How many ethnic groups are there in the Philippines, and what is the specific situation?

The Philippines is a multi-ethnic country with more than 90 nationalities. The main ethnic groups are Pisayan, Tagalog, iloc, Bikol and Kagayan, accounting for more than 85% of the national population. Ethnic minorities include China, Indonesians, Arabs, Indians, Spaniards and Americans, as well as a few indigenous people. About 85% of the residents believe in Catholicism, 5% believe in Islam, a few believe in independence and Protestantism, most indigenous people believe in primitive religion, and most China people believe in Buddhism.

The ancestors of the Eta people in the Philippine Islands were the earliest residents of the Philippines. Secondly, from about 3000 BC to 1000 BC, primitive Malays migrated from the Asian continent to the Philippines by water, and they brought Neolithic culture. New Malays moved to the Philippines in batches from 200 BC to16th century. They brought metal tools and pinyin letters. They are the ancestors of Pisayan, Tagalog and Elok. In short, many ethnic groups in the Philippines today are gradually formed from the mixture of dwarves and Malays in prehistoric times. During the development of these ethnic groups, Asians such as China, Indians, Arabs, etc. Later, they were moved in, and then they intermarried with European whites, absorbing elements of other nationalities and races.

There are the largest number of ethnic groups in the plain area, which plays a leading role in economic, political and social life and was first influenced by Christianity and its culture. Western literature calls them "Christian countries". Its number accounts for 90% of the country, and its area is the richest area in the Philippines. Because of this, the birth rate and natural growth rate of ethnic groups in the plain are high, so there are many large ethnic groups. However, due to the difficult conditions and high birth rate, the ethnic groups in mountainous areas are all small ethnic groups, but the natural growth rate is not high.

Visayan people

Visayas, the largest ethnic group in the Philippines. There are about 210.8 million people, accounting for 42% of the total population in China, mainly distributed in Sama Island, Bao Dao Island, Cebu Island, Negros Island and Panai Island. In addition, Pisayan people migrated from these primitive islands to nearby islands, mainly from Mindanao, palawan island and sulu archipelago. The language of Pisayan people is divided into many dialects, which are very different, almost different languages. Moreover, residents who speak different dialects have some differences in ethnology. The population living in Visayas accounts for13 of the national population, with an average of more than 200 people per square kilometer here. Cebu is the largest city in Pisayan distribution area, the second largest city in the Philippines, and the cultural center of Visayas. There are the highest institutions of higher learning at the provincial level, branches of the National Library and weather stations. The main crops managed by Pisayan people are rice, corn, coconut and tobacco. Bamboo weaving and straw weaving are traditional handicrafts of Pisayan people. Philippine summer sleeping mats of various specifications are world-famous. The Pisayan people believe in Catholicism, but they still retain the residual influence of animism. Set up family altars to worship ancestors.

Tagalog language

The Tagalog people are the second largest ethnic group in the Philippines, with a population of 6.5438+0.23 million, mainly distributed in the central and southern parts of Luzon Island. Tagalog people are the most economically and culturally developed ethnic group in the Philippines. The Philippine government has made Tagalog the national language. Most Tagalog people live in rural areas and engage in agricultural activities. Agricultural tools are mainly iron plows and rakes. Rice is the main food crop, and corn is also planted quite a lot. In addition, bananas, coconut trees, mango trees, coffee trees and various vegetables are widely planted. Manila hemp, sugar cane and tobacco are also grown. Tagalog people believe in Catholicism, so the more grand festivals are related to Catholicism.

Yi Lokos

Iloc is the third largest ethnic group with a population of 5.7 million. The Elok people first lived in the northwest of Luzon Island, and then gradually moved to other islands such as Kagayan Valley and Mindanao. The Elok people mainly deal in rice, and they are experts in planting. In addition to general varieties of rice, fragrant rice and glutinous rice are also cultivated. The Elok people were also the first to introduce cotton in the Philippines. Elok people widely believe in Agbai, a sect peculiar to the Philippines in Catholicism. Also known as Philippine independence. 1920, Catholics in the Philippines founded this Sect in the struggle for independence. Because they advocate national independence, they are called "independent religions in the Philippines".

Other small nationalities

In the plain area of Luzon Island, there are also some smaller ethnic groups with numbers ranging from 300,000 to 1.8 million. The small ethnic groups in the plain area of Luzon Island are close to the neighboring larger ethnic groups in language and culture, and have close economic ties. They are all engaged in agriculture.

Ethnic groups in Luzon Island

There are many small ethnic groups living on Luzon Island. They are small in population, at different stages of social development, and have many similarities in cultural customs. Among these ethnic groups, the Ifugao people have the most developed economy and are known to the outside world. They are located on the eastern slope of Cordillera Mountains in the middle of Northern Luzon Island. Secondly, there are 6.5438+0.9 million Kankanai people, which are distributed in the northern part of the Ifugao people's residential area. Kalina people are nearly 6.5438+million, distributed in Kalina-Abayo province; There are 80,000 Bondu people, who are distributed in the mountainous areas in the northwest of Luzon Island. There are more than 60 thousand people in brief, distributed in the northwest of Luzon Island; There are 20,000 ibadan people living in the Babuyan Islands of Bataan Islands between Luzon Island and Taiwan Province Province of China.

Ethnic groups in the mountainous areas of Mindanao

The ethnic groups in the mountainous areas of Mindanao are Subanon, Manobo, Bilan, Tagacolo and Mandaya. Most of these ethnic groups are engaged in primitive agriculture. The main crop is upland rice. In addition, sweet potatoes, vermicelli boxes, boxes and other vegetables are also planted. Cash crops include tobacco, palm trees and bananas. Mindanao mountain people, like Luzon mountain people, have never been effectively ruled by Spain, so they have preserved their traditional culture. The vast majority of these ethnic groups are animist believers.

Moro people

The Moro people in the Philippines are a people who believe in Islam, including many ethnic groups. "Moro" was taken by Spain, which means Moors who believe in Islam. Moro people are distributed in the west and southwest of Mindanao. By 1983, the total number of Moros exceeded 2160,000.

Chinese

Among the non-Austronesian ethnic groups in the islands of the Philippines, the largest ethnic group is Chinese, with 6,543,800+0.2 million people. Today's China people immigrated to the Philippines from the 7th century, mainly from Fujian and Guangdong provinces in China. The vast majority of Chinese are native Chinese, distributed in the commercial centers of various islands, and most of them are concentrated in Manila. A considerable number of them are descendants of Chinese-Filipino hybrids. Most of them are businessmen, handicraft workers, small business owners and big industrialists. In big cities, restaurants run by China people are very popular and their business is booming. China people have preserved their own language, customs and religious beliefs. They celebrate their traditional festivals, publish Chinese newspapers, run Chinese schools, and love China movies and plays. The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines (1986) recognizes the existing Philippine nationality of Chinese and allows those who are not naturalized to apply for membership. Nowadays, China people live in harmony with native Filipinos, which has greatly promoted the economic development of the Philippines.