Demographics
Mapped: The World’s Indigenous Peoples
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Mapped: The World’s Indigenous Peoples
Humanity has spread to almost every corner of Earth, and while some peoples have continued to move, others have grown roots in one region.
Generally the term indigenous peoples refers to social or cultural groups with strong ancestral ties to their land of origin. Many times these are tied to ethnicity and still live in their land of origin, but some have been displaced, diluted, or become minorities in their lands.
This map by Bhabna Banerjee uses data from the Indigenous World 2022 report to show the population distribution of the roughly 476 million Indigenous peoples around the world. When 2022 data was unavailable, the latest available data was used.
What Are “Indigenous” Peoples?
Before diving in, it’s important to note that this map and report are based on the United Nations’ approach to indigenous peoples.
Due to the diversity and difficult history experienced by these groups, including countries that don’t recognize indigenous peoples in their lands, there is purposefully no official definition of “indigenous.”
Instead, the UN and other organizations working with indigenous peoples utilize an understanding based on self-determination that includes:
- Self-identification as indigenous peoples at the individual level and accepted by the community.
- Historical continuity with pre-colonial and/or pre-settler societies
- Strong link to territories and surrounding resources
- Distinct social, economic, or political systems
- Distinct language, culture, and beliefs
- Forms non-dominant groups of society
- Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems
Because of this, ethnic groups that are indigenous (as a dictionary term) to their lands like the Han people in China, the Turks in Turkey, or the Scots in Scotland were not included in this report.
On the flip side, groups like Greenland’s Inuit were included, because of their long history of colonial control as well as Danish influence.
Indigenous Populations Worldwide
Of all the countries included in the report, China has the highest number of Indigenous, with an estimated population of 125.3 million.
It’s worth noting that the Chinese government does not officially acknowledge the existence of Indigenous peoples. However, they do recognize 55 different ethnic nationalities across the nation, including the Zhuang, Mongolians, and the Hui.
Country | Indigenous Population | Year of Data |
---|---|---|
China | 125,332,335 | 2022 |
India | 104,000,000 | 2022 |
Indonesia | 60,000,000 | 2022 |
Pakistan | 35,000,000 | 2010 |
Mexico | 16,933,283 | 2022 |
Ethiopia | 16,500,000 | 2022 |
Myanmmar | 14,400,000 | 2010 |
Vietnam | 14,100,000 | 2022 |
Algeria | 12,000,000 | 2022 |
Nepal | 10,872,000 | 2022 |
Morocoo | 10,000,000 | 2022 |
Phillippines | 10,000,000 | 2022 |
Kenya | 9,650,000 | 2021 |
Bolivia | 7,000,000 | 2013 |
United States | 6,600,000 | 2022 |
Guatemala | 6,500,000 | 2022 |
Thailand | 6,100,000 | 2022 |
Malaysia | 4,683,000 | 2022 |
Peru | 4,000,000 | 2022 |
Laos | 3,500,000 | 2022 |
Niger | 2,690,000 | 2022 |
Namibia | 2,678,191 | 2022 |
Chile | 2,185,792 | 2022 |
Colombia | 1,905,617 | 2022 |
Canada | 1,673,785 | 2022 |
Iran | 1,617,000 | 2021 |
Bangladesh | 1,586,141 | 2022 |
Japan | 1,400,000 | 2021 |
Mali | 1,200,000 | 2016 |
Uganda | 1,138,239 | 2022 |
Ecuador | 1,100,000 | 2022 |
Cameroon | 1,044,300 | 2022 |
Libya | 1,000,000 | 2022 |
Tunisia | 1,000,000 | 2022 |
Argentina | 955,032 | 2022 |
Brazil | 896,900 | 2022 |
Venzuela | 896,000 | 2022 |
Australia | 881,600 | 2022 |
New Zealand | 775,500 | 2022 |
DRC | 700,000 | 2022 |
Nicaragua | 612,000 | 2022 |
SouthAfrica | 590,000 | 2022 |
Taiwan | 580,758 | 2022 |
Tanzania | 524,246 | 2022 |
Panama | 417,559 | 2022 |
Israel | 300,000 | 2022 |
Russia | 260,000 | 2022 |
Cambodia | 250,000 | 2022 |
French Polynesia | 222,400 | 2022 |
Paraguay | 122,461 | 2022 |
Costa Rica | 104,143 | 2022 |
Guyana | 78,500 | 2022 |
Burundi | 78,071 | 2022 |
Iraq | 78,000 | 2007 |
Botswana | 73,100 | 2022 |
Greenland | 56,523 | 2022 |
Norway | 50,000 | 2021 |
Rep. of Congo | 43,378 | 2022 |
CAR | 39,299 | 2022 |
Jordan | 27,000 | 2021 |
Rwanda | 25,000 | 2022 |
Angola | 24,300 | 2022 |
Suriname | 20,344 | 2022 |
Sweden | 20,000 | 2021 |
Gabon | 16,162 | 2020 |
French Guiana | 10,000 | 2022 |
Finland | 8000 | 2021 |
Zimbabwe | 4533 | 2022 |
Sri Lanka | 1229 | 2012 |
After China, India has the second largest Indigenous populations, with over 700 officially recognized ethnic groups. Many of these are concentrated in the north-eastern region of India, from Rajasthan to West Bengal.
While different countries and territories have varying numbers of Indigenous peoples, one thing remains consistent across the board—on average, the world’s Indigenous populations typically face greater economic and social challenges than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
Disadvantages Faced by Indigenous Peoples
Research by the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) found that, while Indigenous peoples make up only 6% of the world’s total population, they account for nearly 20% of the world’s extreme poor.
In addition, Indigenous peoples also have much lower average life expectancies than non-Indigenous people, according to a report by the United Nations.
Some countries and governments around the world are starting to implement laws and policies to support and recognize Indigenous communities, but there’s still work to be done.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Countries
Breaking Down Global Military Spending by Country in 2024
The top three countries accounted for 54% of global military spending in 2024.

Breaking Down Global Military Spending by Country in 2024
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
In a world where superpowers are defined by economic and military stature, countries continue to invest hundreds of billions in military and defense every year.
In 2024, global military expenditure reached $2.7 trillion, hitting a record high—and just three countries made up more than half of the total.
This infographic breaks down global military spending by country in 2024, highlighting the top military spenders using data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The World’s Biggest Military Spenders in 2024
America continues to dominate global military expenditure, spending nearly $1 trillion or 3.4% of its GDP on defense in 2024. U.S. military expenditure makes up over one-third of the global total, and it also has the world’s biggest defense budget.
Here’s a look at the top 20 countries by military spending in 2024:
Rank | Country | Military Spending (2024) | Share of Global Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | United States 🇺🇸 | $997B | 36.7% |
2 | China 🇨🇳 | $314B | 11.6% |
3 | Russia 🇷🇺 | $149B | 5.5% |
4 | Germany 🇩🇪 | $88.5B | 3.3% |
5 | India 🇮🇳 | $86.1B | 3.2% |
6 | United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | $81.8B | 3.0% |
7 | Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 | $80.3B | 3.0% |
8 | Ukraine 🇺🇦 | $64.7B | 2.4% |
9 | France 🇫🇷 | $64.7B | 2.4% |
10 | Japan 🇯🇵 | $55.3B | 2.0% |
11 | South Korea 🇰🇷 | $47.6B | 1.8% |
12 | Israel 🇮🇱 | $46.5B | 1.7% |
13 | Poland 🇵🇱 | $38.0B | 1.4% |
14 | Italy 🇮🇹 | $38.0B | 1.4% |
15 | Australia 🇦🇺 | $33.8B | 1.2% |
16 | Canada 🇨🇦 | $29.3B | 1.1% |
17 | Türkiye 🇹🇷 | $25.0B | 0.9% |
18 | Spain 🇪🇸 | $24.6B | 0.9% |
19 | Netherlands 🇳🇱 | $23.2B | 0.9% |
20 | Algeria 🇩🇿 | $21.8B | 0.8% |
Rest of World 🌍 | $408.8B | 15.0% | |
World 🌐 | $2,718B | 100.0% |
China follows the U.S. with an estimated $314 billion in military expenditure, up 7% from 2023. Over the last decade (2015–2024), China’s military spending increased by 59%.
Meanwhile, Russia’s spending was up by 38% year over year at nearly $150 billion. Together, the United States, China, and Russia—often considered strategic competitors—made up 54% of global military expenditure in 2024.
Germany and India round out the top five, with both countries ramping up military spending in light of rising geopolitical tensions in recent years. India’s simmering tensions with Pakistan and China contribute to its defense budget.
Meanwhile, as a major NATO member, Germany’s spending is partly down to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Together, NATO countries made up 55% of global military expenditure in 2024.
In the eighth spot, Ukraine has seen the biggest jump in military spending in recent years—with its 2024 spending at nearly 10 times 2021 levels. It also has the highest military burden globally at 34.5% of its GDP in 2024. Although peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are ongoing, a complete ceasefire is yet to be achieved.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
To see how global military expenditure has evolved in the 21st century, check out 20 Years of Global Military Spending on the Voronoi app.
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