List of ethnic groups in Myanmar explained

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":

1. Bamar
2. Kayin
3. Rakhine
4. Shan
5. Mon
6. Chin
7. Kachin
8. 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]

The list has faced criticism for overcounting the number of ethnic groups. Specifically, it represents clans and people withh dialectical differences as distinct ethnic groups, sometimes even repeating the same group under a different name.^[2] According to Gamanii, a researcher who scrutinized the claim, only 59 out of the 135 ethnic groups mentioned can be verified as existing entities.

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.

^{[3] [4]}

Officially recognized ethnic groups

Note: The list is very controversial. Many of the names and spelling variants are known only from this list.^{[5] [6]}

Kachin comprises 12 different ethnic groups:

1. Kachin see: Jingpo people

2. Tarone see: Taron people

3. Dalaung, unknown^[7]

4. Jinghpaw see: Singpho people

5. Guari, unknown

6. Hkahku see: Jingpo people

7. Duleng, unknown

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.^[8]

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

26. Sgaw (Karen, S’gaw)

27. Ta-Lay-Pwa, maybe Thalebwa

28. Paku (Karen, Paku)

29. Bwe (Bwe Karen)

30. Monnepwa (Karen, Paku)

31. Monpwa, unknown

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)

• Pangal

35. Saline (ethnic group)

36. Ka-Lin-Kaw people (Lushay)

37. Khumi (Khami)

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)

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)

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 (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/Myaung Zi (Hmong)

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

Sino-Tibetan

• 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–Kadai

• Tai
  • Shan
  • Hkun (also spelled Khün)
  • Khamti Shan
  • Thai

Indo-European

• 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

Hmong–Mien

• Yao

Austroasiatic

• Mon–Khmer
  • Mon
  • Danaw (also spelled Danau)
  • Khmu (Khamu)
  • Tai-Loi
  • Wa (Va)
  • Palaung
  • Pale

Austronesian

• 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:

• Anglo-Burmese people
• Burmese Chinese
• Panthay^[9]
• Burmese Indians^[10]
• Taungtha people
• Rohingya people
• Burmese gorkhas/Nepalese
• Burmese Mizos
• Jews
• Bamar Muslims (Pathi)

Language ISO 639-3 codes^[11]

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 [acn]
2. Akeu [aeu]
3. Akha [ahk]
4. Anal [anm]
5. Anong [nun]
6. Blang [blr]
7. Burmese [mya]
8. Chak [ckh]
9. Chakma [ccp]
10. 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
11. Chinese:
    • Chinese, Mandarin [cmn]
12. Danau [dnu]
13. Danu [dnv]
14. Drung [duu]
15. Hmong Njua [hnj]
16. Hpon [hpo]
17. Intha [int]
18. Jingpho [kac]
19. Kadu [zkd]
20. Kanan [zkn]
21. Karen:
    • Karen, Bwe [bwe]
    • Karen, Geba [kvq]
    • Karen, Geko [ghk]
    • Karen, Mobwa [jkm]
    • Karen, Paku [jkp]
    • Karen, Pwo Eastern [kjp]
    • Karen, Pwo Western [pwo]
    • Karen, S’gaw [ksw]
22. Kayah:
    • Kayah, Eastern [eky]
    • Kayah, Western [kyu]
23. Kedah Malay [meo]
24. Kayan [pdu]
25. Kayaw [kvl]
26. Khamti [kht]
27. Khün [kkh]
28. Lahta [kvt]
29. Lahu [lhu]
30. Lahu Shi [lhi]
31. Lashi [lsi]
32. Lhao Vo [mhx]
33. Lisu [lis]
34. Lü [khb]
35. Manumanaw [kxf]
36. Moken [mwt]
37. Mon [mnw]
38. Mru [mro]
39. 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]
40. Nusu [nuf]
41. Palaung:
    • Palaung, Ruching [pce]
    • Palaung, Rumai [rbb]
    • Palaung, Shwe [pll]
42. Pali [pli]
43. Pa’o [blk]
44. Pyen [pyy]
45. Rakhine [rki]
46. Rawang [raw]
47. Riang [ril]
48. Samtao [stu]
49. Shan [shn]
50. Tai Laing [tjl]
51. Tai Loi [tlq]
52. Tai Nüa [tdd]
53. Taman [tcl]
54. Taungyo [tobacco]
55. Tavoyan [tvn]
56. Tibetan:
    • Tibetan, Khams [khg]
57. Wa:
    • Wa, Parauk [prk]
58. Wewaw [wea]
59. Yinbaw [kvu]
60. Yinchia [yin]
61. Yintale [yin]
62. Zaiwa [atb]
63. Zayein [kxk]
64. Zo [zom]

Thaungtha is similar with rabain

External links

• 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

• 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Myanmar People & Races . 2007-12-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100609072939/http://myanmartravelinformation.com/mti-myanmar-people/index.htm . 9 June 2010 . dmy-all . For example, the Shan speak a Tai–Kadai language, the Lahu speak a Tibeto-Burman language, the Khamu speak a Mon–Khmer language, and the Yao speak a Hmong–Mien language.
2. News: . 2014 Population Census: The problematic of 135 ethnic groups categorization. 8 March 2023. Shan Herald. 5 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220129232224/https://english.shannews.org/archives/16850. 29 January 2022. dmy-all.
3. Web site: PoneYate ethnic population dashboard .
4. Book: Jap. Jangai. Courtin. Constant. Deciphering Myanmar's Ethnic Landscape: A Brief Historical and Ethnic Description of Myanmar's Administrative Units. International IDEA. 2022-11-22. 18. 978-91-7671-577-2.
5. News: Gamanii. 135: Counting Races in Burma. 26 August 2013. Shan Herald. 25 September 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140105075611/http://www.shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4965:135-counting-races-in-burma&catid=115:opinions&Itemid=308. 5 January 2014. dmy-all.
6. Web site: Composition of the Different Ethnic Groups . 17 August 2013 . 10 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200410075744/https://www.embassyofmyanmar.be/ABOUT/ethnicgroups.htm . live .
7. Web site: Ethnologue . 1 May 2006 . 13 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111013215305/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_lang_family.asp?code=haw . live .
8. The source of this list is the 9 captions from an unscientific Italian book, therefore Italian spelling. I Ghekhù : tribu criana della Birmania orientale. Paolo Manna. 1902. Milano.
9. News: Mullins . Jeremy . Aye . Mon Mon . 30 March 2014 . Panthay Muslims protect their name . Myanmar Times . 30 May 2017 . 23 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523083610/http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/mandalay-upper-myanmar/9998-panthay-muslims-protect-their-name.html . live .
10. https://books.google.com/books?id=ofo3H1cWp6IC&pg=PA40 Tracing an Indian Diaspora: Contexts, Memories, Representations – Google Books
11. http://www.ethnologue.com/country/MM/languages Ethnologue: Myanmar

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