Ethnicity Examples: Definition, Types, and Real-World Groups

Ethnicity is a key part of how people identify themselves and connect with others. It often relates to shared culture, language, history, traditions, and sometimes ancestry. Unlike race, which is often linked to physical traits, ethnicity focuses more on social and cultural ties. Understanding ethnicity helps explain why groups of people may share customs, beliefs, food, clothing, or ways of life. It also helps us see how these groups interact within societies around the world.

What Is Ethnicity?

Ethnicity refers to a shared cultural identity among a group of people. It’s based on common elements like ancestry, language, history, traditions, religion, and customs that bind people together and distinguish them from other groups.

Key aspects of ethnicity include:

Cultural heritage: Shared practices, beliefs, values, and ways of life that are passed down through generations. This might include food traditions, music, art, or storytelling.

Ancestry and origins: A sense of common descent or geographic origin, though ethnicity isn’t purely biological—it’s more about cultural connection than genetics.

Language: Many ethnic groups share a common language or dialect that reinforces their identity.

Self-identification: People choose to identify with an ethnic group, and that group recognizes them as members. It’s both how you see yourself and how others see you.

It’s important to distinguish ethnicity from related concepts. Race is typically based on physical characteristics and has been used as a social classification system, while ethnicity is fundamentally about cultural identity. Nationality refers to citizenship or legal membership in a nation-state, which may encompass multiple ethnic groups.

Ethnicity is also fluid and complex—people can identify with multiple ethnicities, and ethnic identities can evolve over time. For example, someone might identify as both Korean and Korean-American, reflecting both heritage and lived experience.

Common Ethnicity Examples Around the World

African Ethnicity Examples

Yoruba: One of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, primarily in Nigeria but also in Benin and Togo. The Yoruba have a rich cultural heritage including distinctive art, music, religious traditions, and a tonal language. They’ve had significant influence on cultures in the African diaspora, particularly in the Caribbean and Brazil.

Zulu: The largest ethnic group in South Africa, with a strong warrior tradition and a well-documented history including the Zulu Kingdom of the 19th century. Zulu culture is known for its beadwork, dance, and the isiZulu language.

Amhara: A major ethnic group in Ethiopia, historically associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Amharic language, which is one of Ethiopia’s official languages. The Amhara have been central to Ethiopian political and cultural life for centuries.

Berber (Amazigh): Indigenous peoples of North Africa, spread across Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and other countries. Despite colonization and Arabization, Berber communities maintain distinct languages (Tamazight), traditions, and cultural practices.

Kikuyu: The largest ethnic group in Kenya, traditionally from the central highlands. They have distinctive cultural practices, speak Gikuyu, and played a significant role in Kenya’s independence movement.

Igbo: A major ethnic group in southeastern Nigeria with a decentralized traditional governance system, rich artistic traditions, and the Igbo language. Like the Yoruba, Igbo culture has influenced diaspora communities worldwide.

Maasai: Semi-nomadic pastoralists living in Kenya and Tanzania, known for their distinctive customs, dress, and close relationship with cattle, which are central to their culture and economy.

Asian Ethnicity Examples

Han Chinese: The world’s largest ethnic group, making up about 92% of China’s population and significant populations throughout Southeast Asia. Han Chinese share cultural traditions rooted in Confucianism, diverse regional cuisines, and various dialects alongside Mandarin.

Japanese: The predominant ethnic group in Japan, with a distinctive culture shaped by Shinto and Buddhist traditions, a unique writing system, tea ceremony, martial arts, and aesthetic principles like wabi-sabi.

Korean: The ethnic group native to the Korean Peninsula, sharing the Korean language, Hangul script, Confucian-influenced values, and cultural practices like kimchi-making and traditional holidays such as Chuseok.

Punjabi: An ethnic group from the Punjab region spanning India and Pakistan, known for Punjabi language, vibrant bhangra music and dance, and significant representation in the Sikh religion (though Punjabis can be Sikh, Muslim, or Hindu).

Bengali: One of the largest ethnic groups in South Asia, primarily in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. Bengalis share the Bengali language, a rich literary tradition, and distinctive music and cuisine.

Vietnamese (Kinh): The majority ethnic group in Vietnam, with a culture influenced by Chinese, French colonial, and indigenous traditions, speaking Vietnamese and practicing ancestor veneration.

Javanese: The largest ethnic group in Indonesia, from the island of Java. They have their own language, traditional arts like wayang (shadow puppetry) and gamelan music, and cultural practices blending Islam with earlier Hindu-Buddhist influences.

Pashtun: An ethnic group primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan, known for the Pashto language and Pashtunwali, a traditional code of conduct emphasizing hospitality, honor, and tribal loyalty.

Tamil: An ethnic group primarily in southern India and Sri Lanka, with one of the world’s oldest living languages (Tamil), classical literature, distinctive Hindu temple architecture, and Bharatanatyam dance.

Kazakh: A Turkic ethnic group primarily in Kazakhstan, traditionally nomadic pastoralists with a rich oral tradition, distinctive music (dombra), and practices like eagle hunting.

European Ethnicity Examples

Irish: The ethnic group native to Ireland, with the Irish (Gaelic) language, strong literary and musical traditions, Catholic heritage (though with Protestant communities particularly in Northern Ireland), and distinctive cultural celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day.

Italian: The predominant ethnic group in Italy, sharing the Italian language (with numerous regional dialects), Roman Catholic traditions, renowned culinary heritage that varies by region, and cultural contributions in art, music, and architecture.

Polish: The main ethnic group in Poland, speaking Polish (a Slavic language), with strong Catholic traditions, folk customs, and a history marked by resilience through partitions and occupations.

Greek: The ethnic group of Greece and Cyprus, with an ancient heritage including the Greek language, Orthodox Christian traditions, classical philosophy and arts, and Mediterranean cultural practices.

Basque: An indigenous ethnic group in northern Spain and southwestern France, notable for speaking Basque (Euskara)—a language unrelated to any other known language—and maintaining distinct cultural traditions despite centuries of pressure from surrounding nations.

Romani: A traditionally nomadic ethnic group spread throughout Europe, originating from northern India centuries ago. Roma people maintain distinct languages (Romani dialects), customs, and face ongoing discrimination in many European countries.

Sami: Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia and Russia (Sápmi), with their own languages, traditional reindeer herding practices, distinctive joik singing, and colorful traditional dress.

Catalan: An ethnic group primarily in Catalonia (northeastern Spain), Valencia, and parts of France and Italy, speaking Catalan, with distinct cultural traditions, literature, and a strong regional identity.

Scottish: The ethnic group of Scotland, historically speaking Scots Gaelic (though now primarily English and Scots), known for clan systems, bagpipe music, Highland games, and tartan patterns.

Ashkenazi Jews: A Jewish ethnic group that developed in Central and Eastern Europe, with Yiddish as a historical language, distinctive religious practices, culinary traditions, and cultural contributions in music, literature, and scholarship.

Crimean Tatars: A Turkic ethnic group indigenous to Crimea, with their own language, Islamic traditions, and a tragic history of Soviet deportation in 1944.

Middle Eastern Ethnicity Examples

Arab: A broad ethnic group spanning much of the Middle East and North Africa, united by the Arabic language (with many regional dialects), shared cultural traditions, and often Islamic heritage, though Arabs can be Christian, Jewish, or other faiths. Arabs are not a monolithic group—Egyptian Arabs, Gulf Arabs, Levantine Arabs, and others have distinct regional identities.

Persian (Farsi): The predominant ethnic group in Iran, speaking Persian (Farsi), with a rich cultural heritage including poetry (Rumi, Hafez), distinct New Year celebration (Nowruz), and historical influences from the ancient Persian Empire. Most Persians are Shia Muslim.

Kurdish: One of the largest ethnic groups without their own nation-state, spread across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Kurds speak Kurdish languages, have distinct cultural traditions, and have long sought greater autonomy or independence.

Turkish: The majority ethnic group in Turkey, speaking Turkish (a Turkic language), with cultural traditions blending Ottoman, Central Asian, and Anatolian influences, and a cuisine known worldwide.

Jewish (Mizrahi): Jews indigenous to or with long histories in Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Yemen, Iran, and Syria. Mizrahi Jews maintained distinct traditions, languages (like Judeo-Arabic), and religious practices different from European Jewish communities.

Assyrian: An indigenous Christian ethnic group primarily in Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran, speaking Neo-Aramaic languages and maintaining ancient cultural and religious traditions dating back to ancient Mesopotamia.

Druze: A unique ethnoreligious group primarily in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with a distinct faith that emerged from Islam but developed separately. Druze identity is both ethnic and religious, and they maintain strong community bonds.

Bedouin: Traditionally nomadic Arab groups across the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, known for desert pastoralism, tribal organization, distinctive poetry, hospitality codes, and traditional tent-dwelling lifestyle (though many are now settled).

Coptic Egyptian: The indigenous Christian population of Egypt, maintaining ancient Egyptian cultural continuity through the Coptic language (used liturgically), distinct religious traditions in the Coptic Orthodox Church, and cultural practices predating Arab conquest.

Circassian: A North Caucasian ethnic group, many of whom were displaced to the Middle East (Turkey, Jordan, Syria) in the 19th century following Russian conquest. They maintain their language, traditional dances, and cultural identity.

Yazidi: A Kurdish-speaking ethnoreligious group primarily in Iraq and Syria, practicing an ancient monotheistic faith distinct from Islam, Christianity, or Judaism. Yazidis have faced severe persecution, including genocide by ISIS.

Turkmen: A Turkic ethnic group with populations in northern Iraq, Syria, and Iran (distinct from citizens of Turkmenistan), speaking Turkmen dialects and maintaining pastoral and agricultural traditions.

Indigenous Ethnicity Examples

Americas

Navajo (Diné): The largest Native American tribe in the United States, primarily in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo maintain their language, traditional weaving, silversmithing, and spiritual practices including ceremonies and a worldview emphasizing harmony (hózhǫ́).

Maya: Indigenous peoples of southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. Maya communities maintain distinct languages (over 30 Mayan languages), traditional agricultural practices, weaving, and cultural continuity from ancient Maya civilization.

Quechua: Indigenous peoples of the Andes, primarily in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, speaking Quechua languages. They are descendants of the Inca Empire and maintain traditional agricultural techniques, textile arts, and spiritual practices.

Inuit: Indigenous peoples of the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Russia, traditionally living in extreme northern climates with hunting and fishing practices, distinctive throat singing, and languages adapted to Arctic life.

Guaraní: Indigenous people primarily in Paraguay, where Guaraní is an official language alongside Spanish, as well as in Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. They maintain traditional communal living practices and spiritual beliefs.

Mapuche: Indigenous people of south-central Chile and Argentina, known for their fierce resistance to Spanish colonization and later Chilean/Argentine states. They maintain the Mapudungun language and traditional practices.

Oceania

Māori: The Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand (Aotearoa), with the Te Reo Māori language, haka performances, intricate carving and tattooing (tā moko), and a strong cultural revival movement that has made Māori culture integral to New Zealand’s national identity.

Aboriginal Australians: The Indigenous peoples of mainland Australia, with hundreds of distinct language groups and nations including Yolngu, Arrernte, and Noongar peoples. Aboriginal Australians have the world’s oldest continuous cultures, with complex kinship systems, Dreamtime spiritual traditions, and distinctive art forms.

Torres Strait Islanders: Indigenous people of the islands between Australia and Papua New Guinea, culturally distinct from Aboriginal Australians, with Melanesian and Polynesian influences, seafaring traditions, and distinctive dance and music.

Native Hawaiians (Kānaka Maoli): The Indigenous Polynesian people of Hawaii, with the Hawaiian language, hula dance, navigation traditions, and spiritual practices connected to the land (aloha ʻāina).

Asia

Ainu: Indigenous people of northern Japan (Hokkaido) and Russia, with their own language (now critically endangered), bear worship traditions, and distinctive cultural practices that differ significantly from Japanese culture.

Orang Asli: Indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, comprising multiple distinct groups like the Semang, Senoi, and Proto-Malay peoples, each with their own languages and forest-based traditional lifestyles.

Hmong: Indigenous people from mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, known for intricate embroidery and textile work, shifting cultivation, and maintaining cultural identity despite displacement, including significant diaspora communities.

Europe

Sámi: Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia and Russia mentioned earlier, the only recognized Indigenous people in the European Union, with traditional reindeer herding, distinctive clothing, and joik music.

Africa

San (Bushmen): Indigenous peoples of southern Africa, particularly in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, with some of the world’s oldest genetic lineages. San peoples are known for their hunter-gatherer traditions, click languages, rock art, and deep knowledge of desert ecology.

Maasai: While mentioned earlier, the Maasai are also considered Indigenous to East Africa, maintaining semi-nomadic pastoralist traditions in the face of modernization and land pressures.

Pygmy peoples (Mbuti, Baka, Aka, and others): Indigenous forest-dwelling peoples of Central Africa, traditionally living in the Congo Basin with hunting and gathering practices, distinctive polyphonic music, and deep forest knowledge.

Arctic and Subarctic

Sami: Previously mentioned, but worth noting their pan-Arctic Indigenous connections.

Nenets: Indigenous reindeer herders of northern Russia, maintaining nomadic traditions in the Siberian tundra despite extreme climate challenges and industrial development.

Chukchi: Indigenous people of the Russian Far East, traditionally practicing reindeer herding and sea mammal hunting, maintaining distinct language and cultural practices in one of Earth’s harshest environments.

Ethnicity Examples by Language and Culture

Indo-European Language Family

Romance Language Speakers:

• French: Ethnic group of France, speaking French, with cultural traditions including café culture, haute cuisine, wine-making, and contributions to philosophy, art, and cinema.
• Spanish: The predominant ethnic group in Spain, speaking Castilian Spanish, with regional variations, flamenco music and dance, bullfighting traditions (though increasingly controversial), and Catholic heritage.
• Romanian: Ethnic group of Romania and Moldova, speaking Romanian (a Romance language surrounded by Slavic languages), with Eastern Orthodox traditions and cultural practices blending Latin and Balkan influences.

Germanic Language Speakers:

• German: The main ethnic group in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, speaking German, with strong traditions in classical music, philosophy, beer brewing, and regional cultural variations like Bavarian and Prussian identities.
• Dutch: Ethnic group of the Netherlands, speaking Dutch, known for progressive social policies, trading history, distinctive architecture, and cultural contributions in painting (Dutch Masters).
• Swedish: Predominant ethnic group in Sweden, speaking Swedish, with Lutheran heritage, social democratic traditions, and cultural practices emphasizing lagom (balance/moderation).

Slavic Language Speakers:

• Russian: The largest Slavic ethnic group, speaking Russian, with Eastern Orthodox traditions (though with Soviet atheist period), rich literary heritage, distinctive folk arts like matryoshka dolls, and varied regional identities across vast territory.
• Serbian: South Slavic ethnic group primarily in Serbia, speaking Serbian, with Eastern Orthodox Christian traditions, Cyrillic script, and cultural practices including slava (family saint celebration).
• Czech: Ethnic group of the Czech Republic, speaking Czech, with both Catholic and secular traditions, strong beer culture, and contributions to literature and music.

Celtic Language Speakers:

• Welsh: Ethnic group of Wales, maintaining the Welsh language (one of Europe’s oldest living languages), with distinct cultural identity, Eisteddfod festivals celebrating literature and music, and male voice choir traditions.
• Breton: Ethnic group in Brittany, France, speaking Breton (related to Welsh and Cornish), maintaining distinct cultural identity within France including traditional music and dance.

Indo-Iranian Language Speakers:

• Pashtun: Previously mentioned, speaking Pashto, following Pashtunwali code.
• Baloch: Ethnic group in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, speaking Balochi, traditionally semi-nomadic with tribal organization and distinctive cultural practices.
• Tajik: Persian-speaking ethnic group primarily in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, culturally related to Persians but with Central Asian influences.

Sino-Tibetan Language Family

• Tibetan: Ethnic group primarily in Tibet (China), Bhutan, Nepal, and India, speaking Tibetan languages, with Tibetan Buddhism central to cultural identity, distinctive architecture, thangka painting, and high-altitude pastoral traditions.
• Burmese (Bamar): The largest ethnic group in Myanmar, speaking Burmese, with Theravada Buddhist traditions, distinctive puppet theater, and cultural practices influenced by Indian, Chinese, and indigenous traditions.
• Yi: One of China’s officially recognized ethnic minorities, primarily in Sichuan and Yunnan, with their own syllabic script, fire worship traditions, and the Torch Festival celebration.

Afro-Asiatic Language Family

Semitic Language Speakers:

• Hebrew speakers (Israeli Jews): While religiously Jewish, modern Israelis have developed a distinct national ethnicity speaking Hebrew (revived as a spoken language), blending traditions from Jewish diaspora communities worldwide.
• Amharic speakers: The Amhara of Ethiopia, previously mentioned.
• Maltese: Ethnic group of Malta, speaking Maltese (the only Semitic language written in Latin script), with Catholic traditions and culture blending North African, Italian, and British influences.

Cushitic Language Speakers:

• Somali: Ethnic group primarily in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya, speaking Somali, traditionally nomadic pastoralists with strong clan identity, oral poetry traditions, and Islamic heritage.
• Oromo: The largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, speaking Oromo (Afaan Oromoo), with the traditional Gadaa democratic system, diverse religious practices, and distinctive coffee ceremony.

Austronesian Language Family

• Javanese: Previously mentioned, speaking Javanese with intricate speech levels reflecting social hierarchy.
• Tagalog (Filipino): Ethnic group in the Philippines, speaking Tagalog (basis for Filipino national language), with Catholic majority due to Spanish colonization, and cultural practices blending indigenous, Spanish, American, and Asian influences.
• Malagasy: Ethnic group of Madagascar, speaking Malagasy (an Austronesian language despite Madagascar’s proximity to Africa), with cultural practices showing both Southeast Asian and African influences, ancestor veneration (famadihana), and unique rice cultivation traditions.
• Polynesian peoples (Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian): Related ethnic groups across the Pacific, sharing linguistic and cultural roots, navigation traditions, communal social structures (like Samoan fa’amatai system), and distinctive tattoo, dance, and oral traditions.

Niger-Congo Language Family

Bantu Language Speakers:

• Swahili: Both a language and ethnic identity on East Africa’s coast (Kenya, Tanzania), speaking Kiswahili, with culture blending Bantu, Arab, and Persian influences, Islamic traditions, and historical trading networks.
• Shona: Ethnic group in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, speaking Shona, with stone sculpture traditions, mbira music, and spirit medium practices.
• Xhosa: South African ethnic group speaking isiXhosa (with distinctive click sounds), with elaborate initiation ceremonies, beadwork, and cultural contributions including Nelson Mandela.

Uralic Language Family

• Finnish: Ethnic group of Finland, speaking Finnish (unrelated to other Scandinavian languages), with sauna culture, Lutheran heritage tempered by secular society, and cultural practices like Midsummer celebrations.
• Hungarian (Magyar): Ethnic group of Hungary, speaking Hungarian (unrelated to surrounding Indo-European languages), with distinctive folk music, dance, and cuisine including paprika-based dishes and Tokaji wine.
• Estonian: Ethnic group of Estonia, speaking Estonian (closely related to Finnish), with Lutheran and secular traditions, digital innovation culture, and Nordic-Baltic identity.

Turkic Language Family

• Uzbek: Ethnic group primarily in Uzbekistan, speaking Uzbek, with Silk Road heritage, Islamic traditions, distinctive architecture in cities like Samarkand, and cultural practices blending Persian, Mongol, and indigenous influences.
• Uyghur: Turkic ethnic group in Xinjiang, China, speaking Uyghur, with Islamic traditions, Silk Road trading heritage, and distinctive music, dance, and cuisine currently facing cultural suppression.
• Azerbaijani: Ethnic group in Azerbaijan and Iran, speaking Azerbaijani, with Shia Islamic heritage, carpet weaving traditions, and cultural blending of Turkic, Persian, and Caucasian influences.

Tai-Kadai Language Family

• Thai: Predominant ethnic group in Thailand, speaking Thai, with Theravada Buddhist traditions, monarchy reverence, distinctive cuisine balancing five flavors, and cultural practices like wai greeting and Songkran festival.
• Lao: Ethnic group primarily in Laos and northeastern Thailand, speaking Lao, with Theravada Buddhism, sticky rice cuisine, traditional textiles, and the Baci ceremony.

Dravidian Language Family

• Telugu: Ethnic group in southeastern India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana), speaking Telugu, with Hindu majority, distinctive Kuchipudi classical dance, and literary traditions.
• Kannada: Ethnic group in Karnataka, India, speaking Kannada, with rich literary heritage (oldest surviving work dates to 850 CE), Carnatic music traditions, and cultural contributions including Yakshagana theater.
• Malayalam: Ethnic group in Kerala, India, speaking Malayalam, with high literacy rates, matrilineal traditions in some communities, Kathakali dance-drama, and diverse religious landscape including Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities.

Austroasiatic Language Family

• Khmer: Ethnic group of Cambodia, speaking Khmer, with Theravada Buddhist traditions, legacy of Angkor Empire, classical dance (Apsara), and cultural revival after the Khmer Rouge genocide.
• Vietnamese (Kinh): Previously mentioned, speaking Vietnamese (a tonal language).

Cultural Groupings Beyond Language

Shared Religious/Cultural Complexes:

Jewish ethnic groups: While sharing religious heritage, Jewish communities developed distinct ethnicities:

• Ashkenazi: Central/Eastern European Jews (mentioned earlier)
• Sephardic: Jews from Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean, speaking Ladino historically
• Mizrahi: Middle Eastern Jews (mentioned earlier)
• Beta Israel: Ethiopian Jews with ancient traditions, speaking Amharic and Ge’ez liturgically

Islamic cultural sphere ethnicities with shared practices: Despite linguistic differences, groups like Pashtun, Arab, Persian, Turkish, Malay, and Somali peoples share Islamic calendar, pilgrimage traditions, Arabic script usage (historically or currently), and some cultural practices, while maintaining distinct ethnic identities.

Confucian-influenced East Asian ethnicities: Han Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese peoples share historical Confucian influence affecting social organization, respect for education and hierarchy, and ancestor veneration, while maintaining very distinct languages and cultural identities.

This organization shows how language families often (but not always) correlate with shared cultural elements, while also highlighting that ethnicity encompasses much more than language alone—including religion, history, geography, and lived cultural practices.

Ethnicity Examples in Forms and Surveys

Core Principle: Ask Only If You Need To & Be Transparent

Always explain why you are collecting the data (e.g., “To ensure our services meet the needs of all communities” or “To monitor equality and diversity in hiring”). Ensure data is stored and used in accordance with privacy laws (like GDPR).

Two Common Approaches

1. Combined Race & Ethnicity Question

Common in the U.S., where “ethnicity” often distinguishes “Hispanic or Latino” origin from racial categories.

Example:

What is your ethnicity? (Select all that apply)

• Hispanic or Latino
• Not Hispanic or Latino

What is your race? (Select all that apply)

• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White
• Some other race (please specify): _____________

(This format is based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s current standards.)

2. Standalone Ethnicity Question (More Global/UK Approach)

Here, “ethnicity” is understood as a broader cultural identity encompassing race, nationality, language, and heritage. The UK census categories are a widely referenced model.

Example (based on UK Census 2021):

What is your ethnic group?

A. White

• English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, or British
• Irish
• Gypsy or Irish Traveller
• Any other White background (please describe): _________

B. Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

• White and Black Caribbean
• White and Black African
• White and Asian
• Any other Mixed background (please describe): _________

C. Asian or Asian British

• Indian
• Pakistani
• Bangladeshi
• Chinese
• Any other Asian background (please describe): _________

D. Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African

• Caribbean
• African
• Any other Black background (please describe): _________

E. Other ethnic group

• Arab
• Any other ethnic group (please describe): _________

Best Practices for Form Design

1. Use “Select all that apply” or checkboxes: Ethnicity is not always singular.
2. Always include an open-ended “Describe” or “Other” option: Pre-defined lists will never capture everyone’s identity.
3. Allow a “Prefer not to say” option: This respects privacy and provides more accurate data (people won’t be forced to pick an incorrect category).
4. Consider context and granularity: A national health survey needs different detail than a local community event form.
   • Too broad: [ ] Asian
   • More useful: [ ] South Asian (e.g., Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) and [ ] East Asian (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean) with write-in options.
5. Place the question strategically: In non-demographic surveys, consider making it optional and placing it at the end.
6. Test and iterate: Consult with community groups to ensure your categories are respectful and relevant.

Examples for Specific Contexts

University Application (U.S.)

For reporting purposes to the U.S. Department of Education, please answer:

Ethnicity:

• Hispanic or Latino
• Not Hispanic or Latino

Race (select all that apply):

• American Indian or Alaska Native (Tribal affiliation optional): _______
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White
• I prefer not to disclose

Employee Diversity Survey (Global Company)

To help us build a more inclusive workplace, we invite you to share your ethnic or cultural background. This is voluntary.

How would you describe your ethnic or cultural identity? (Please select all that apply and feel free to use the write-in options)

• Central/South Asian (e.g., Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan)
• East Asian (e.g., Chinese, Korean, Japanese)
• Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin
• Middle Eastern or North African
• Black or of African Descent
• White or of European Descent
• Indigenous (e.g., Native American, First Nations, Aboriginal Australian)
• Pacific Islander
• Mixed Heritage
• Other: ________________
• I prefer not to say

Community Health Survey (Local)

Which of the following best describes your ethnic or cultural community? This helps us provide culturally appropriate services.

• Black/African/Caribbean (e.g., Jamaican, Haitian, Nigerian)
• Latino/Hispanic (e.g., Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran)
• South Asian (e.g., Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani)
• Southeast Asian (e.g., Vietnamese, Filipino, Hmong)
• Arab/Middle Eastern (e.g., Lebanese, Egyptian, Syrian)
• Another community not listed: ________________
• I prefer not to say

FAQs