List of ethnic groups in Myanmar

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.

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. 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.

Officially recognized ethnic groups
Note: The list is very controversial. Many of the names and spelling variants are known only from this list.


 * Kachin comprises 12 different ethnic groups:
 * 1. Kachin see: Jingpo people
 * 2. Tarone see: Taron people
 * 3. Dalaung, unknown
 * 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

Note, a known questionable source.
 * Kayah comprises 9 different ethnic groups:
 * 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)

Possibly originally a list of tax rate districts. With the highest tax first.
 * Chin comprises 53 different ethnic groups:
 * 33. Chin
 * 34. Meithei (Meitei; Kathe)
 * Pangal
 * 35. Saline (ethnic group)
 * 36. Ka-Lin-Kaw people (Lushay)
 * 37. Khumi (Khami)
 * 38. Mro-Khimi people
 * 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)
 * 73. Laymyo
 * 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)

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
 * Burmese Indians
 * Taungtha people
 * Rohingya people
 * Burmese gorkhas/Nepalese
 * Burmese Mizos
 * Jews
 * Bamar Muslims (Pathi)

==Language ISO 639-3 codes == 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:
 * 11) * Chin, Anu-Hkongso [anl]
 * 12) * Chin, Asho [csh]
 * 13) * Chin, Bawm [bgr]
 * 14) * Chin, Bualkhaw [cbl]
 * 15) * Chin, Chinbon [cnb]
 * 16) * Chin, Daai [dao]
 * 17) * Chin, Dim [ctd]
 * 18) * Chin, Eastern Khumi [cek]
 * 19) * Chin, Falam [cfm]
 * 20) * Chin, Haka [cnh]
 * 21) * Chin, Kaang [ckn]
 * 22) * Chin, Khumi [cnk]
 * 23) * Chin, Laitu [clj]
 * 24) * Chin, Lautu [clt]
 * 25) * Chin, Mara [mrh]
 * 26) * Chin, Matu [hlt]
 * 27) * Chin, Mizo [lus]
 * 28) * Chin, Mro-Khimi [cmr]
 * 29) * Chin, Müün [mwq]
 * 30) * Chin, Ngawn [cnw]
 * 31) * Chin, Rawngtu [weu]
 * 32) * Chin, Rungtu [rtc]
 * 33) * Chin, Senthang [sez]
 * 34) * Chin, Siyin [csy]
 * 35) * Chin, Songlai [csj]
 * 36) * Chin, Sumtu [csv]
 * 37) * Chin, Tawr [tcp]
 * 38) * Chin, Tedim [ctd]
 * 39) * Chin, Thado [tcz]
 * 40) * Chin, Thaiphum [cth]
 * 41) * Chin, Zotung [czt]
 * 42) * Chin, Zyphe [zyp]
 * 43) * Chin, Zanniat language
 * 44) Chinese:
 * 45) * Chinese, Mandarin [cmn]
 * 46) Danau [dnu]
 * 47) Danu [dnv]
 * 48) Drung [duu]
 * 49) Hmong Njua [hnj]
 * 50) Hpon [hpo]
 * 51) Intha [int]
 * 52) Jingpho [kac]
 * 53) Kadu [zkd]
 * 54) Kanan [zkn]
 * 55) Karen:
 * 56) * Karen, Bwe [bwe]
 * 57) * Karen, Geba [kvq]
 * 58) * Karen, Geko [ghk]
 * 59) * Karen, Mobwa [jkm]
 * 60) * Karen, Paku [jkp]
 * 61) * Karen, Pwo Eastern [kjp]
 * 62) * Karen, Pwo Western [pwo]
 * 63) * Karen, S’gaw [ksw]
 * 64) Kayah:
 * 65) * Kayah, Eastern [eky]
 * 66) * Kayah, Western [kyu]
 * 67) Kedah Malay [meo]
 * 68) Kayan [pdu]
 * 69) Kayaw [kvl]
 * 70) Khamti [kht]
 * 71) Khün [kkh]
 * 72) Lahta [kvt]
 * 73) Lahu [lhu]
 * 74) Lahu Shi [lhi]
 * 75) Lashi [lsi]
 * 76) Lhao Vo [mhx]
 * 77) Lisu [lis]
 * 78) Lü [khb]
 * 79) Manumanaw [kxf]
 * 80) Moken [mwt]
 * 81) Mon [mnw]
 * 82) Mru [mro]
 * 83) Naga:
 * 84) * Naga, Akyaung Ari [nqy]
 * 85) * Naga, Khiamniungan [kix]
 * 86) * Naga, Koki [nxk]
 * 87) * Naga, Konyak [nbe]
 * 88) * Naga, Kyan-Karyaw [nqq]
 * 89) * Naga, Lao [nlq]
 * 90) * Naga, Leinong [lzn]
 * 91) * Naga, Long Phuri [lpn]
 * 92) * Naga, Makuri [jmn]
 * 93) * Naga, Makyan [umn]
 * 94) * Naga, Para [pzn]
 * 95) * Naga, Ponyo-Gongwang [npg]
 * 96) * Naga, Tangkhul [ntx]
 * 97) * Naga, Tase [nst]
 * 98) Nusu [nuf]
 * 99) Palaung:
 * 100) * Palaung, Ruching [pce]
 * 101) * Palaung, Rumai [rbb]
 * 102) * Palaung, Shwe [pll]
 * 103) Pali [pli]
 * 104) Pa’o [blk]
 * 105) Pyen [pyy]
 * 106) Rakhine [rki]
 * 107) Rawang [raw]
 * 108) Riang [ril]
 * 109) Samtao [stu]
 * 110) Shan [shn]
 * 111) Tai Laing [tjl]
 * 112) Tai Loi [tlq]
 * 113) Tai Nüa [tdd]
 * 114) Taman [tcl]
 * 115) Taungyo [tobacco]
 * 116) Tavoyan [tvn]
 * 117) Tibetan:
 * 118) * Tibetan, Khams [khg]
 * 119) Wa:
 * 120) * Wa, Parauk [prk]
 * 121) Wewaw [wea]
 * 122) Yinbaw [kvu]
 * 123) Yinchia [yin]
 * 124) Yintale [yin]
 * 125) Zaiwa [atb]
 * 126) Zayein [kxk]
 * 127) Zo [zom]

Thaungtha is similar with rabain

Books
Yangon: Thein Myint Win Press, 2000.
 * U Min Naing, National Ethnic Groups of Myanmar (Trans. by Hpone Thant).
 * "National Races of Myanmar" (1960) by the Ministry of Culture