# Stateless nation

A stateless nation is an ethnic group or nation that does not possess its own sovereign state. Use of the term implies that such ethnic groups have the right to self-determination, to establish an independent nation-state with its own government. Members of stateless nations may be citizens of the country in which they live, or they may be denied citizenship by that country. Stateless nations are usually not represented in international sports or in international organisations such as the United Nations. Nations without a state are classified as fourth-world nations. Some stateless nations have a history of statehood, while some were always stateless.

## History

The term was coined in 1983 by political scientist Jacques Leruez in his book L'Écosse, une nation sans État about the peculiar position of Scotland within the British state. It was later adopted and popularized by Scottish scholars such as David McCrone, Michael Keating and T. M. Devine.
Ethnicities described as stateless nations can be dispersed across a number of states (for example, the Yoruba people found in the African states of Nigeria, Benin and Togo) or form the native population of a province within a larger state (such as the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region within the People's Republic of China). Some stateless nations historically had a state, which was absorbed by another; for example, Tibet's declaration of independence in 1913 was not recognized, and it was reunited in 1951 by the People's Republic of China - which claims that Tibet is an integral part of China, while the Tibetan government-in-exile maintains that Tibet is an independent state under an unlawful occupation.
Stateless nations can have large populations; for example, the Kurds have an estimated population of over 30 million people, which makes them one of the largest stateless nations.

## Nation-states and nations without states

The symbiotic relationship between nations and states arose in Western Europe during the 18th century, and it was exported to the rest of the world through colonial rule. Whereas the Western European nation-states are at present relinquishing some of their powers to the European Union, many of the former colonies are now the zealous defenders of the concept of national statehood. However, not all peoples within multi-cultural states consider themselves stateless nations. As not all states are nation states, there are ethnic groups who live in multinational states that are not considered "stateless nations".
Only a small fraction of the world's national groups have associated nation states; the rest are distributed in one or more states. While there are over 3000 estimated nations in the world, there were only 193 member states of the United Nations as of 2011, of which fewer than 20 are considered to be ethnically homogeneous nation states. Thus nation states are not as common as often assumed, and stateless nations are the overwhelming majority of nations in the world.

## Consequences of colonialism and imperialism

During the imperial and colonial era, powerful nations extended their influence outside their homeland; resulting in many colonized nations ceasing to be self-governing and being described as stateless nations thereafter. Some nations have been victims of "carve-outs" that left their homeland divided among several countries. Even today, the colonial boundaries form modern national boundaries. These boundaries often differ from cultural boundaries which results in situations wherein people who speak the same language or have the same culture are divided by national borders; for example, New Guinea is split into the regions of West Papua (a former Dutch colony) and Papua New Guinea (a former Australian colony). During decolonization, the colonial powers imposed a unified state structure irrespective of the ethnic differences and granted independence to their colonies as a multinational state. This led to successor states with many minority ethnic groups in them, which increased the potential for ethnic conflicts. Some of these minority groups campaigned for self-determination. Stateless nations were not protected in all countries and as a result, they became victims of atrocities such as discrimination, ethnic cleansing, genocide, forced assimilation, and the exploitation of labor and natural resources.

## Nationalism and stateless nations

People with a common origin, history, language, culture, customs, or religion can turn into a nation through the awakening of national consciousness. A nation can exist without a state, as is exemplified by the stateless nations. Citizenship is not always the nationality of a person. In a multinational state different national identities can coexist or compete: for example, in Britain English nationalism, Scottish nationalism, and Welsh nationalism exist and are held together by British nationalism. Nationalism is often connected to separatism because a nation is considered to achieve completeness through its independence.
Throughout history, numerous nations declared their independence, but not all succeeded in establishing a state. Even today, there are active autonomy and independence movements around the world. The claim of the stateless nations to self-determination is often denied due to geopolitical interests and increasing globalization of the world. Stateless nations sometimes show solidarity with other stateless nations and maintain diplomatic relations.

## List of stateless nations

The following is a list of ethnic and national groups where there exist notable independence movements as evidenced by standalone Wikipedia articles.
States made bold under the "homeland" column are countries of the respective ethnic groups which are native to them and still host the majority (more than half) of their population.
| People | Languages | Language family | Predominant religion | Population | Continent | States | Homeland | Irredentist movement | Notes |
| Adivasi | Various tribal languages | Austroasiatic, Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, Sino-Tibetan | Indigenous religions, Hinduism, Christianity | 104,000,000 (Scheduled Tribes in India) | Asia | India | Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, North-Eastern India, etc. | Autonomy movements in regions like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh | Indigenous tribes of India, with demands for land rights and greater political representation within the country and/or calls for independence. |
| Cantonese | Cantonese | Sino-Tibetan languages | Chinese folk religion, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity (Protestantism and Roman Catholicism) | 68,000,000 | Asia | China | Guangdong | Cantonese nationalism | Historically occupied the Nanyue kingdom. |
| Oromo people | Oromo | Cushitic languages | Christian, Muslim, Waaqeffanna | 41,693,650 | Africa | Ethiopia, Kenya | Oromia | Oromo conflict | |
| Kurds | Kurdish languages, (originally) Arabic, Turkish, Persian (assimilation) | Iranian languages | Islam (Sunni, Shia, Alevi), Zoroastrianism, Yarsanism, Yazidism | 36,000,000–46,000,000 | Asia | Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria (homeland), Germany (largest diaspora) | Kurdistan | Kurdish nationalism, Kurdish–Turkish conflict, Kurdish-Iranian conflict, Iraqi–Kurdish conflict, and Kurdish–Syrian conflict, 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum | Regional autonomy achieved in Iraqi Kurdistan and Rojava. Data rough due to censuses not taking ethnicity in homeland countries. |
| Yoruba people | Yoruba language | Volta-Congo languages | Christianity, Islam, Yoruba religion | 35,000,000 | Africa | Nigeria, Benin and Togo, Ghana | Yorubaland | Oodua Peoples Congress | |
| Igbo people | Igbo, English | Volta-Congo languages | Christianity (primarily Roman Catholicism with significant Protestant minorities), Indigenous beliefs | 30,000,000 | Africa | Nigeria (almost exclusively) | Igboland | Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Indigenous People of Biafra | Attempted secession from Nigeria in 1967 sparked the Nigerian Civil war. |
| Shanghainese | Shanghainese | Sino-Tibetan languages | Chinese folk religion, Buddhism, Christianity (Protestantism and Roman Catholicism) | 20,000,000 | Asia | China | Shanghai | Shanghai National Party | Historically occupied the Shanghai International Settlement. |
| Occitan people | Occitan, French, Italian, Spanish | Romance languages | Roman Catholicism | 16,000,000 | Europe | France, Monaco, Italy and Spain (Val d'Aran) | Occitania | Occitan nationalism (Occitan Party, Partit de la Nacion Occitana, Libertat) | Seek self-determination, greater autonomy or total secession from France. |
| Assamese people | Assamese language | Indo-Aryan languages | Hinduism | 15,000,000 | Asia | India | Assam | Assam separatist movements, ULFA Insurgency in Northeast India | Seeks greater regional autonomy for natives of Assam or total secession from India. |
| Uyghur people | Uyghur language | Turkic languages | Sunni Islam | 15,000,000 | Asia | China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan | East Turkestan (Uyghuristan) | Irredentism is politically fragmented (East Turkestan Liberation Organization, East Turkestan independence movement) | Limited autonomy in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. |
| Zulu people | Zulu language | Volta-Congo languages | Christianity, Zulu religion | 12,159,000 | Africa | South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Eswatini | KwaZulu-Natal | Inkatha Freedom Party | Limited autonomy in the KwaZulu-Natal region, which maintains a traditional Zulu king. |
| Hazaras | Hazaragi dialect of Persian Language | Iranian Languages | Islam (mostly Shia) | 10,000,000-14,000,000 | Asia | Afghanistan | Hazaristan | Persecution of Hazaras | Hazara nationalism |
| Romani people | Romani language | Indo-Aryan languages | Christianity, Islam, Hinduism | 12,000,000 | Worldwide, mostly Eastern Europe and Americas | | Originally North India;Romanistan (proposed country) | | The Romani people are a non-territorial nation. |
| Kongo people | Kongo language, Lingala, Portuguese, French | Volta-Congo languages | Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), African Traditional Religion | 11,560,000 (2002 estimate) | Africa | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Angola | Kongo | Kongo nationalism, Bundu dia Kongo | Historically occupied the independent Kingdom of Kongo. |
| Maya peoples | Mayan languages | Mayan languages | Christianity (Catholicism), Maya religion | 10,500,000 (2002 estimate) | North America | Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador | Mesoamerica | Pan-Maya movement, Rigoberta Menchú, Zapatista Army of National Liberation | Historically occupied the Maya civilization. |
| Baloch people | Balochi | Iranian languages | Sunni Islam | 10,000,000 | Asia | Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan | Balochistan | Balochistan conflict, Baloch nationalism | Seek to establish an independent sovereign state for the Baloch people, separate from Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. |
| Andalusians | Andalusian Spanish, English (in Gibraltar) | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 9,500,000 | Europe | Spain, Gibraltar | Andalusia | Andalusian nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. |
| Catalans | Catalan, Occitan | Romance languages | Roman Catholicism, Agnosticism | 8,500,000 | Europe | Spain, Italy, Andorra and France | Catalan Countries | Catalan independence movement, Catalan nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. |
| Lombard people | Lombard language | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholic, Ambrosian Rite) | 8,221,000 (2002 estimate) | Europe | Italy, Switzerland | Lombardy (historical region) | Lombard nationalism, Pro Lombardy Independence, Lombard League | |
| Québécois | French | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 8,215,000 | North America | Canada | Quebec | Quebec sovereignty movement, Quebec nationalism | The total population of the Province of Quebec is 8.2 million, of which over 80% are French speakers. |
| Kashmiri people | Kashmiri language | Indo-Aryan languages | Islam | 8,050,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | India and Pakistan | Kashmir | Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir | Administered by India (Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Ladakh), Pakistan (Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan) and China (Aksai Chin). |
| Hongkongers | Hong Kong Cantonese, Hong Kong English | Sino-Tibetan languages | Christianity (Protestantism and Roman Catholicism), Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, Taoism, Islam | 7,498,100 | Asia | China | Hong Kong | Hong Kong nationalism, Hong Kong independence movement | Limited autonomy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. |
| Tibetan people | Tibetan language, Chinese language | Sino-Tibetan languages | Buddhism | 7,000,000 | Asia | China, India, Nepal | Tibet | Tibetan independence movement | Limited autonomy in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Historically occupied the Tibetan Empire. |
| Moro people | Filipino language, other Philippine languages | | Islam | 6,356,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Philippines | Muslim Mindanao | Moro autonomy | The Moro people of Muslim Mindanao has since been granted autonomy as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region with the adoption of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. |
| Riffian people | Riffian language, Arabic | Afroasiatic | Islam | 6,000,000 | Africa | Morocco and Spain | Rif | Rif War, Rif Republic | 95% of the land is controlled by Morocco with the rest being controlled by the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla as autonomous cities. |
| Mon | Mon language | Austroasiatic languages | Buddhism | 5,350,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Myanmar | Mon State | | Historically occupied Hanthawaddy Kingdom |
| Hmong people | Hmong language | Hmong-Mien Languages | Animism | 5,200,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Laos, China, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand | Hmong ChaoFa Federated State | Insurgency in Laos | |
| Arakanese (Rakhine) | Rakhine language | Sino-Tibetan languages | Buddhism | 5,110,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Myanmar | Rakhine State | United League of Arakan | Historically occupied Kingdom of Mrauk U |
| Circassians | Circassian language, Russian | Circassian languages | Islam | 5,300,000 | Europe | Russia | Circassia | Russo-Circassian War, Circassian nationalism | 95–97% of Circassians were killed or exiled by Russia during the Circassian genocide. |
| Shan | Shan language | Kra-Dai languages | Buddhism | 5,000,000 | Asia | Myanmar | Shan State | Restoration Council of Shan State Shan State Progressive Party Peace and Solidarity Committee | Historically occupied Federated Shan States |
| Sicilian people | Sicilian, Italian, Gallo-Italic of Sicily, Arbëresh | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 5,000,000 (only Sicily) | Europe | Italy | Sicily | Sicilian nationalism, Sicilian Action Movement | Regional autonomy in Sicily. |
| Venetian people | Venetian language | Romance languages | Catholicism | 5,000,000 (est.) | Europe | Italy | Veneto | Venetian nationalism | Many groups seek for total independence from Italy, while some just want more autonomy and recognition of Venetian language and people. Historically occupied the independent Republic of Venice. |
| Bretons | Breton, Gallo, French, | Celtic languages | Roman Catholicism | 4,800,000 | Europe | France | Brittany | Breton nationalism | Seek self-determination, greater autonomy or total secession from France. |
| Karen (Kayin) | Karenic languages | Sino-Tibetan languages | Buddhism, Christianity | 4,400,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Myanmar, Thailand | Kayin State | Karen National Union | |
| Camba | Camba Spanish | Romance languages | Roman Catholicism | 4,000,000 | South America | Bolivia | Media Luna | Movimiento Nación Camba de Liberación [es], Santa Cruz Youth Union | |
| Kabyle people | Kabyle language, Algerian Arabic | Berber languages | Islam | 4,000,000 | Africa | Algeria | Kabylia | Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie, Provisional Government of Kabylia | |
| Rohingya | Rohingya language | | Islam | 3,600,000 | Asia | Myanmar | Rohang State | Rohingya conflict Rohingya genocide | The Rohingyas are not recognized as a native ethnic group by Burmese government. |
| Assyrians | Sureth, Turoyo | Semitic languages | Christianity (Syriac Christianity) | 3,300,000 | Asia | Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey | Assyria, Beth Nahrain (Mesopotamia) | Assyrian nationalism, Assyrian independence movement | Historically occupied the Assyrian empire. |
| Bodos | Bodo | Sino-Tibetan languages | Hinduism, Christianity | 3,250,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | India | Assam (Bodoland Territorial Region) | Bodoland movement | Seek a separate state or homeland (Bodoland) within India. Some factions demand independence |
| Afrikaners | Afrikaans | | Christianity (mainly Protestantism) | 3,180,000 | Africa | South Africa and Namibia | Western Cape, Volkstaat | Afrikaner Nationalism, Freedom Front, Cape independence, Cape Independence Party | Afrikaners are historically an ethno-racial group (although some today deracialize the identity to include Afrikaans-speaking Coloured people). Demand autonomy or total secession from South Africa. Historically occupied the Dutch Cape colony but did expand elsewhere into the once independent Boer republics. |
| Naga people | Tibeto-Burman dialects / Nagamese creole | | Christianity | 3,150,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | India | Nagaland | Naga National Council, Insurgency in Northeast India | Seeks greater regional autonomy or complete separatation from India. |
| Basque people | Basque, French, Spanish | Language isolate | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 3,000,000 | Europe | France and Spain | Basque Country | Basque nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. |
| Iraqi Turkmen people | Turkish language, Azerbaijani language | | Islam | 3,000,000 | Asia | Iraq | Turkmeneli | Iraqi Turkmen Front | Not to be confused with Syrian Turkmen of Latakia or Central Asian Turkmens of Turkmenistan who share only their ethnonym. |
| Welsh people | Welsh, English | Celtic languages | Christianity (Protestantism, Catholic minority) | 3,000,000 | Europe | United Kingdom | Wales | Welsh independence, Welsh nationalism, Meibion Glyndŵr, Plaid Cymru | Regional autonomy in Wales. Historically occupied the independent kingdoms of Wales (Gwynedd, Powys, Dyfed, Seisyllwg, Morgannwg, and Gwent). |
| Galician people | Galician language, Spanish | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 2,800,000 | Europe | Spain | Galicia | Galician nationalism and Galician Regionalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. Historically occupied the Kingdom of Galicia. |
| Kachin people | Jingpo language | Sino-Tibetan languages | Christianity | 2,750,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Myanmar, China | Kachin State | Kachin Independence Organization | |
| Meitei people | Meitei language | Sino-Tibetan languages | Hinduism | 1,800,000 | Asia | India | Imphal Valley, Manipur | UNLF, PLA, Insurgency in Manipur, Anglo-Manipur War | Historically occupied the Kingdom of Manipur. |
| Aragonese people | Aragonese language, Spanish | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 2,045,000 (2002 estimate) | Europe | Spain | Aragon | Aragonese nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. Historically occupied the Kingdom of Aragon. |
| Chechens | Chechen language, Russian | | Islam | 2,000,000 | Europe | Russia | Chechnya | Chechen insurgency, Chechen Republic of Ichkeria | Regional autonomy in Chechnya. |
| Friulian people | Friulian | Romance languages | Catholicism | 2,000,000 (est.) | Europe | Italy | Friuli | Friuli Movement | Friuli is an autonomous region of Italy, but there are also other views as to what status it should have. Friulians are a recognised minority ethnic group in Italy. |
| Asturian people | Asturian language, Spanish | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 1,000,000 | Europe | Spain and Portugal | Asturias | Asturian nationalism | See also Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain. |
| Mapuche | Mapudungun | | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 1,755,000 (2002 estimate) | South America | Argentina and Chile | Wallmapu | Mapuche autonomous movement | |
| Sardinian people | Sardinian, Corso-Sardinian, Italian, Catalan, Ligurian | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 1,661,521 | Europe | Italy | Sardinia | Sardinian nationalism | National devolution, further autonomy or total secession from Italy. Sardinians are a recognised minority ethnic group in Italy. |
| Ryukyuans (Okinawans) | Ryukyuan, Japanese | | Buddhism | 1,600,000 | Asia | Japan | Ryukyu Islands | Ryukyu independence movement | Historically occupied the Ryukyu Kingdom. |
| Pa-O | Pa-O language | Sino-Tibetan languages | Buddhism | 1,430,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Myanmar | Shan State | Pa-O National Organization Pa-O National Liberation Organization | |
| Palaung (Ta'ang) | Palaung language | Austroasiatic languages | Buddhism | 1,300,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Myanmar | Shan State | Palaung State Liberation Front | |
| Tuareg people | Tuareg language | | Islam | 1,200,000 | Africa | Mali and Niger | Azawad | National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, Tuareg rebellion (2012), Northern Mali conflict | National devolution, further autonomy or total secession from Mali. |
| Frisians | Frisian, Dutch, German, Danish | Germanic Languages | Christianity and Paganism (Protestantism and Asatru) | 1,125,000 | Europe | Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany | Frisia | Frisian National Party, Groep fan Auwerk | The creation of a new Frisian state. Historically occupied the Frisian Kingdom. |
| Jumma people | Languages of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bengali, Chittagonian | Sino-Tibetan languages | Buddhism, Christianity, Islam | 920,248 | Asia | Bangladesh | Chittagong Hill Tracts | Jumma Nationalism, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti, Shanti Bahini | Jumma is a term used to refer to the indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, such as the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Rakhine, etc. These communities seek autonomy, with some even advocating for independence. |
| Lezgins | Lezgian | | Islam | 800,000 | Europe | Russia, Azerbaijan | Lezgistan | Lezgin Nationalism | Unification of the Lezgin people in Azerbaijan and Dagestan (Russia). |
| Fur people | Fur, Arabic | | Islam | 756,000 (2002 estimate) | Africa | Sudan | Darfur | War in Darfur, SLM/A | Historically occupied the Sultanate of Darfur. |
| Karenni (Kayah) | Karenni language | Sino-Tibetan languages | Buddhism, Christianity | 755,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Myanmar | Kayah State | Karenni State Interim Executive Council | |
| Māori people | Māori, English | | Christianity with native | 750,000 | Oceania | New Zealand | New Zealand | Māori protest movement | |
| Lahu | Lahu language | Sino-Tibetan languages | Animism, Buddhism, Christianity | 680,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | China, Myanmar, Thailand | Yunnan province | | |
| Macanese people | Macanese Cantonese, Macanese Portuguese | Sino-Tibetan languages | Chinese folk religion, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity (Roman Catholicism and Protestantism) | 678,800 | Asia | China | Macau | Macau independence movement | Limited autonomy in the Macau Special Administrative Region. |
| Chams | Cham language | | Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism | 650,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Vietnam | South Central Coast | United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races, Cham rights movement | Historically occupied the Kingdom of Champa. The Cham in Vietnam are only recognized as a minority, and not as an indigenous people by the Vietnamese government their indigeneity to the region. |
| Karakalpaks | Karakalpak language | | Islam | 623,000 (2002 estimate) | Asia | Uzbekistan | Karakalpakstan | Karakalpak Nationalism | Regional autonomy in Karakalpakstan. |
| Ogoni people | Ogoni language | | Christianity with native | 560,000 (2002 estimate) | Africa | Nigeria | Ogoniland | Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People | |
| Hawaiian people | Hawaiian language | | Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism) with native | 527,000 | Oceania | United States | Hawaii | Hawaiian sovereignty movement | Historically occupied the Kingdom of Hawaii. |
| Moravians | Czech (Moravian), Slovak | | Traditionally Roman Catholicism presently Irreligion | 525,000 | Europe | Czech Republic and Slovakia | Moravia | Moravians | Historically occupied Great Moravia. |
| Crimean Tatars | Crimean Tatar, Russian, Ukrainian | | Islam | 500,000 | Europe | Ukraine | Crimea | Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Tatars in Republic of Crimea Deportation of the Crimean Tatars | After Ukrainian independence in 1991, Crimea became an autonomous republic within Ukraine, after being invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014. The Crimean Tatars began seeking autonomy. |
| Sahrawi people | Hassaniya Arabic (native), Berber languages (native), Modern Standard Arabic (written only), and Spanish (lingua franca) | | Islam (Sunni Islam (Maliki), Sufism) | 500,000 | Africa | Morocco, Algeria, Mauretania | Western Sahara | Western Sahara conflict, Polisario Front, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Partially controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and partially occupied by Morocco. |
| Corsican people | Corsican, French, Ligurian, Italian | Romance languages | Christianity (Roman Catholicism | 322,120 | Europe | France | Corsica | Corsica Libera | Territorial collectivity in France. |
| Navajo | Navajo language, Navajo language, Navajo Sign Language | | Navajo Traditional, Christianity (principally Roman Catholicism) | 305,000 (2002 estimate) | North America | United States | Navajo Nation | Navajo Wars | Regional autonomy on the Navajo Nation.. |
| Bangladeshi Biharis | Urdu, Bengali, Languages of Bihar | Indo-Aryan languages | Islam | 300,000 | Asia | Bangladesh | Saidpur (mostly) | Persecution of Biharis in Bangladesh | The Urdu-speaking Biharis of Bangladesh, also known as "Stranded Pakistanis", are Muslims from Bihar who settled in what is now Bangladesh in 1947. Many of them seek recognition and autonomy. |
| Inuit | Inuit languages, Danish, English, Russian | | Christianity with native | 155,792 | North America | Inuit Nunangat | Greenland Referendum | Semi-autonomous rule in Greenland with autonomy within the Kingdom of Denmark. | |
| Scanians | Skånska, Svenska, Danska | Germanic languages | Lutheran Christians | 100,000 | Europe | Sweden | Skåneland | Skånepartiet | Was an autonomous part of Danmark until 1658 when it became part of Sweden after the treaty of Roskilde. |
| Sami people | Sami languages, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Russian | | Christianity (principally Lutheran), Animism | 80,000 (est.) | Europe | Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden | Sapmi | Sámi politics | Have their own Parliaments in Norway, Sweden, and Finland but Sami groups usually seek more territorial autonomy. |
| Faroese people | Faroese language, Danish | | Christianity (principally Lutheran) | 66,000 | Europe | Denmark | Faroe Islands | Faroese independence movement | Regional autonomy in Faroe Islands. |
| Sorbs | Sorbian language, German | | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | 60,000–70,000 (est.) | Europe | Germany | Lusatia | Domowina | Divided into Upper Sorbs and Lower Sorbs. |
| Ladin people | Ladin language | Romance languages | Christianity (Catholic Church) | 36,000 (2002 estimate) | Europe | Italy | Ladinia | | Recognised ethnic minority in Italy. |
| Tamils | Tamil language | Dravidian languages | Hinduism, Christianity, Islam | 77,000,000 | Asia | India, Sri Lanka | Tamil Nadu, Tamil Eelam | Tamil nationalism, Dravida Nadu, Tamil Eelam | Seeks greater regional autonomy or independence from both Sri Lanka and India |