Last updated September 18, 2024
In our globalized world, cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity serves as a vital artery that nourishes the evolution of societies, fostering vibrant blends of traditions, languages, religions, and perspectives. However, the concept of race remains a contentious and complex issue, often mistakenly conflating with cultural diversity. Based on the metric of 'Ethnic Fractionalization', the following article explores the racial diversity of nations worldwide to offer insights into their societal makeup. The metric ranks regions according to their ethnic diversity with the percentage score signifying the probability that two individuals chosen at random from a given country will belong to different ethnic groups.
Topping the chart is Uganda, with a striking 93.02% ethnic fractionalization index. Uganda's incredible diversity is attributed to its 56 recognized ethnic communities, each with its unique language, customs, and traditions. Coming closely in second place is Liberia, with 90.84%. Historically a colony established for emancipated African-American slaves, today Liberia is a multicultural society consisting of over 16 ethnic groups. The third position is held by Madagascar with an 87.91% diversity score. As an island nation, Madagascar is home to multiple ethnic groups with distinct cultural practices and languages. The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of the Congo, sharing the fourth plate, highlight Central Africa's ethnic diversity with a score of 87.47%. Cameroon ranks sixth with a score of 86.35%. Known as "Africa in Miniature," the nation hosts diversity in languages, geographical features, and cultures. Chad comes next, with an ethnic fractionalization score of 86.20%, followed by Kenya and Nigeria, scoring 85.88% and 85.05% respectively. Kenya is proudly diverse with over 40 ethnic communities while Nigeria is famous for its over 250 ethnic tribes. Concluding the top ten is the Central African Republic with a diversity score of 82.95%. Top 10 Most Racially Diverse Countries:
76.93%
Ranked in World
#21
22.04%
Ranked in World
#137
33.94%
Ranked in World
#115
71.39%
Ranked in World
#33
78.67%
Ranked in World
#18
16.43%
Ranked in World
#151
25.50%
Ranked in World
#128
12.72%
Ranked in World
#160
Ranked in World
#171
10.68%
Ranked in World
#166
20.47%
Ranked in World
#139
42.28%
Ranked in World
#97
50.21%
Ranked in World
#86
Ranked in World
#182
14.23%
Ranked in World
#156
32.22%
Ranked in World
#119
55.54%
Ranked in World
#70
70.15%
Ranked in World
#37
78.72%
Ranked in World
#17
60.50%
Ranked in World
#61
73.96%
Ranked in World
#25
Ranked in World
#56
41.02%
Ranked in World
#104
54.08%
Ranked in World
#76
54.16%
Ranked in World
#75
40.21%
Ranked in World
#105
73.77%
Ranked in World
#27
29.51%
Ranked in World
#123
21.05%
Ranked in World
#138
86.35%
Ranked in World
#6
71.24%
Ranked in World
#34
41.74%
Ranked in World
#99
82.95%
Ranked in World
#10
86.20%
Ranked in World
#7
18.61%
Ranked in World
#144
15.38%
Ranked in World
#154
60.14%
Ranked in World
#62
23.68%
Ranked in World
#135
36.90%
Ranked in World
#110
59.08%
Ranked in World
#64
Ranked in World
#170
32.22%
Ranked in World
#118
87.47%
Ranked in World
#4
Ranked in World
#173
79.62%
Ranked in World
#15
20.03%
Ranked in World
#141
42.94%
Ranked in World
#96
65.50%
Ranked in World
#50
18.36%
Ranked in World
#146
19.78%
Ranked in World
#142
34.67%
Ranked in World
#113
65.24%
Ranked in World
#51
50.62%
Ranked in World
#84
Ranked in World
#179
72.35%
Ranked in World
#31
54.79%
Ranked in World
#73
13.15%
Ranked in World
#158
10.32%
Ranked in World
#168
76.90%
Ranked in World
#22
78.64%
Ranked in World
#19
49.23%
Ranked in World
#88
16.82%
Ranked in World
#150
67.33%
Ranked in World
#45
15.76%
Ranked in World
#153
26.61%
Ranked in World
#127
51.22%
Ranked in World
#81
73.89%
Ranked in World
#26
80.82%
Ranked in World
#14
61.95%
Ranked in World
#58
Ranked in World
#169
18.67%
Ranked in World
#143
Ranked in World
#175
15.22%
Ranked in World
#155
Ranked in World
#174
41.82%
Ranked in World
#98
73.51%
Ranked in World
#29
66.84%
Ranked in World
#46
36.89%
Ranked in World
#111
12.06%
Ranked in World
#162
34.36%
Ranked in World
#114
11.45%
Ranked in World
#164
82.04%
Ranked in World
#11
41.29%
Ranked in World
#102
Ranked in World
#187
59.26%
Ranked in World
#63
61.71%
Ranked in World
#59
85.88%
Ranked in World
#8
Ranked in World
#180
66.04%
Ranked in World
#48
67.52%
Ranked in World
#43
51.39%
Ranked in World
#80
58.67%
Ranked in World
#66
13.14%
Ranked in World
#159
25.50%
Ranked in World
#129
90.84%
Ranked in World
#2
79.20%
Ranked in World
#16
57.26%
Ranked in World
#69
32.23%
Ranked in World
#117
53.02%
Ranked in World
#79
87.91%
Ranked in World
#3
67.44%
Ranked in World
#44
58.80%
Ranked in World
#65
69.06%
Ranked in World
#41
Ranked in World
#183
Ranked in World
#176
61.50%
Ranked in World
#60
46.34%
Ranked in World
#93
54.18%
Ranked in World
#74
70.05%
Ranked in World
#38
55.35%
Ranked in World
#71
68.38%
Ranked in World
#42
36.82%
Ranked in World
#112
48.41%
Ranked in World
#91
69.32%
Ranked in World
#40
50.62%
Ranked in World
#83
63.29%
Ranked in World
#55
58.32%
Ranked in World
#67
66.32%
Ranked in World
#47
10.54%
Ranked in World
#167
39.69%
Ranked in World
#106
48.44%
Ranked in World
#90
65.18%
Ranked in World
#52
85.05%
Ranked in World
#9
Ranked in World
#188
50.23%
Ranked in World
#85
Ranked in World
#178
43.73%
Ranked in World
#94
70.98%
Ranked in World
#36
43.12%
Ranked in World
#95
55.28%
Ranked in World
#72
27.18%
Ranked in World
#126
16.89%
Ranked in World
#149
65.66%
Ranked in World
#49
23.85%
Ranked in World
#133
11.83%
Ranked in World
#163
Ranked in World
#181
74.56%
Ranked in World
#24
87.47%
Ranked in World
#5
30.69%
Ranked in World
#121
24.52%
Ranked in World
#132
32.38%
Ranked in World
#116
18.42%
Ranked in World
#145
17.69%
Ranked in World
#148
30.66%
Ranked in World
#122
13.76%
Ranked in World
#157
29.27%
Ranked in World
#124
Ranked in World
#147
69.39%
Ranked in World
#39
57.36%
Ranked in World
#68
20.25%
Ranked in World
#140
81.91%
Ranked in World
#12
38.57%
Ranked in World
#109
25.39%
Ranked in World
#130
22.16%
Ranked in World
#136
11.10%
Ranked in World
#165
81.17%
Ranked in World
#13
75.17%
Ranked in World
#23
Ranked in World
#186
41.65%
Ranked in World
#100
41.50%
Ranked in World
#101
71.47%
Ranked in World
#32
73.32%
Ranked in World
#30
Ranked in World
#177
53.14%
Ranked in World
#78
53.99%
Ranked in World
#77
27.44%
Ranked in World
#125
51.07%
Ranked in World
#82
73.53%
Ranked in World
#28
63.38%
Ranked in World
#54
70.99%
Ranked in World
#35
Ranked in World
#172
64.75%
Ranked in World
#53
Ranked in World
#185
Ranked in World
#120
39.18%
Ranked in World
#107
16.29%
Ranked in World
#152
93.02%
Ranked in World
#1
47.37%
Ranked in World
#92
62.52%
Ranked in World
#57
12.11%
Ranked in World
#161
49.01%
Ranked in World
#89
25.04%
Ranked in World
#131
41.25%
Ranked in World
#103
Ranked in World
#184
49.66%
Ranked in World
#87
23.83%
Ranked in World
#134
78.08%
Ranked in World
#20
38.74%
Ranked in World
#108
Region ↕ | Ethnic Fractionalization↕ |
---|---|
76.93% | |
22.04% | |
33.94% | |
71.39% | |
78.67% | |
16.43% | |
25.50% | |
12.72% | |
9.29% | |
10.68% | |
20.47% | |
42.28% | |
50.21% | |
4.54% | |
14.23% | |
32.22% | |
55.54% | |
70.15% | |
78.72% | |
60.50% | |
73.96% | |
63% | |
41.02% | |
54.08% | |
54.16% | |
40.21% | |
73.77% | |
29.51% | |
21.05% | |
86.35% | |
71.24% | |
41.74% | |
82.95% | |
86.20% | |
18.61% | |
15.38% | |
60.14% | |
23.68% | |
36.90% | |
59.08% | |
9.39% | |
32.22% | |
87.47% | |
8.19% | |
79.62% | |
20.03% | |
42.94% | |
65.50% | |
18.36% | |
19.78% | |
34.67% | |
65.24% | |
50.62% | |
5.82% | |
72.35% | |
54.79% | |
13.15% | |
10.32% | |
76.90% | |
78.64% | |
49.23% | |
16.82% | |
67.33% | |
15.76% | |
26.61% | |
51.22% | |
73.89% | |
80.82% | |
61.95% | |
9.50% | |
18.67% | |
6.20% | |
15.22% | |
7.98% | |
41.82% | |
73.51% | |
66.84% | |
36.89% | |
12.06% | |
34.36% | |
11.45% | |
82.04% | |
41.29% | |
1.19% | |
59.26% | |
61.71% | |
85.88% | |
5.11% | |
66.04% | |
67.52% | |
51.39% | |
58.67% | |
13.14% | |
25.50% | |
90.84% | |
79.20% | |
57.26% | |
32.23% | |
53.02% | |
87.91% | |
67.44% | |
58.80% | |
69.06% | |
4.14% | |
6.03% | |
61.50% | |
46.34% | |
54.18% | |
70.05% | |
55.35% | |
68.38% | |
36.82% | |
48.41% | |
69.32% | |
50.62% | |
63.29% | |
![]() | 58.32% |
66.32% | |
10.54% | |
39.69% | |
48.44% | |
65.18% | |
85.05% | |
0.20% | |
50.23% | |
5.86% | |
43.73% | |
70.98% | |
43.12% | |
55.28% | |
27.18% | |
16.89% | |
65.66% | |
23.85% | |
11.83% | |
4.68% | |
74.56% | |
87.47% | |
30.69% | |
24.52% | |
32.38% | |
18.42% | |
17.69% | |
30.66% | |
13.76% | |
29.27% | |
18% | |
69.39% | |
57.36% | |
20.25% | |
81.91% | |
38.57% | |
25.39% | |
22.16% | |
11.10% | |
81.17% | |
75.17% | |
3.92% | |
41.65% | |
41.50% | |
71.47% | |
73.32% | |
6% | |
53.14% | |
53.99% | |
27.44% | |
51.07% | |
73.53% | |
63.38% | |
70.99% | |
8.69% | |
64.75% | |
3.94% | |
32% | |
39.18% | |
16.29% | |
93.02% | |
47.37% | |
62.52% | |
12.11% | |
49.01% | |
25.04% | |
41.25% | |
4.13% | |
49.66% | |
23.83% | |
78.08% | |
38.74% |