A number of ethnic groups of the People's Republic of China are not officially recognized.[1] Taken together, these groups would constitute the twentieth most populous ethnic group of China. Some scholars have estimated that there are over 200 distinct ethnic groups that inhabit China, compared to 56 groups that are officially recognized. There are in addition small distinct ethnic groups that have been classified as part of larger ethnic groups that are officially recognized. Some groups, like the Hui of Xinjiang with the Hui of Fujian, are geographically and culturally separate, except for the shared belief of Islam. Han Chinese, being the world's largest ethnic group, has a large diversity within it, such as in Gansu, whose Han individuals may have genetic traits from the assimilated Tangut civilization. Although they are indigenous to Hainan island and do not speak a Chinese language, the Lingao (Ong-Be) people near the capital (8% of the population) are counted as Han Chinese.
| Bunu | Chinese: [[:zh:布努人|布努人]] | Bùnǔrén | 700,000 | Yao | Guangxi | [2] | |
| Chuanqing | Chinese: [[:zh:穿青人|穿青人]] | Chuānqīngrén | 670,000 | Han | Liupanshui/Zhijin County, Bijie Prefecture, Guizhou | The Chuanqings view themselves as a distinct group of people despite being descendants of Han Chinese military servicemen. Most of them live in Anshun area of Guizhou province. Other locals call the Chuanqings "Da Jiao Ban" (Big Foot) or "Da Xiuzi" (Big Sleeves). Uniquely, they worship a god called Wuxian (五显). | |
| Lingao | Chinese: [[:zh:临高人|临高人]] | Língāorén | 500,000 [3] | Han or Zhuang | Hainan[4] | Speakers of the Be languages. Some have chosen to register as Zhuang, while the majority of them registered as Han.[5] [6] | |
| Waxiang | Chinese: [[:zh:瓦乡人|瓦乡人]] | Wǎxiāngrén | 400,000[7] | Han | Yuanling County, Yongding, Yongshun County of Hunan | Many of the Waxiang people are designated as Miao, while some are designated as Tujia or Han. | |
| Torghut | Chinese: [[:zh:土尔扈特|土尔扈特]] | Tǔěrhùtè | 150,000[8] | Xinjiang[9] | |||
| Gyalrong | Chinese: [[:zh:嘉絨人|嘉絨人]] | Jiāróngrén | 120,000 | Tibetan | Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan | Speakers of the Gyalrong language related to Qiang. | |
| Limin | Chinese: [[:zh:里民人|里民人]] | Lǐmínrén | 100,000 | Li | Anshun/Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou | Part of the Chuanqing people. Not related to the Li people of Hainan. | |
| Gejia | Chinese: [[:zh:革家人|克木族]] | Géjiārén | 50,000 | Miao | Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou | ||
| Äynu | Chinese: [[:zh:艾努人|艾努 人]] | Àinǔrén | 50,000 | Uyghur | Moyu/Hetian/Luopu/Shache/Shule/Yingjisha Counties, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang | Ethnically and linguistically distinct, speak Äynu language (Siberian Turkic subfamily) and adhere Shia Islam (Alevism). | |
| Caijia | Chinese: [[:zh:蔡家人|蔡家人]] | Càijiārén | 40,000 | Han or Bai | Guizhou | Caijia people's language is said to be a relative of the Bai language. | |
| Muxi | Chinese: [[:zh:木佬人|木佬人]] | Mùlǎorén | 30,000 | Yi | Majiang/Kaili/Huangping (Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture), Duyun/Fuquan (Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture), Guizhou and Chun'an County, Zhejiang | Their language Muyu belongs to the Kra language group, close to the proverb, but due to similarities to the Gelao they are being classified into the Yi. | |
| Mojia | Chinese: [[:zh:莫家人|莫家人]] | Mòjiārén | 20,000 | Bouyei[10] | Libo County, Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou | They speak the Mak language (Kam-Sui). | |
| Baima | Chinese: [[:zh:白马人|白马人]] | Báimǎrén | 15,000 | Tibetan | Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan and Wen County, Gansu | The Baima people are said to be the descendants of Di (氐) people. | |
| Utsul | Chinese: [[:zh:回辉人|回辉人]] | Huíhuīrén | 8,500 | Hui | Hainan | The Utsuls are thought to be descendants of Cham refugees who fled their homeland of Champa in Vietnam. | |
| Khmu | Chinese: [[:zh:克木族|克木族]] | Kèmùzú | 7,000 | Bulang | Xishuangbanna, Yunnan | ||
| Guge | Chinese: [[:zh:古格人|古格人]] | Gǔgérén | 5,000 | Hui (Qinghai), Tibetan (Yunnan) | Hualong Hui Autonomous County, Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai, Deqen/Weixi Counties, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan and Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region | It is distributed in Hualong Hui Autonomous County of Qinghai Province, Shangri-La, Deqin, Weixi County, and Lhasa City of Tibet Autonomous Region in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. The Guge people are culturally coordinated and adapted to be compatible with and preserve multi-ethnic culture. Suddenly retain the characteristics of the Hui culture, forming a unique nation. | |
| Akha | Chinese: [[:zh:阿卡人|阿卡人]] | Ākǎrén | 6,000 | Hani | Jinghong/Jinghan/Qilong town (Jinghong County), Bulangshan town (Menghai County) and Qilun town (Mengla County), Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | The Akha claimed to be "over gram", and Akha was the name of the Yi people (meaning "slaves"). | |
| Bisu | Chinese: [[:zh:毕苏人|毕苏人]] | Bìsūrén | 6,000 | Some are classified as Lahu while those who live in Menghai County are counted as "undistinguished nationalities" | Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | ||
| Lemo | Chinese: [[:zh:勒墨人|勒墨人]] | Lēimòrén | 7,000 | Bai and Lisu | Lushui County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | They are results of intermarriage between Tai Mao (Dehong Dai/Shan) and Lisu peoples. | |
| Altaians | Chinese: [[:zh:阿爾泰人|阿爾泰人]] | Ā'ěrtàirén | several thousand | Mongolian | Altay Prefecture of Xinjiang[11] | ||
| Tuvans | Chinese: [[:zh:图瓦人|图瓦人]] | Túwǎrén | 3,900 | Mongolian | Far north of Xinjiang[12] [13] | Only around 2,000 Tuvan speakers left. | |
| Bugan | Chinese: [[:zh:布赓语|布赓人]] | Bùgēngrén | 2,700 | Yi | Southern Guangnan (广南) and northern Xichou (西畴), Yunnan | Speakers of the Bugan language. | |
| Pakan | Chinese: [[:zh:布赓人|布赓人]] | Bùgēngrén | 2,000 | Yi | Wennan, Xiqiao. Wenshan, Yunnan | ||
| Buyang | Chinese: [[:zh:布央人|布央人]] | Bùyāngrén | 2,000 | Yao, Zhuang | Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan and Napo County, Guangxi | They are closely related to the Laha, Qabiao, Gelao, and Lachi. | |
| Deng | Chinese: [[:zh:僜人|僜人]] | Chēngrén | 2,000 | May be classified as Tibetan | Zayu County, Linzhi (Nyingchi), Tibet Autonomous Region | They speak various Mishmi languages (including Kaman/Miju and Idu Mishmi language). | |
| Bolyu | Chinese: [[:zh:巴琉语|巴琉]] | Bāliú | 1,800 | Longlin County, Guangxi | Also known as Lai. | ||
| Kunge | Chinese: [[:zh:昆格人|昆格人]] | Kūngérén | 1,656 (338 households) | Blang | Jinghong County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | The custom of the Kunge is different from that of the general Blang. The unique special day has the Dragon and the Dragon Festival. The Dragon Column is an iron festival. The time is in the solar calendar in February. During the festival, you must kill the cows, burn the bonfire, and worship the ancestors. | |
| Bajia | Chinese: [[:zh:八甲人|八甲人]] | Bājiǎrén | 1,500 | Blang and Yi | Yu'a/Yucha Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | Distributed in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Those who mixed with Blang are being classified as Blang peoples while those who unmixed are being classified as Yi peoples (this happened on 2011 after approval by Chinese National Civil Affairs Commission and the Yunnan Provincial Government). | |
| Fuyu Kyrgyz | 富裕柯尔克孜人 | 1,400 | Kyrgyz | Fuyu County, Heilongjiang | Ethnically and linguistically distinct from Kyrgyz, closely related to the ancient Yenisei Kyrgyz and modern Khakas in Siberia. | ||
| Keriya | Chinese: [[:zh:克里雅人|克里雅人]] | Kèlǐyǎrén | 1,300 | Uyghur | Yutian/Minfeng County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang | The Keriya people are said to be descendants of the Tibet Aliguge dynasty. Another group are said to be desert indigenous people living there. The natural environment determines the lifestyle of the Keriya people in the deep Taklimakan Desert. It still retains the simple and pure folk customs. Culture and a more primitive way of life. Most of them lived together for generations. The elderly at home are the most respected elders. The tribes rarely marry outsiders. They are called "the primitive tribes in the desert". | |
| Manmi | Chinese: [[:zh:曼咪人|曼咪人]] | Mànmīrén | 1,000 | Blang | Jinghong County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | Manmi people have their own language, Man Met which belongs to the Mon-Khmer (Austroasiatic) language group, and the Manmi people's housing, costumes, religious beliefs, and festivals are similar to the Yi people, but the ethnic group is classified as the Blang ethnic group. Now, Manmi people hope to be counted as an independent nation. | |
| Kaifeng Jews | 开封犹太人 | Kāifēng Yóutàizú | 600 – 1,000[14] | Hui or Han | Kaifeng, Henan | Descendants of Jewish silk road traders. | |
| Kangjia | Chinese: [[:zh:康家人|康家人]] | Kāngjiārén | 500–600 | Hui | Jainca (Jianzha) County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai | The Kangjia people have their own language, Kangjia language. It belongs to the Mongolian language group. The lifestyle is mixed with the Hui and Tu nationalities. Therefore, the Kangjia peoples now consider themselves to be an independent nationality, different from the surrounding people. | |
| Mang | Chinese: [[:zh:莽人|莽人]] | Mǎngrén | 568 | Blang | Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | ||
| Tomao | Chinese: [[:zh:托茂人|托茂人]] | Tuōmàorén | 500 | Hui | Yanqi Hui Autonomous County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang and Zhidoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai | Muslim minority distributed in Qinghai and Xinjiang,[15] with its own unique customs, using Tomo language (a Mongolian mixed Arabic and Persian vocabulary). | |
| Qabiao | Chinese: [[:zh:布标族|布标族]] | Bùbiāozú | 302 | Yi | Malipo County, Yunnan | Also known in Vietnam as the Pu Peo. | |
| Laopin | Chinese: [[:zh:老品人|老品人]] | Lǎopǐnrén | 233 (in 52 households) | May be classified as Dai | Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | The Lao Ping ethnics call themselves "old products", also known as "card products". Old people retain their own language, such as eating for "Tangza", housing for "crowding", and fluent slang. The old-fashioned housing is a Chinese-style bungalow. A unique original religion, with temples and godless statues, is held every year in the whole village. | |
| Laomian | Chinese: [[:zh:老緬人|老緬人]] | Lǎomiǎnrén | 233 (in 52 households) | Lahu | Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan | The Laomian has nothing to do with the Burmese. The Laomian people is a cross-border ethnic group distributed in the border areas of China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. In China, Laojia Dazhai in Zhutang Township of Mula County and Miaohai Village in Menghai County of Mianhai County are the main settlements. | |
| Daman | Chinese: [[:zh:达曼人|达曼人]] | Dámànrén | 200 | Tibetan | Gyirong County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet | They are popularly believed to be descendants of the Nepalese Gurkha army. | |
| Caizu | Chinese: [[:zh:菜族人|菜族人]] | Càizúrén | 170 (in 32 households) | Han | Unknown | ||
| Ili Turks | Chinese: [[:zh:土尔克人|土尔克人]], 土爾克人 | Tǔěrkèrén | 120[16] | Uzbek, Uyghur | Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Northern Xinjiang | Ethnically and linguistically distinct from Uyghurs. | |
| Ongkor | Chinese: [[:zh:翁阔人|翁阔人]] | Wēngkuòrén | 20 | Evenki | Yining County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang | It is said that Ongkor is the smallest ethnic group in China. The 1993 survey showed that there were only 20 people. | |
| Tanka | Chinese: [[:zh:疍家人|疍家人]] | Dànjiārén | Han | Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan | Thought to have Baiyue origins. Traditionally boat people who lived by the sea, they were sometimes referred to as "sea gypsies". | ||
| Dolan | Chinese: [[:zh:刀朗人|刀朗人]] | Dāolǎngrén | Uyghur | Awat County, Xinjiang | |||
| Kucong | Chinese: [[:zh:苦聪人|苦聪人]] | Kǔcōngrén | Lahu | Yunnan |