THE 25 ETHNIC GROUPS IN MEXICO WITH THE MOST POPULATION - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The ethnic groups of Mexico are the diverse aboriginal communities that are located in the different regions that make up the North American country. The inhabitants of these villages are characterized by continuing the traditions of their ancestors.

The purpose of these groups - although their customs are often different - is to preserve the legacy of their ancestors. This is because the traits and habits of the natives are related to the idea of ​​original identity; that is, the true Mexican is thought to have indigenous ancestry.

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However, the concept of indigenous people should not be confused with that of an ethnic group. The first refers to those civilizations that have been fragmented over time and is identified as being multicultural, since many settlers decided to move to other areas in order to establish a particular region.

In this way, it is perceived that the aboriginal people are composed of several ethnic groups and each one has its own ideology. However, the chiefs of each tribe constantly meet to exchange products or perform collective rituals.

Instead, the ethnic group is a group of people who have common beliefs about their origin, share the same language and build their homes in a specific region. For them the nexus that unites them is important, that is why they consider themselves a great family.

Historical background

The pre-Columbian history of Mexico is one of the most extensive in the American continent. Currently, anthropologists and archaeologists have not yet been able to expose the antiquity of the ethnic groups that inhabited the Mesoamerican lands before the colony; but they have expressed that they had extensive knowledge in the field of mathematics and astrology.

The aborigines of Mexico stood out for having one of the most structured civilizations, which is why the Spanish took a long time to conquer the Aztec Empire; Furthermore, it was a real challenge to westernize its inhabitants. However, it should be noted that, after the Spanish arrived, several natives chose to emigrate.

These groups only returned to the nation after independence, as is observed in the censuses carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Thanks to the data exposed in the Socioeconomic Indicators of the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico, today it is known which are the native communities that are within the national territory.

The most abundant Mexican ethnic groups

The 25 most abundant ethnic groups in Mexico will be mentioned below. It should be noted that the number of inhabitants –according to the last population registry published in 2015– will be placed in parentheses, right next to the name.

Nahuas (2,886,767)

It is one of the most abundant ethnic groups in this country. According to the ethnohistorians, their ancestors were the Aztecs. Likewise, his mother tongue is Nahuatl, but this has undergone various modifications due to the borrowings of other languages, such as Spanish.

They are characterized by having a vast respect for nature and are mainly farmers. In addition, their handmade products are made for personal use and their most important premise is work, since for them the best way to progress is by exercising some activity, even if they do not receive remuneration.

Among their customs are to hold festivities as a celebration. On the other hand, there is no social distinction between man and woman.

Mayans (1,646,782)

It is one of the oldest ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, so much so that it is considered the cradle of the great pre-Columbian cultures; they also represent the second highest population of indigenous Mexicans. They have not renounced their customs, which is why they live in houses made of cane sticks and thatched roofs.

In the same way it happens with their clothes: they are colorful and loose. Also, they still use hieroglyphic writing. They are dedicated to cultivation, livestock and fishing. Nowadays, they have joined their polytheistic rites with Catholic prayers and sacrifice animals to offer them to God, but they also perform ceremonies to praise their deities.

Mixtec (819,725)

It is an ancestral civilization, whose people called themselves the people of the clouds. It is the fourth largest aboriginal group in Mexico, although a large number of its inhabitants have moved to the United States. Among its economic activities is the cultivation of corn, chili, beans, cotton and cocoa.

They also worked gold, called by them as the residue of God. They currently reside in mountainous areas and have stood out for specializing in ancient medicine, as they use herbs and animals to heal their patients. The Mixtecs believe in various gods and frequently change territory.

Zapotec (813,272)

His great contribution was the design of monumental architectural infrastructures. They have displaced their native language to communicate in Spanish and are located in the central valleys of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Chiapas. For this reason, agriculture, livestock and fishing activities are essential in their lifestyle.

Among its main contributions is the Zapotec calendar, which is the numerical system that guides its inhabitants daily. A portion of those born as Zapotecs moved to the North American nation.

Tseltal (689,797)

Its language comes from the Mayan dialect and has 4 linguistic variants. In the state of Chiapas they are the largest ethnic group and they call themselves the real men; their culture has survived for over a thousand years.

The family and the community play an important role in planting; In addition, teamwork allows them to live in harmony. Their philosophy is based on respect and they think that it is relevant to make an effort and obtain the experience as the only gain. Similarly, they believe that humility and morality are the engines that drive the world.

Otomi (646,875)

They dominate two languages: Otomí and Spanish. They are dedicated to livestock, agriculture and crafts; the purpose of these natives is to exchange their products for yarns for weaving and paintings. This tribe stands out because its members continue to make their own garments.

Women's clothing consists of a long dress embroidered with geometric figures, while men usually wear baggy pants, long-sleeved shirts and a handkerchief that is placed around the neck, which descends to the back.

Tzotzil (614,105)

The Tzotziles are located in the valleys of Chiapas. Their language and customs derive from the Mayan ethnic group. These aborigines believe that individuals have two souls: the first is spiritual and is linked to the heart.

The second is animal and determines the character of being. The Tzotziles think that in order to live in balance they must remain with these two souls united, otherwise they consider that they have died. For them, the family is the nucleus of all socioeconomic relationships.

Totonacas (438,756)

This tribe lives in the mountainous and coastal areas of the country. A century ago they were considered the first manufacturers of vanilla and chili. Regarding diet, Totonacs are characterized by being carnivores; they hunt animals such as frogs, opossums, armadillos, and fish for sharks.

They also eat fruits and do not consume the cultivated corn but instead market it. Their dresses are woven and embroidered, while the women's hairstyle consists of braids ornamented with feathers. As for the ladies of the nobility, they wear a triangular poncho.

Mazahua (360,231)

It is a population that had to emigrate and settled in the Valley of Mexico. They have lived for a long time in the same place and have learned to work with the resources that nature provides.

Their main source of money is the harvest of corn, beans and squash; the fruits are for own consumption. Likewise, they focus on livestock, pottery and crafts. Motivated by capitalism, many natives have moved to cities and adapted to construction and manufacturing work.

Mazatecos (358,829)

Following his perception, his name means those of us who work in the mountains, humble, ordinary people. The family is an important concept for the Mazatecs and the house is made of bricks, metal sheets and cement. They use medicinal plants to cure serious diseases or diseases contracted by envy and sorcery, in addition, they use different fungi.

They are subdivided into three regions: warm, cold and hot. According to the climate, they focus on growing coffee, corn, rice, pineapples and sesame. The economic system is based on agriculture and fishing; They follow the Catholic religion, although they believe in the existence of multiple divinities.

Chol (328,867)

This is another of the cultures that derives from the Mayan ethnic group; They live in the northern region of the territory of Chiapas and stand out for carrying out agricultural activities. For this tribe, the land is the mother of life, which is why they perform numerous ceremonies when cultivating.

Another fundamental factor is that they think that diseases are punishments for mistreating the land. Its main unit is the family and therefore the husband must work at least six months with his father-in-law to establish lasting relationships.

Huasteco (255,190)

The Huastecos are part of an ancient culture. Their diet is mainly based on fishing. Due to their location, they also collect salt, chili peppers and wild fruits. They are distributed between the mountains and the Gulf of Mexico. Their ancestors were the Mayans, although they had no contact for a time, as the latter were forced to return to the southeast.

Regarding their customs, it is known that they pierced their skin to adorn their bodies, they liked to be naked and their only ornaments were refined gold and feather jewels.

Purépecha or Tarasco (221,555)

The indigenous people who are part of this ethnic group are located in most of the Mexican states. Its main activities are modifying bronze and building architectural works, as well as perfecting painting and sculpture. The diet is balanced, as they eat meat and vegetables.

The most common foods are squirrels, corn, skunk, fish, and blackberry tamale. Their language is considered isolated due to its non-existent relationship with other languages ​​in the region. They continue to practice the habits of their ancestors such as the popular ball game.

Chinantec (211,760)

This tribe maintains the original language, allowing Spanish to be the second official language. The custom of indigenous dress has been lost in several places where the Chinantecs are found.

They are dedicated to handicrafts, embroidery and weaving, which are made by women; although the whole family comes together to contribute with the raw material. Her religion is polytheistic; but the more recent members consider that there is only one God.

Mixe (190,040)

They call themselves people of flowery language; they have had to mix with other cultures, especially those with Hispanic roots. Their work environment is the cultivation of coffee, which is why individuals must move to the place of plantation for three months.

The purpose is to obtain a good harvest. In addition, they grow tropical fruits, potatoes, and bananas. They are required to participate in the church annually as a civic duty.

Tarahumara (113,129)

The existence of this ethnic group dates back thousands of years; the natives stand out for their ability to run long distances. They are polytheists, where the moon and the sun are the primordial gods. They occupy large territories in various Mexican regions.

The clothing is brightly colored and ornamented. Their houses are built with stone, adobe or wood and normally they only have one room. On the other hand, children are brought into the world on a mountain and when they grow up they take on the job of working with their parents caring for animals.

May (108,180)

This ethnic group shares the lands with the mestizos of Sinaloa and Sonora. The indigenous people of this tribe communicate in May and in Spanish. They are distant family of the Yaquis.

At the top of the social ladder are the healers, who protect the sick. When making their homes they use materials such as concrete, palm or wood. They practice agriculture and are experts in erecting irrigation and pesticide systems.

Zoque (104,321)

It is a caste rooted in its religious customs. They worship the Sun as the supreme god and pay tribute to it according to tradition. This tribe is constantly advancing, as they have become accustomed to the current tasks. Likewise, they have restructured their homes, which are made of cement and sheets.

Amuzgo (75,953)

This community stands out for being mestizo; its inhabitants are located in Oaxaca and Guerrero. They work together to make clay objects, palm baskets and bamboo; They also weave hammocks, nets and large looms that allow them to pay for their needs.

They have two types of dwelling, depending on the place where they are: city-dwellers can be rectangular with partition walls and sheet ceilings; On the other hand, in the villages the dwellings are circular, the walls are made of clay, the floor of earth and the roof of palm trees.

Tojolabal (74,924)

These indigenous people are farmers and to a limited extent livestock, since they use animals as their loading helpers. They still practice the exchange of vegetables and fruits as a form of commerce; aspect that does not involve money.

As a community, activities are carried out as a family, which makes their bonds grow. In their religious doctrine they respect an eternal father and worship the Sun and the Moon, beings who provide them with a good harvest and to whom they render cults and promises.

Huichol (71,450)

According to historians, this ethnic group was one of the few that remained intact after the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Its language comes from Nahuatl and it is still the first language spoken by its inhabitants.

Within their beliefs, they assure that there are two kinds of diseases, the first are those brought from Spain and can be cured with modern medicine; the second are those obtained in the mountains and are treated with traditional medicine. Next to their houses, they build small huts with adobe to pay tribute to their deities and ancestors.

Triquis (37,028)

Its political organization consists of clans and lines responsible for governing the territories and maintaining social order. His greatest legacy is applying the values ​​both in the community and in the workplace.

Its main economic activity is the cultivation of bananas and coffee, which are the best-selling products on the market. Corn is another of their sources of income: it is harvested within a collective gathering to create kinship among the population.

Yaqui (35,132)

It is a people that defends its political and territorial rights. After the conquest, they fought to maintain their power. The Aborigines have focused on forging suitable communication routes. In addition, they incorporated the livestock industry and bank loans within the community.

They are bilingual and both Spanish and Cahita are spoken in the Yaqui territory. As for medicine, they are governed by curanderismo thanks to their religious-magical mythology. They coexist among families divided into one or two houses, being vital for the development of culture and life of each inhabitant.

Popoloca (28,783)

They are confused with the Mixtecas and Chochos, since they have a close relationship. In fact, the Chochos and the now Popolocas belonged to the same ethnic group; but they were divided by changes in their traditions and speech.

Although some information about their history is unknown, the legacy they have left for Mexican culture is of vital importance. Among them are the elaboration of ceramics, the mastery of corn and the use of salt. Other great civilizations have classified them as barbarians.

Lacandon (1,166)

It is a small ethnic group that descends from the Mayans and was distributed in two regions: Lacandones of the north and Lacandones of the south. Both are related because they not only share history and customs, but also religion and language. They are nature lovers and eat fruits, mushrooms, corn, and yams.

Its main premise is to take care of the jungle avoiding hunting, logging and livestock. As for their clothing, this is quite simple, since it consists of a long dress and sandals for women, while men use trousers to cover their legs and the elderly a kind of shawl on their shoulders.

Ethnic groups by state

Mexico is one of the countries with the largest territory in the American continent, since it is comprised of 32 states. It is convenient to note that the extension of the spaces was thanks to the natives, who focused on the conquest of the lands to expand their empires. In Latin America, Mexico is one of the few nations that recognizes aboriginal communities.

The ethnic groups found in each state will be explained below. It is worth noting that the data was obtained from the survey carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) in 2015. As in the previous section, the number of indigenous population will be placed in parentheses.

Aguascalientes (9.306)

-Nahua

-Otomí

-Mazahua

-Mixtecos

-Totzil

-Tarahumaras

-Jars

Baja California (104,088)

-Cochimi

-Paipai

-Kumiai

-Cucapa

-Kiliwa

Baja California Sur (23,456)

-Pericúes

-Guaycuras

-Cochimi

Campeche (199,335)

-Kekchi

-Kanobal

-Quiche

-Ixil

Chiapas (1,706,017)

-Chol

-Jacalteco

-Lacandon

-Zoque

-Tojolabal

-Tzotzil

-Tzeltal

-Chuj

Chihuahua (139,174)

-Pima

-Tarahumara

-North Tepehuan

Coahuila (13,349)

-Kikapu

-Mascogo

Colima (10.122)

-Nahua

-Amuzgo

-Huasteco

-Mazahua

-Popoluca

-Triqui

Federal District (315,320)

-Nahua

-Totonaca

-Zapotec

-Mixteca

-Maya

-Mazatec

-Huasteco

-Otomí

-Mixe

-Mazahua

-Purépecha

Durango (51,680)

-South Tepehuan

-Huichol

-Tarahumaras

-Mexicaneros

State of Mexico (1,097,666)

-Matlatzinca

-Nahua

-Mazahua

-Ocuitleco

Guanajuato (29,863)

-Chichimeca Jonaz

-Otomí

-Mixteca

-Mazahua

-Maya

-Totonaca

Warrior (681,615)

-Mixtec

-Tlapaneco

-Mixteco Mixteca Alta

-Amuzgo

Hidalgo (606,045)

-Otomí

-Nahua

Jalisco (102,952)

-Nahua

-Mixtecos

-Huichols

-Otomí

Michoacan (237,655)

-Purépecha

Morelos (83,227)

-Nahua

Nayarit (84,195)

-Huichol

-Cora

New Leon (121,296)

-Nahua

-Huichol

-Otomí

-Zapotec

Oaxaca (1,734,658)

-Triqui

-Chocho

-Cuicateco

-Zapotec

-Huave

-Zapotec Hurricane

-Mazatec

-Chontal of Oaxaca

-Mixe

-Ixcateco

-Tacuate

Puebla (1,094,923)

-Mixteco Mixteca Baja

-Popoloca

-Totonacas

-Nahua

-Otomí

Queretaro (63,265)

-Huasteco

-Otomí

-Popoloca

-Mixtec

-Mazatec

-Nahua

Quintana Roo (488,244)

-Maya

-Kanjobal

-Chol

-Tzotzil

San Luis Potosi (370,381)

-Huasteco

-Pame

Sinaloa (77,061)

-Mixteco Mazateca Zone

-May

Sonora (145,656)

-May

-Papagus

-And here

-Tarahumara

Tabasco (123,604)

-Chontal de Tabasco

-Tzotzil

-Chol

Tamaulipas (63,676)

-Huasteco

Tlaxcala (86,522)

-Nahua

Veracruz (1,101,306)

-Nahua

-Totonaca

-Popoluca

Yucatan (1,052,438)

-Chol

-Mayas

Zacatecas (7.852)

-Nahua

-Huichol

References

1. Cisneros, S. (2019). List of all indigenous peoples of Mexico. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from unknown Mexico: mexicodesconocido.com.mx
2. Cisneros, S. (2019). 20 indigenous peoples and groups in Mexico with the largest population. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from unknown Mexico: mexicodesconocido.com.mx
3. Rubio, J. (2014). Censuses and indigenous population in Mexico: Some reflections. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from the Digital Repository, Economic Commission for Latin America: repository.cepal.org
4. Santillán, M. (2019). Welcome 2019: A year to celebrate indigenous languages. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from Ciencia UNAM (Autonomous University of Mexico): Ciencia.unam.mx
5. N. (2011). They present a diagnosis of indigenous people in Aguascalientes. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from Grupo SDP.: sdpnoticias.com
6. N. (2016). There are 62 indigenous peoples in Mexico. Retrieved on January 21, 2020 from the Vamos a dar Foundation: Vamosadar.org.mx
7. N. (SF). Socioeconomic Indicators of the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico, 2015. Retrieved on January 23, 2020 from INPI. National Institute of Indigenous Peoples: gob.mx