Ethnicity

An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of humans who identify with each other. They share things like language, culture, ancestry, traditions, society, or religion. These shared features make a group special and different from others. Over time, groups can keep their identity strong through traditions and marriage within the group.

People and groups can change their ethnic identity. This can happen through assimilation, acculturation, amalgamation, learning new languages, intermarriage, adoption, or changing religion. Sometimes smaller groups, called tribes, can grow into their own ethnic group. Other times, different groups can come together to form a larger group.

There are different ways to think about why ethnic groups exist. Older ideas from the early 1900s thought ethnic groups stayed the same for a long time. Newer ideas from after the 1960s see ethnic groups as something people create together, shaped by society.

Terminology

The word ethnic comes from an old Greek word, ethnos, which means "nation" or "people." Its meaning has changed over time. In the past, it described people who were not Christian. Today, it helps us talk about groups of people who share things like language, culture, or history.

People can feel they belong to an ethnic group for different reasons. Maybe they speak the same language, like French Canadians. Or maybe they share a sense of national identity, like Austrians. Some groups are defined by how they look, like African Americans, while others might share a religion, like Mormons or Sikhs. Often, several of these reasons together make up an ethnic group. For example, someone might feel Armenian because of their language, heritage, or religion.

Definitions and conceptual history

Ethnography, the study of cultures, began a long time ago. Early writers like Herodotus helped start this study. The ancient Greeks called themselves Hellenes.

Ethnicity is about how groups see themselves and share things like language, culture, and history. Social scientists like Fredrik Barth and Eric Wolf say ethnicity comes from how groups interact, not from being born that way.

Ethnic groups can be found everywhere, like in big cities such as New York City. These groups often share a common past. Ethnicity helps people feel connected to a larger group.

Ethnicity and nationality

Further information: Nation state and minority group

Sometimes, people connect where their family comes from with the country they live in, especially when they move to new places or when countries change their borders. As countries grew and changed over time, the idea of a nation developed. In the past, many countries thought they represented whole nations, but often some people were left out.

When people live in a country that isn’t their own, or when one country takes over another, new ethnic groups can form. Some countries have many different ethnic groups because their borders don’t match where old communities lived, or because people from different places have moved there. For example, this happened in Africa after colonial rule ended, and in places like Belgium and the United Kingdom. Other countries, like the Netherlands, started with one main group but now have many different groups living together.

Women also help keep traditions alive by teaching and supporting cultural practices within families. They often have important roles in how people think about their nation or ethnicity.

Ethnicity and race

Long ago, people sometimes confused the ideas of race and ethnicity. They thought that cultural differences came from traits passed down through families.

In 1950, some important scholars said it was better to talk about “ethnic groups” instead of “races.” They believed that cultural traits were not linked to genetic ones. In the United States, government rules define race based on social and cultural traits, not just biology.

Ethno-national conflict

Further information: Ethnic conflict

Sometimes, groups of people who share things like language or culture face unfair treatment from governments or others. In the 20th century, some thinkers believed that governments should treat everyone equally, without focusing on cultural backgrounds. Others thought it was important for governments to recognize and support the unique needs of different cultural groups.

The 19th century brought ideas linking cultural identity to strong feelings of national pride. This sometimes led to conflicts, especially in areas where many different cultural groups lived together. These tensions often appeared as struggles within countries rather than between them.

Ethnic groups by continent

Africa

Main article: List of ethnic groups of Africa

Africa has many different ethnic groups and languages. There are over 3,000 ethnic groups and more than 2,000 languages spoken in its 54 countries. Many of these groups have their own special cultures and traditions, often connected to languages such as Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Khoisan.

Asia

Main articles: Ethnic groups in Asia, East Asian people, South Asian ethnic groups, Ethnic groups of Southeast Asia, and Ethnic groups in the Middle East

Asia has many ethnic groups. They live in different places, from very cold areas to tropical zones, and from mountains to deserts. These groups have many ways of living, like hunting, moving with the seasons, farming, or living in cities. Cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore are mostly cities today. Big countries such as India and Indonesia have thousands of ethnic groups. In Russia, there are over 185 ethnic groups besides the main group of Russians, with the Tatars being the largest minority group.

Europe

Main article: Ethnic groups in Europe

Europe has many ethnic groups. Some are the main group in their countries, while others are smaller groups living there. For example, the Roma people, also called Gypsies, came from India and have their own language called Romani. In the Serbian area of Vojvodina, there are about 26 different ethnic groups, and six languages are used officially.

North America

Main articles: Ethnic origins of people in Canada, Ethnic groups in Central America, Demographics of Greenland, Demographics of Mexico, Ethnic groups in the United States, Indigenous peoples of the Americas § North America, Native Americans in the United States, Indigenous peoples in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Mexico, and Caribbean people

The first people of North America were Native Americans. In the United States, the largest groups are White Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans (especially Mexican Americans), and Asian Americans. In Mexico, most people have mixed backgrounds from Spanish and Native Americans. During past times, enslaved Africans were brought to North America, and many went to the Caribbean. Today, the Caribbean has many groups including indigenous peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, and others. In the United States, many people have more than one racial background.

In Canada, European Canadians are the largest group, but the Indigenous population is growing faster. Most new people moving to Canada come from Asia.

South America

Main article: Ethnic groups in South America

People in South America often have mixed backgrounds, including indigenous, European, African, and sometimes Asian ancestry.

Oceania

Main articles: Indigenous peoples of Oceania and Europeans in Oceania

Most places in Oceania have Indigenous people. However, countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island have mostly European people. Indigenous groups in Oceania include Australian Aboriginals, Austronesians, and Papuans. Some Pacific islands near Latin America had no people when Europeans arrived, and today their residents mostly come from Latin American countries or have mixed ancestry. The Rapa Nui people on Easter Island are Indigenous Polynesians.

Australia

Main articles: Indigenous Australians and Anglo-Celtic Australians

The first people in Australia were Aboriginal peoples, who have lived there for over 50,000 years. Torres Strait Islander peoples are another special Indigenous group. Europeans, mainly from England, arrived in 1770. Today, many people in Australia were born in other countries such as England, New Zealand, China, and India. The number of people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander has also grown.