Thus the Nenets are not in danger of physical extinction but cultural. The percentage of Nenets within the total populations of their native regions is also decreasing. Anthropologically, the Nenets are representatives of the Uralic race with stronger than average Mongoloid characteristics. The face is broad and flat, with a short and somewhat protruding nose. While hair is straight and thick, beard growth is poor.
Eyelids commonly exhibit epicanthic folds.
Due to dark pigmentation, hair and eyes are black or brown and the skin is swarthy. In appearance the Nenets resemble most the Ostyaks, displaying, however, more Mongoloid characteristics. The Nenets of the Arkhangelsk region exhibit a somewhat stronger European strain. The language of the Nenets belongs to the Samoyedic branch of the Uralic languages, comprising together with the Enets and Nganasan languages its Northern Group. Due to a rather low density of population spread over a vast territory the language is rich in dialects.