On the wire
Latin AmericaFuture of Amazon rainforest policies at stake in Brazilian presidential electionCanada$2.2M Boost For Quantum Test Targeting Iron Issues In First Nations GroupsWorldCelebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day with City Hall Flag Raising and Native-Led Events Across SeattleOceaniaMāori Band Coterie Revives Iconic Warriors Anthem — LBBWorldIndigenous Peoples Day: Reflections on 500 Years of ResistanceWorldIndigenous Peoples Day 2026WorldPRCS Announces Facility Schedule Changes for Indigenous Peoples’ DayWorldHRC63: States must protect Indigenous territories and those who defend our natural and cultural heritageUnited StatesHurdles ahead for New Mexico's Native American midterm votersLatin AmericaIndigenous Women Mix Tradition With Tech To Help Save a Threatened Turtle Species in the AmazonLatin AmericaFuture of Amazon rainforest policies at stake in Brazilian presidential electionCanada$2.2M Boost For Quantum Test Targeting Iron Issues In First Nations GroupsWorldCelebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day with City Hall Flag Raising and Native-Led Events Across SeattleOceaniaMāori Band Coterie Revives Iconic Warriors Anthem — LBBWorldIndigenous Peoples Day: Reflections on 500 Years of ResistanceWorldIndigenous Peoples Day 2026WorldPRCS Announces Facility Schedule Changes for Indigenous Peoples’ DayWorldHRC63: States must protect Indigenous territories and those who defend our natural and cultural heritageUnited StatesHurdles ahead for New Mexico's Native American midterm votersLatin AmericaIndigenous Women Mix Tradition With Tech To Help Save a Threatened Turtle Species in the Amazon
Kabila

What is the largest tribe in the world?

There is no agreed answer, because 'tribe' has no fixed definition. Among communities officially listed as tribes, the Bhil and the Gond of India are the largest, with about 17 million and 13 million people in the 2011 census. If large ethnic groups are counted, many peoples are far larger.

The answer changes with the definition. If 'tribe' means a community on an official list of tribes, India provides the largest examples. The Bhil of western and central India numbered about 17 million in the 2011 census, and the Gond of central India about 13 million.

If 'tribe' is used loosely for any people with a strong clan structure, much larger groups are sometimes named. The Pashtun of Afghanistan and Pakistan, who number in the tens of millions and are organised in clans and lineages, are often described this way.

If the question is about indigenous peoples, large examples include the Quechua of the Andes, the Maya of Mexico and Central America, and the Amazigh of North Africa, each numbering in the millions. Estimates for all of these vary a good deal between sources.

Ethnic groups such as the Hausa, Yoruba or Zulu have many millions of members and are sometimes called tribes in popular writing. Most scholars and many members prefer 'people' or 'ethnic group' for societies of this size, so they are usually left out of lists of tribes.

Words used here

TribeEthnic groupScheduled TribeClanLineageCensus

Sources

Related questions

Seven peoples, once a week

Every Monday: seven peoples you may never have heard of, who they are and where they live.