Diagram of the most numerous peoples of the world. The largest nations of the world in faces

Russia is famous for how multinational state, more than 190 peoples live in the country. Most of them ended up in the Russian Federation peacefully, thanks to the annexation of new territories. Each nation has its own history, culture and heritage. Let us examine in more detail the national composition of Russia, considering each ethnic group separately.

Large nationalities of Russia

Russians are the largest indigenous ethnic group living in Russia. The number of Russian people in the world is equal to 133 million people, but some sources indicate a figure of up to 150 million. IN Russian Federation more than 110 (almost 79% of the total population of the country) million Russians live, most of Russians also live in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. If we look at the map of Russia, the Russian people are distributed in large numbers throughout the entire territory of the state, living in every region of the country...

Tatars, compared to Russians, make up only 3.7% of the country's total population. Tatar people has a population of 5.3 million people. This ethnic group lives throughout the country, the most densely populated city of Tatars is Tatarstan, more than 2 million people live there, and the most sparsely populated region is Ingushetia, where there are not even a thousand people from the Tatar people...

Bashkirs are the indigenous people of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The number of Bashkirs is about 1.5 million people - this is 1.1% of total number all residents of the Russian Federation. Of the one and a half million people, the majority (approximately 1 million) live on the territory of Bashkortostan. The rest of the Bashkirs live throughout Russia, as well as in the CIS countries...

Chuvash are indigenous people Chuvash Republic. Their number is 1.4 million people, which is 1.01% of the total national composition of Russians. If you believe the population census, then about 880 thousand Chuvash live on the territory of the republic, the rest live in all regions of Russia, as well as in Kazakhstan and Ukraine...

Chechens are a people settled in the North Caucasus; Chechnya is considered their homeland. In Russia, the number of Chechen people was 1.3 million people, but according to statistics, since 2015 the number of Chechens in the Russian Federation has increased to 1.4 million. This people makes up 1.01% of the total population of Russia...

The Mordovian people have a population of about 800 thousand people (approximately 750 thousand), this is 0.54% of the total population. Most of the people live in Mordovia - about 350 thousand people, followed by the regions: Samara, Penza, Orenburg, Ulyanovsk. Least of all this ethnic group lives in the Ivanovo and Omsk regions, not even 5 thousand belonging to the Mordovian people will gather there...

The Udmurt people number 550 thousand people - this is 0.40% of the total population of our vast Motherland. Most of the ethnic group lives in the Udmurt Republic, and the rest are dispersed in neighboring regions - Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Sverdlovsk region, Perm region, Kirov region, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. A small part of the Udmurt people migrated to Kazakhstan and Ukraine...

Yakuts represent indigenous people Yakutia. Their number is 480 thousand people - this is about 0.35% of the total national composition in the Russian Federation. Yakuts make up the majority of the inhabitants of Yakutia and Siberia. They also live in other regions of Russia, the most densely populated regions of Yakuts are Irkutsk and Magadan region, Krasnoyarsk region, Khabarovsk and Primorsky District...

According to statistics available after the population census, 460 thousand Buryats live in Russia. This represents 0.32% of total number Russians. The majority (about 280 thousand people) of the Buryats live in Buryatia, being the indigenous population of this republic. The rest of the people of Buryatia live in other regions of Russia. The most densely populated territory by Buryats is Irkutsk region(77 thousand) and Transbaikal region(73 thousand), and the less populated - Kamchatka Territory and Kemerovo region, you can’t find even 2000 thousand Buryats there...

The number of Komi people living on the territory of the Russian Federation is 230 thousand people. This figure is 0.16% of the total population in Russia. For living, these people have chosen not only the Komi Republic, which is their immediate homeland, but also other regions of our vast country. The Komi people are found in the Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and Omsk regions, as well as in the Nenets, Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrugs...

The people of Kalmykia are indigenous to the Republic of Kalmykia. Their number is 190 thousand people, if compared as a percentage, then 0.13% of the total population living in Russia. Most of this people, not counting Kalmykia, live in the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions - about 7 thousand people. And the least number of Kalmyks live in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and the Stavropol Territory - less than a thousand people...

Altaians are the indigenous people of Altai, therefore they live mainly in this republic. Although some of the population left historical territory habitat, now they live in the Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions. Total number Altai people is 79 thousand people, as a percentage - 0.06 of the total number of Russians...

Chukchi belong to small people from the northeastern part of Asia. In Russia, the Chukchi people have a small number - about 16 thousand people, their people make up 0.01% of the total population of our multinational country. These people are scattered throughout Russia, but most of them settled in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Yakutia, Kamchatka Territory and Magadan Region...

These are the most common peoples that you can meet in the vastness of Mother Russia. However, the list is far from complete, because there are also foreigners in our state. For example, Germans, Vietnamese, Arabs, Serbs, Romanians, Czechs, Americans, Kazakhs, Ukrainians, French, Italians, Slovaks, Croats, Tuvans, Uzbeks, Spaniards, British, Japanese, Pakistanis, etc. Most of the listed ethnic groups make up 0.01% of the total population, but there are peoples with more than 0.5%.

We can continue endlessly, because the vast territory of the Russian Federation is capable of accommodating many peoples, both indigenous and those arriving from other countries and even continents, under one roof.

National composition of the population– distribution of people based on ethnicity. An ethnos (or people) is a historically established stable community of people, united by the unity of language, territory, economic life and culture, national identity. Forms ethnic community change and become more complex during development human society- from clan and tribal associations under the primitive system, nationalities under early class societies to independent nations - in the conditions of the merger of local markets into a single national market. If, for example, the formation of nations has long been completed, then in some underdeveloped countries, and (, etc.) tribal associations are widely represented.

Today there are 2200 – 2400 ethnic groups in the world. Their numbers vary greatly - from several dozen people to hundreds of millions. The largest nations include (in million people):

• Chinese – 11 70,
• Hindustani ( main people India) – 265,
• Bengalis (in India and) – 225,
• Americans - 200,
• Brazilians – 175,
• Russians – 150,
• Japanese – 130,
• Punjabis (main people) – 115,
• Mexicans – 115,
• Biharis - 105.

Thus, at the beginning of the 21st century, 10 ethnic groups account for about 45% of all humanity.

In many countries and regions of the world, different ethnic groups are represented unequally. Therefore, they usually distinguish between the main peoples, i.e., the ethnic groups that make up the bulk of the population, and national minorities.

According to its origin and social status National minorities are usually divided into two types:
autochthonous, i.e. indigenous peoples, ethnic groups born of immigration.

Thus, the following proportions are characteristic of the modern national composition. The main ethnic group - the British - make up 77% of the total population; autochthonous ethnic groups, including the Scots, Irish, etc. - 14% and immigrants from different countries – 9 %.

Constantly evolving as a result of territorial heterogeneity of natural population movements, migration, as well as processes of consolidation and assimilation of ethnic groups.
Consolidation of ethnic groups is the merging of several related ethnic groups into one, larger ethnic community.

Assimilation of ethnic groups- this is the loss of the peoples native language And national identity as a result of long-term communication with other ethnic groups, i.e. a kind of dissolution ethnic groups in a multinational environment. This process is especially widespread in immigration countries, which include the USA, Australia, and many European countries. As a result of the processes of consolidation and assimilation of ethnic groups, the total number of peoples is gradually decreasing.

One of the main signs of ethnic unity is colloquial. According to this criterion, all peoples of the world are divided into 15 language families and more than 45 language groups, which, in turn, are divided into language branches. In addition, there are separate languages ​​that are not included in any language family. These include, for example, Japanese, Korean, Basque and some others.

More than 40% of the world's population speaks languages Indo-European family, which includes 11 language groups: Romance (French, Italians, Spaniards, Moldovans, Romanians, Latin Americans); Germanic (Germans, English, Swedes, Danes, Americans); Slavic (Russians, Poles, Czechs, Bulgarians, Slovenes); Baltic ( , ); Iranian (Kurds, Afghans, Tatars, etc.).

About 20% of the world's population speaks languages ​​of the Sino-Tibetan or Sino-Tibetan family. Its weight is determined by the Chinese language group. The distribution of these languages ​​is almost entirely localized to the Asian continent.

About 8% of humanity uses the languages ​​of the Niger-Cordofenian family, which are represented exclusively in Africa. Within this family, the main language group is the Niger-Congo group.

Another 5 - 7% of the world's population speaks languages ​​of the Afroasiatic (or Semitic-Hamitic) family, which are widespread mainly in Africa and Asia. The main language of this family is Arabic.

Thus, the languages ​​of these four families are spoken by almost 4/5 of all humanity.

The exact number of languages ​​in the world has not been determined. Some experts believe that there are about 3 thousand of them, others - more than 5 thousand. This discrepancy is explained by the fact that some linguists consider the same dialects as different languages, and another part of scientists recognizes them as dialects of the same language. The problem of classifying ethnic groups and languages ​​is largely complicated by the fact that many peoples speak the same languages. For example, English is spoken not only by the British, but also by many Australians, New Zealanders, US Americans, Canadians, many peoples of the Caribbean countries, etc. Spanish is the native language not only of the Spaniards, but of most of the peoples of Latin America . The same language is spoken by Germans, Austrians, and part of the population of Switzerland. These, the most common languages, serve as a means of interethnic communication.
Some languages ​​develop and become more widespread, others die and lose their former meaning. For example, in Africa, the languages ​​of Swahili, Hausa, and Yoruba are becoming increasingly widespread, which are used as a means of communication by many tribes and nationalities, gradually displacing the languages ​​of the colonialists that have taken root here. The highest concentration of languages ​​(up to 1 thousand) is on Novaya Island, where they live a large number of original tribes.

A significant part of all the world's languages ​​does not have a written language. In order to facilitate communication between representatives of different ethnic groups, the number of attempts to create artificial international language. The most famous of them is Esperanto.

The most common languages ​​of the world include the following:

• Chinese – more than 1 billion people,
• English – 400 – 500 million people,
• Hindi – more than 350,
• Spanish – about 300,
• Russian – about 200,
• Bengali – about 170,
• Indonesian – about 170,
• Arabic – 160,
• Portuguese – 140,
• Japanese – 125,
• German – about 100,
• French – more than 100 million people.

Thus, only 12 languages ​​are spoken by almost 2/3 of all humanity. Of these most widely spoken languages, six are official and working languages ​​of the UN (English, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese).

In accordance with the nature of the national (ethnic) composition of the population, five types of states can be distinguished.

1 type These are single-national states. The majority of such states are in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

And Russia, although some countries of Western and Southern Africa can also be included.

IN last years in countries with complex national composition Interethnic contradictions intensified.

No science yet gives precise definition such a concept as “people”, but everyone understands by this concept a large community of people living compactly in a certain territory.

The science of ethnography, which studies peoples and ethnic groups, including the most numerous nations, identifies today from 2.4 to 2.7 thousand nationalities living on earth. But in such a delicate matter, ethnographers can rely on statistical data, which put the figure at 5 and a half thousand peoples on Earth.

No less interesting is ethnogenesis, which studies the emergence and development of various ethnic groups. Let's imagine in small review the most large nations, which took shape in ancient times, and their total number exceeds 100 million people.

Chinese (1,320 million)

Generalized concept " Chinese people"includes all residents of China, including people of other nationalities, as well as those who have Chinese citizenship but live abroad.

Nevertheless, the Chinese people are the largest, both in the concept of “nation” and in the concept of “nationality”. Today, there are 1 billion 320 million Chinese living in the world, which is 19% of the total population of the planet. So, the list is the most big nations the world, by all indicators, is rightfully led by the Chinese.

Although in fact, those whom we call “Chinese” are ethnically representatives of the Han people. China is a multinational country.

The very name of the people is “Han”, which means “ Milky Way”, and comes from the name of the country “Celestial Empire”. This is also the most ancient people A land whose roots go back to the distant past. The Han people in China make up the absolute majority, about 92% of the country's population.

Interesting Facts:

• The Chinese Zhuang people, who are a national minority in the country, number about 18 million people, which is comparable to the population of Kazakhstan and larger than the population of the Netherlands.
• Another Chinese people, Huizu, has a population of about 10.5 million, which is earlier than the population of countries such as Belgium, Tunisia, the Czech Republic or Portugal.

Arabs (330-340 million)

The Arabs, who occupy second place, are defined in ethnographic science as a group of nationalities, but from the point of view of ethnogenesis, they are one people of the Semitic language group.

The nation developed in the Middle Ages, when the Arabs settled in the Middle East and northern Africa. All of them are united by a single Arabic language and a unique writing system - Arabic script. The people have long gone beyond the boundaries of their historical homeland, and modern stage, due to various circumstances, settled in other regions globe.

Today the number of Arabs is estimated at 330-340 million people. They mostly adhere to Islam, but there are also Christians.

Did you know that:

• There are more Arabs living in Brazil than in the United Arab Emirates.
• Arabs consider the gesture to be a sexually suggestive insult.

Americans (317 million)

Here shining example, when it is possible to accurately define the people, with the practically non-existent concept of “American nation”. In a narrow sense, this is a group of different nationalities that make up the population of the United States and have American citizenship.

Over its 200-year history, it has developed unified culture, mentality, mutual language, used in communication, which allows you to unite the population of the United States into one people.

Today there are 317 million US Americans. For the indigenous population of America, Indians, the name Americans may be used, but in terms of ethnic identification this is a completely different ethnic group.

Hindustani (265 million)

On this moment Hindustanis settled compactly in three neighboring countries in the South-Eastern region of the planet - India, Nepal and Pakistan.

As for India, the largest number of them live in the northern part of the state. In total, ethnology numbers about 265 million Hindustanis, and their main language of communication is various dialects of the Hindi language.

It is interesting that of the related nationalities, the gypsies and Dravidians inhabiting the southern regions of India are closest to them.

Bengalis (over 250 million)

Among the numerous peoples, the Bengalis, numbering more than 250 million, also occupy a leading position. They mostly live in Asian countries, but there are small diasporas in the USA and Great Britain, and they also exist in other European countries.

Behind centuries-old history Bengalis have retained their national culture, identity and language, as well as their main occupations. In the Asian region, they live mainly in rural areas, as they have been engaged in agriculture since ancient times.

The Bengali language is one of the most complex on earth; it was formed as a result of the synthesis of the Indo-Aryan language and numerous local dialects.

Brazilians (197 million)

A group of different ethnic groups living in Latin America have formed into a single Brazilian people. There are currently about 197 million Brazilians, most of whom live in Brazil itself.

The people went through a difficult path of ethnogenesis, which began to take shape as a result of the European conquest of the South American continent. Indian nationalities lived intermixed over vast territories, and with the arrival of Europeans, most of them were destroyed, the rest assimilated.

And so it happened that the religion of the Brazilians became Catholicism, and the language of communication became Portuguese.

Russians (about 150 million)

The name of the most numerous people of Russia occurred as a result of the transition of the adjective “Russian people”, “Russian people” into the generalizing noun “Russians”, in the concept of people.

Modern statistical studies indicate that there are about 150 million Russians on Earth, most of whom live in Russia. The most numerous people of Russia belong to language group East Slavic languages, and today more than 180 million people consider Russian their native language.

Russians are almost homogeneous in anthropological terms, although they are settled over a large territory and are divided into several ethnographic groups. The ethnos emerged during the development of the Russian state from different ethnic groups of the Slavs.

Interesting Fact: The largest number of Russians outside the borders of the Russian Federation and countries former USSR located in Germany (∼ 3.7 million) and in the USA (∼ 3 million).

Mexicans (148 million)

Mexicans, who number about 148 million people, are united by a common territory of residence, a single Spanish communication, as well as an amazing national culture that has developed on the basis of the heritage ancient civilizations Central America.

This people is also a vivid example of duality, since those Mexicans who live in the United States can simultaneously be considered Americans.
The people are also unique in that they are Latin Americans by ethnicity, but their language of communication classifies them as a Romance group. It is also the fastest growing nation on our planet.

Japanese (132 million)

There are 132 million conservative Japanese on Earth, and they live mainly in their historical homeland. After World War II, some Japanese settled around the world, and now only 3 million people live outside Japan.

The Japanese people are distinguished by isolation, high diligence, special treatment to the historical past and national culture. Over many centuries, the Japanese have managed to preserve and, most importantly, increase their heritage, both spiritual and material and technical.

The Japanese treat foreigners in a special way, with some suspicion, and are reluctant to allow them into their lives.

Punjabis (130 million)

Another of the largest nations lives compactly in the territories of India and Pakistan. Of the 130 million Punjabis in the Asian regions, a small portion settled in Europe and Africa.

For many centuries, the hardworking people created an extensive irrigation system for irrigated fields, and their main occupation has always been agriculture.

It was the Punjabis who were one of the first peoples on earth to create a highly developed and cultural civilization in the valleys of Indian rivers. But, as a result of cruel colonial policies, much of the heritage of this people was lost.

Biharis (115 million)

The amazing Bihari people, living mainly in the Indian state of Bihar, today number about 115 million people. A small part settled in other Indian states and neighboring countries.

Modern representatives of the people are direct descendants of those. Who created the first agricultural civilizations on Earth in the Indus and Ganges valleys.

Today, there is an active process of urbanization of Biharis, and, leaving their main occupations and ancient crafts and trades, they are moving en masse to cities.

Javanese (105 million)

The last major nation on earth, numbering more than 100 million people. According to the latest data from ethnology and statistics, there are about 105 million Javanese people on the planet.

IN XIX century data on the origin were provided only by the Russian ethnographer and traveler Miklouho-Maclay, but today quite a lot is known about the ethnogenesis of the Javanese.

They settled mainly on the islands of Oceania, and are the indigenous population of the large island of Java and the state of Indonesia. Over many centuries they have created a unique and inimitable culture.

Thais (over 90 million)

Just by the name of the ethnic group, it is clear that the Thais are the indigenous population of the kingdom of Thailand, and today there are more than 90 million of them.

The etymology of the origin of the word “tai” is interesting, which in local dialects means “ free man" Ethnographers and archaeologists, studying the culture of the Thais, have determined that it was formed during the early Middle Ages.

Among other nations, this nation is distinguished by its sincere love, sometimes bordering on fanaticism, for theatrical art.

Koreans (83 million)

The people formed many centuries ago and at one time populated the Korean Peninsula of Asia. They managed to create a highly developed culture, and carefully protect national traditions.

The total number of people is 83 million, but the confrontation led to the formation of two states with one ethnic group, which is an unresolved tragedy for the Koreans today.

More than 65 million Koreans live in South Korea, the rest in North Korea, and also settled in other Asian and European countries.

Marathi (83 million)

India, among all its uniqueness, is also the record holder for the number of numerous nationalities living on its territory. For example, in the state of Maharashtra lives amazing people Marakhti.

A very talented people, people from whom occupy high positions in India, Indian film filled with marakhti.

In addition, the Marakhti are a very purposeful and united ethnic group, which in the 50s of the twentieth century achieved the creation of their own state, and today, numbering 83 million people, this is the main population of the Indian state.

European peoples

It is worth separately touching upon the largest peoples of Europe, among which the leaders are the descendants of the ancient Germans, the Germans, whose number, according to various sources, ranges from 80 to 95 million. Second place is firmly held by Italians, of whom there are 75 million on earth. But the French are firmly established in third place, with a population of about 65 million.

Large nations living on the globe, however, like small ones, have their own cultural and national traditions that have developed over a long historical process.

Today, the process of erasing ethnic and national boundaries is increasingly observed. There are practically no mono-national states left on Earth, it’s just that in each of them there is one dominant nation, and all the different national people are united under the general concept of “resident of the country.”

>> Largest nations of the world

§ 5. The largest nations of the world

In total, there are 5-5.5 thousand peoples, or ethnic groups, that is, established stable communities of people in the world. The vast majority of peoples are extremely small in number.

There are 330 peoples in the world numbering more than 1 million people, but they cover 96% of the total population of the Earth. There are only 11 peoples in the world with more than 100 million people each (Table 20), but they cover almost 45% of everything population Earth.

Table 20

Largest nations and most widely spoken languages

Earth is a planet of people

The population of various territories of the globe is distinguished by its racial, ethnic (from the Greek “ethnos” - people), linguistic, religious characteristics, which are closely related to natural features territories.
Races of man. Ethnographic scientists distinguish the three largest human races: Caucasoid, Mongoloid and Negroid.
Caucasians are characterized by wavy or straight soft hair, light or dark skin, narrow nose, thin or medium-thick lips. They inhabit mainly Eurasia and North America.
Mongoloids are characterized by straight, rigid dark hair, yellowish skin tone, flattened face, narrow eyes. They inhabit mainly Asia and America. Negroids are characterized by curly black hair, dark brown skin, brown eyes, a wide nose, and thick lips. They inhabit mainly Africa and Oceania.
Mixed races were formed not only in antiquity and the Middle Ages, but also in modern and recent times. Examples of mixed races are the mestizos and mulattoes of America.
There are 3-4 thousand peoples living on Earth. The largest nations of the world: Russians, US Americans, Brazilians, Indians, Chinese, Japanese.
Russians belong to the Caucasian race with all the characteristics characteristic of it external signs. The people inhabit Russia and the territories adjacent to it. In addition, Russians live in the USA, Canada, Brazil and other countries.
In the history of the Russian people, the development of free or sparsely populated neighboring lands has constantly taken place, which affected the diversity of everyday characteristics of the population, dialects (dialects), folklore, rituals, and housing.
The basis of Russian national clothes considered a man's or women's shirt, sundress, bast shoes, and in winter - felt boots. A traditional Russian dwelling is a log hut with a Russian stove.
Russian folk crafts are world famous: stone-cutting art of the Urals, Vologda lace, lacquer miniatures of Palekh and Fedoskino, metal painting of Zhostov, gold embroidery of Torzhok.
Americans. If such peoples as the Russians, Chinese, Japanese have a centuries-old history, then the Americans were formed as a people only in late XVIII V. at the intersection of all three races, as well as European, Indian and African cultures.
The indigenous people of America are the Indians. This name was given to them in the 15th century. Spanish navigators who mistook the discovered lands for India. The Indians, excellent hunters and fishermen, were characterized by a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Indian dwellings - tipis and wigwams - are adapted for this. Traditional clothing: shirt, leather pants and moccasins.
The 16th century in the history of the United States was marked by the great “migration of peoples”: a stream of European colonists, mainly from England, poured into the country, who began to displace the indigenous inhabitants to less convenient lands. This period is known not only as a time of constant conflicts between the aborigines and European settlers, but also as the beginning of mutual penetration different cultures. For example, the Indians learned from the Europeans how to use horses for farming, and the Europeans learned many food crops, such as corn.
In the XVII-XIX centuries. Black slaves from Africa began to be imported into the United States, mainly to work on the agricultural plantations of the South.
From the mixing of Indians with European settlers, a large mixed race emerged - mestizos, and from mixing with the African population - mulattoes.
IN modern culture Americans have significant black influence, especially in music and dance. Blues, jazz, country and others musical styles are based on Negro folklore.
Chinese- the largest nation in the world. He belongs to Mongoloid race. This people has a long history, culture and traditions. Chinese civilization is one of the most ancient.
The life of the Chinese is quite simple. Traditional food - boiled rice, flatbreads, noodles. However, it is worth noting that the Chinese culinary encyclopedia has 40 volumes.
The traditional home of the Chinese is fanza. The Chinese costume is dominated by the so-called undershirts, both women's and men's clothing differs little from each other.
Traditional crafts - weaving, pottery, weaving, wood carving, stone carving, bone carving, modeling, painted and carved varnish, embroidery. Chinese porcelain is famous.
Indians - common name peoples inhabiting India. Mostly Indians belong to the Caucasian race. Indian culture is one of the oldest in the world. Temples, rock monasteries, richly decorated with sculptures, palaces and mausoleums attract many tourists to India.
The most common type of Indian dwelling is a rectangular house with burnt brick walls, a flat roof and a courtyard. Traditional Indian clothing is saris, sweaters and skirts for women, and pants and shirts for men. Women usually cover their heads with a sari or shawl. Men wear turbans.
Indian crafts are varied. They are skilled masters of carving ivory, horn, wood, making figurines, metal engraving, jewelry, shawls, cotton fabrics, brocade, carpets, lace.