World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples

This online directory of minorities and indigenous peoples grew out of Minority Rights Group’s encyclopaedic World Directory of Minorities, first published in 1990 and updated and expanded in 1997. This World Directory has been restructured into database format, updated and expanded, and the entire text is now available free of charge for the use of all those throughout the world with an interest in any aspect of minorities and indigenous peoples, their rights, their historical, political or geographical context.

User guidance

At the core of the online directory are some 220 of the world’s countries, including dependent territories, and about 700 minorities/indigenous peoples. It also includes an integral database of organisations concerned with minorities (totalling several thousands), and relevant publications and websites (several thousands).

Focus and Campaigns

Reflecting MRG’s own focus, the online directory is primarily concerned with the rights of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. Thus, the focus is on settled communities rather than new migrant communities, although it is difficult to draw a firm line between them, particularly in Western Europe, where we cover both national minorities and major immigrant communities.

The directory also aims to emphasise MRG’s five campaign areas: gender, education reform, economic development, land/property rights and prevention of conflict/genocide, together with the key area of public participation.

Statistics

While compiling this directory, obtaining accurate statistics on the size of minority populations has proved to be difficult. This is partly because many States do not disaggregate data on ethnic grounds, for a variety of historical and political reasons, and partly because many States do not have reliable or up-to-date census figures. We have tried to give estimates and sources as far as possible relying on widely-cited and reputable publications. However, where there is genuinely no official figures, we have fallen back on widely circulated estimates. In all cases, we have endeavoured to indicate the sources of our statistics.

Editorial policy

Our policy is only to feature a minority group in a separate profile if it is in any way disadvantaged (politically and/or economically) or discriminated against, regardless of population size (some minorities in the Directory can be counted in hundreds!)

This directory has been commissioned and published by MRG as a contribution to public understanding of minority rights issues. The text does not necessarily represent, in every detail and all it aspects, the collective view of MRG.

Contributors

MRG is grateful to the great many individuals who contributed their time and expertise, to help create this database. Details of the editorial, writing and production teams are available here.

Further development

Updating and development of the online directory will be ongoing. MRG news reports, campaign and programme updates and new publications will be linked to the directory as they appear on the website. Information on minority populations from MRG partners will be posted to the database as it becomes available. If you wish to contribute or comment on the content of this directory, please use the ‘Add a Comment’ facility to contact us.

Copyright & Terms and Conditions

MRG retains all copyright for this database and its material. While the online directory can be accessed, copied or printed for personal use free of charge, it cannot be quoted without due acknowledgement, or published in hard copy or in electronic format without the written permission of MRG.

Please see here for a full list of the terms and conditions attached to this directory.