The largest nations in the world: who are bigger? The most numerous peoples of the world. List of largest nationalities

The concept of “ethnicity” includes a historically established stable group of people who have a certain number of common subjective or objective characteristics. Ethnographic scientists include these characteristics as origin, language, cultural and economic characteristics, mentality and self-awareness, phenotypic and genotypic data, as well as the territory of long-term residence.

The word "ethnicity" has Greek roots and is literally translated as “people”. The word “nationality” can be considered a synonym for this definition in Russian. The term “ethnos” was introduced into scientific terminology in 1923 by the Russian scientist S.M. Shirokogorov. He gave the first definition of this word.

How does the formation of an ethnic group occur?

The ancient Greeks adopted the word “ethnos” designate other peoples who were not Greeks. For a long time, the word “people” was used in the Russian language as an analogue. Definition of S.M. Shirokogorova made it possible to emphasize the commonality of culture, relationships, traditions, way of life and language.

Modern science allows us to interpret this concept from 2 points of view:

The origin and formation of any ethnic group implies great length of time. Most often, such formation occurs around a certain language or religious beliefs. Based on this, we often pronounce phrases such as “ Christian culture", "Islamic world", "Romance group of languages".

The main conditions for the emergence of an ethnic group are the presence common territory and language. These same factors subsequently become supporting factors and the main distinguishing features of a particular ethnic group.

Additional factors influencing the formation of an ethnic group include:

1. General religious beliefs.
2. Intimacy from a racial perspective.
3. The presence of transitional interracial groups (mestizo).

Factors that unite an ethnic group include:

1. Specific features material and spiritual culture.
2. Community of life.
3. Group psychological characteristics.
4. General awareness of oneself and the idea of ​​a common origin.
5. The presence of an ethnonym - a self-name.

Ethnicity is essentially a complex dynamic system, which is constantly undergoing processes of transformation and at the same time maintains its stability.

The culture of each ethnic group maintains a certain constancy and at the same time changes over time from one era to another. Features of national culture and self-knowledge, religious and spiritual-moral values ​​leave an imprint on the nature of the biological self-reproduction of an ethnic group.

Features of the existence of ethnic groups and their patterns

The historically formed ethnos acts as an integral social organism and has the following ethnic relations:

1. Self-reproduction occurs through repeated homogeneous marriages and the transmission from generation to generation of traditions, self-awareness, cultural values, language and religious characteristics.
2. In the course of their existence, all ethnic groups undergo a number of processes within themselves - assimilation, consolidation, etc.
3. In order to strengthen their existence, most ethnic groups strive to create their own state, which allows them to regulate relations both within themselves and with other groups of peoples.

The laws of peoples can be considered behavioral models of relationships, which are typical for individual representatives. This also includes behavioral models that characterize individual social groups, emerging within the nation.

Ethnicity can simultaneously be considered as a natural-territorial and sociocultural phenomenon. Some researchers propose to consider the hereditary factor and endogamy as a kind of connecting link that supports the existence of a particular ethnic group. However, it cannot be denied that the quality of a nation’s gene pool is significantly influenced by conquests, living standards, and historical and cultural traditions.

The hereditary factor is tracked primarily in anthropometric and phenotypic data. However, anthropometric indicators do not always completely coincide with ethnicity. According to another group of researchers, the constancy of an ethnic group is due to national identity. However, such self-awareness can simultaneously act as an indicator of collective activity.

The unique self-awareness and perception of the world of a particular ethnic group may directly depend on what its activities in developing environment. The same type of activity can be perceived and evaluated differently in the minds of different ethnic groups.

The most stable mechanism that allows preserving the uniqueness, integrity and stability of an ethnic group is its culture and common historical destiny.

Ethnicity and its types

Traditionally, ethnicity is considered primarily as a generic concept. Based on this idea, it is customary to distinguish three types of ethnic groups:

1. Clan-tribe (species characteristic of primitive society).
2. Nationality (a characteristic type in the slave and feudal centuries).
3. Capitalist society is characterized by the concept of nation.

There are basic factors that unite representatives of one people:

Clans and tribes historically were the very first types of ethnic groups. Their existence lasted several tens of thousands of years. As the way of life and the structure of mankind developed and became more complex, the concept of nationality appeared. Their appearance is associated with the formation of tribal unions in the common territory of residence.

Factors in the development of nations

Today in the world there are several thousand ethnic groups. They all differ in level of development, mentality, numbers, culture and language. There may be significant differences based on race and physical appearance.

For example, the number of ethnic groups such as Chinese, Russians, and Brazilians exceeds 100 million people. Along with such gigantic peoples, there are varieties in the world whose number does not always reach ten people. State of the art different groups can also vary from the most highly developed to those living according to primitive communal principles. For every nation it is inherent own language However, there are also ethnic groups that simultaneously use several languages.

In the process of interethnic interactions, processes of assimilation and consolidation are launched, as a result of which a new ethnic group can gradually form. The socialization of an ethnic group occurs thanks to the development of such social institutions like family, religion, school, etc.

TO unfavorable factors for the development of the nation include the following:

1. High level mortality among the population, especially in childhood.
2. High prevalence of respiratory infections.
3. Alcohol and drug addiction.
4. Destruction of the family institution - a high number of single-parent families, divorces, abortions, and parental abandonment of children.
5. Low quality life.
6. High unemployment rate.
7. High crime rate.
8. Social passivity of the population.

Classification and examples of ethnicity

Classification is carried out according to a variety of parameters, the simplest of which is number. This indicator not only characterizes the state of the ethnic group at the current moment, but also reflects the nature of its historical development. Usually, formation of large and small ethnic groups flows completely in different ways. The level and nature of interethnic interactions depends on the size of a particular ethnic group.

Examples of the largest ethnic groups include the following (according to data from 1993):

The total number of these peoples is 40% of the total population of the globe. There is also a group of ethnic groups with a population of 1 to 5 million people. They make up about 8% of the total population.

Most small ethnic groups may number several hundred people. As an example, we can cite the Yukaghir, an ethnic group living in Yakutia, and the Izhorians, a Finnish ethnic group inhabiting territories in the Leningrad region.

Another classification criterion is population dynamics in ethnic groups. Minimal population growth is observed in Western European ethnic groups. The maximum growth is observed in the countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America.

Planet Earth is a multinational community inhabited by a large number of various nationalities. How many peoples live in the world? Surely every person has asked a similar question at least once in his life. At the same time, the exact answer is practically unknown, since even historians find it difficult to give exact numbers. In Russia alone there are more than 1194 nationalities, and if we take into account how many peoples are in the CIS countries, then the number will be several times larger.

General classification of nationalities

Most people are interested in a quantitative indicator, but if you collect all the data on how many peoples exist, the list can turn out to be almost endless. Most often the association different nations into groups occurs either according to species characteristics, or according to the language spoken by one or another group, or according to the territory of residence.

Sometimes division into groups can occur in accordance with cultural traditions and foundations

In total, there are 20 language families on the planet, which include different peoples.

In 2016, the largest language families were the following 4 groups:

• Indo-European. In total, this group includes 150 nations, which are located in Asia and Europe. The total population of this group is 2.8 billion people.
• Sino-Tibetan. This group includes the entire population of China and neighboring countries that share common language and culture. In total, there are almost 1.5 billion people in this group.
• Afro-Asian. A language family that includes the peoples of South-West Asia and North Africa.
• Niger-Kordofanian. The remaining peoples inhabiting the African continent, including the regions of Central and Southern Africa.

The largest nations of the world

Over the entire history of existence on Earth, a large number of nationalities have emerged

Some of the nationalities are small by historical standards and number no more than a million people (there are only 330 peoples). There are numerous ones where the number of people exceeds 100 million. There are only 11 such nationalities:

• Chinese. The top spot is occupied by the Chinese, who number 1 billion 17 million people on the planet.
• Hindustani. In second place are the Indian nationalities, which number 265 million people.
• Bengalis. Their number is 225 million.
• Americans. There are more than 200 million people in the United States.
• Brazilians. There are 175 million indigenous people living in Brazil.
• Russians. If we talk about how much Slavic peoples there are, then we can note the number of Russians, who form a large group and number 140 million.
• Japanese. Despite the limited territory of the islands, their population numbers 125 million people.
• Punjabis. Another Indian nationality, numbering 115 million people.
• Biharis. A people also living in India and numbering 115 million.
• Mexicans. There are 105 million of them worldwide.
• Javanese. The last of 11 large nationalities, which number 105 million people.

Let's sum it up

When talking about the concept of “people”, it is very difficult to achieve a unified interpretation.

Also, do not forget that the planet is home to several endangered peoples, some of which number only 280 people. In any case, each nationality is original and unique.

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§ 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

1. National composition of the world population. Its changes and geographical differences. The largest nations of the world.

2. Mechanical engineering is the leading branch of modern industry. Composition, placement features. Countries that stand out in terms of the level of development of mechanical engineering.

3. Determination of the main export and import items of one of the countries of the world (at the choice of the teacher).

1. National composition of the world population. Its changes and geographical differences. The largest nations of the world.

There are about 3-4 thousand peoples or ethnic groups in the world, some of which have formed into nations, while others are nationalities and tribes.

For your information: an ethnos is a historically established, stable community of people that has a set of characteristics such as a common language, territory, features of life and culture, and ethnic identity.

The peoples of the world are classified:

I. By number:

In total, there are more than 300 peoples in the world, each numbering over 1 million people, which account for 96% of the total population of the Earth. Including about 130 peoples have a population of more than 5 million people, 76 peoples have more than 10 million people, 35 peoples have more than 25 million people, 7 peoples have more than 100 million people.

For your information: 7 most numerous nations:

1) Chinese (Han) - 1048 million people (in the PRC - 97% of the total number of people in the country);

2) Hindustani - 223 million people (in India - 99.7%);

3) US Americans - 187 million people. (in the USA - 99.4%);

4) Bengalis - 176 million people. (in Bangladesh - 59%, in India - 40%);

5) Russians - 146 million people. (in Russia - 79.5%);

6) Brazilians - 137 million people. (in Brazil - 99.7%);

7) Japanese - 123 million people. (in Japan - 99%).

But there are nations of less than 1 thousand people.

II. By linguistic proximity:

Related languages ​​are grouped together, which in turn form language families.

1) Indo-European language family- the most numerous, its languages ​​are spoken by 150 peoples of Europe, Asia, America and Australia; the total number is more than 2.5 billion people.

This language family includes a number of groups:

· Romanesque (French, Italians, Spaniards, Latin Americans);

· Germanic (Germans, English, Americans);

· Slavic (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poles, Czechs, Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats);

· Celtic (Irish);

· Baltic (Lithuanians);

· Greek (Greeks);

Albanian

· Armenian;

Iranian (Persians, Kurds).

2) Sino-Tibetan language group: its languages ​​are spoken by over 1 billion people.

Slightly less numerous language families:

3) Afro-Asian.

4) Altai.

5) Niger-Kordofanian.

6) Dravidian.

7) Austronesian.

8) Ural.

9) Caucasian.

National criteria underlie the division of humanity into states.

If the main nationality on their territory is over 90%, then these are single-national states (Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Japan, etc.).

If two nations predominate - binational (Belgium, Canada, etc.).

If dozens and even hundreds of peoples live in countries and make up a significant proportion - multinational states (India, Russia, USA, Spain, Great Britain, Nigeria, Indonesia, etc.).

2. Mechanical engineering is the leading branch of modern industry. Composition, placement features. Countries that stand out in terms of the level of development of mechanical engineering.

Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest sectors of the economy. As an industry, it emerged 200 years ago during the Industrial Revolution in England.

Mechanical engineering provides equipment and machinery to other sectors of the economy and produces many household and cultural items.

In terms of the number of employees (more than 80 million people) and the value of products, it ranks first among all sectors of world industry.

The level of development of mechanical engineering is used to judge the level of economic development of any country.

The following main branches (more than 70 in total) of mechanical engineering are distinguished:

1) machine tool industry;

2) instrument making;

3) electrical and electronic industry;

4) computer technology;

5) railway engineering;

6) automotive industry;

7) shipbuilding;

8) aviation and rocket industry;

9) tractor and agricultural engineering, etc.

The location of mechanical engineering enterprises is influenced by many factors.

The main ones should be noted: transport; availability of qualified labor resources; consumer; and for some (metal-intensive) industries - and raw materials.

IN Lately there is a decrease in the dependence of mechanical engineering on metal sources, but its focus on labor resources, scientific centers, etc.

There are four engineering regions in the world:

1) North America: where almost all types of engineering products are produced, from the highest to medium and low complexity.

Largest corporations:

· automobile (USA): General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler;

· computer technology (USA): “International Business Machines”;

· electronics (USA): General Electric, American Telephone and Telegraph, etc.

2) Foreign Europe (in relation to the CIS): produces mainly mass engineering products, but also maintains its position in some of the newest industries.

Largest corporations:

· automobile (Germany): “Daimler-Benz”; "Volkswagenwerk";

· electronics: Germany - Siemens, the Netherlands - Philips, etc.

3) Eastern and Southeast Asia: Japan is leading here.

The region combines the products of mass engineering with products of the highest technology - science centers.

Large corporations:

· cars (Japan): “Toyota Motor”, “Nisan Motor”;

· electronics (Japan): Hitachi, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Samsung, etc.

4) Commonwealth Independent States: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus are in the lead.

Recently, the pace of development of mechanical engineering in the region has decreased, although it produces a wide range of engineering products.

Developing countries produce less than 1/10 of the world's engineering products. In most of these countries, there is not mechanical engineering, but rather metalworking, and in addition there are many assembly plants that receive machine parts from the USA, Western Europe and Japan.

But recently in some of them - Brazil, India, Argentina, Mexico - mechanical engineering has already reached a fairly high level.

3. Determination of the main export and import items of one of the countries of the world (at the choice of the teacher).

Using the answer plan below, you can characterize any state in the world.

Take for example, Japan is one of the 7 economically developed countries in the world.

To answer the following were used: statistical materials; maps of world economic sectors; atlas maps of Japan (economics).

Import to Japan (import of products):

1) raw materials: fuel - 49%, ore, for the textile industry (textile fiber), etc.;

2) chemical industry products (acids, alkalis, fertilizers, petroleum products);

3) food products (grain, etc.).

Export to Japan: products, products of the following industries:

1) mechanical engineering (cars, ships, electronics, machine tools, watches);

2) ferrous metallurgy (steel, rolled products);

3) non-ferrous metallurgy;

4) chemical industry (synthetic fibers, rubber);

5) light industry (fabrics, clothing).

From the above we can conclude: in Japan, as one of the developed countries, the following trend is observed: the import of mainly raw materials and food products (preferably from developing countries) due to the lack of its own natural resources; and export of finished expensive products, both to developing countries in Asia and to developed countries - Europe and America.

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