Ethnic Groups There are 56 ethnic groups in China. The Han people form the largest, numbering 1.1 billion and making up 93.3% of the country's population. The other ethnic groups (minority nationalities) total 160 million, only 6.7% of the Chinese nation. Of the minority nationalities, 15 have over a million people each; 13 over 100,000 each; 7 over 50,000 each; and 20 have fewer than 50,000 people each. All nationalities in China are equal, as stipulated by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, They take part in the administration of state affairs as equals, irrespective of their numbers or the size of areas they inhabit. Every minority nationality is represented in the National People's Congress, which is the highest organ of state power of the People's Republic of China. At present, because of various historical factors the minority nationality areas are less developed than Han areas economically and culturally. Over the last three decades, the Chinese Government has adopted many policies and measures, including the provision of manpower, financial and technical support, to help develop these minority nationality areas. Such help, of course, is a two-way street, for minority nationality areas have also contributed to the economic development of the areas inhabited by the Han people. Religion Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity Information courtesy of LonelyPlanet.com
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The Han people have their own spoken and written languages, namely Chinese. It is the most commonly used language in China, and one of the most commonly used languages in the world. All of China's 55 minority people groups have their own languages except the Hui and Manchu who use Chinese. Currently, school classes in predominantly ethnic minority areas are taught in the local language, using local-language textbooks. Meanwhile courses are also set up to popularize Putonghua Chinese (the official national language) which is commonly used throughout the country. Information courtesy of China.org.cn
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