| Manx people | Manx language, Manx English, English | Christianity | 89,000 | Europe | United Kingdom | Isle of Man | Mec Vannin | Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency. | |||
| Karelians | Karelian, Russian, Finnish | Christianity | 77,000 | Europe | Finland, Russia | Karelia | East Karelian uprising | Divided into East Karelia and West Karelia. | |||
| Rusyns | Rusyn, Ukrainian, Slovak, Serbian | Christianity | 68,000 | Europe | Ukraine, Slovakia, Serbia, Poland, Hungary and Romania | Carpathian Ruthenia | World Congress of Rusyns, Rusyn separatist movement | The Rusyn ethnicity is not recognised by Ukraine and does not appear in the Ukrainian census. Many speakers of the Lemko and Hutsul dialects identify primarily as Lemkos and Hutsuls, rather than Rusyns or Ukrainians. A separate population, the Pannonian Rusyns, are a minority in Serbia and Croatia. | |||
| Faroese people | Faroese language, Danish | Christianity | 66,000 | Europe | Denmark | Faroe Islands | Faroese independence movement | Regional autonomy in Faroe Islands. | |||
| Sorbs | Sorbian language, Czech, German | Christianity | 60,000–70,000 | Europe | Germany and Czech Republic | Lusatia | Domowina | Divided into Upper Sorbs and Lower Sorbs. | |||
| Ainu people | Ainu languages, Japanese people, Russian language | Animism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Christianity | 25,000 – 200,000 | Asia | Japan, Russia | Hokkaido | Ainu Movement | Seek greater independence in Japan | |||
| Rapa Nui people | Rapa Nui language, Spanish language | Christianity | 5,682 | Oceania | Chile | Easter Island | Rapa Nui independence movement | The Rapa Nui Parliament is a pro-independence organisation |