Some of the most common ethnic groups in Mexico are the Mayas, Zapotecos, Mixtecos, Acomas, Cochitis, Isletas or Chichimecas.
Mexico is a country located in Central America and is the third largest country in Latin America. Being one of the countries that was conquered and colonized by the Europeans during Century XVI (specifically, by the Spaniards), the state of Mexico presents / displays great Ethnic diversity .
Mexico City
By ethnicity or ethnic group, a group of individuals who share certain Elements of culture : Religion, history, origin, language, clothing and, occasionally, territory.
In this sense, traditionally, Mexico has been divided into two cultural zones: to the north, the mestizo population is descended from Spaniards while, to the south, the mestizo population is descended from the aborigines.
This division existed since pre-Columbian times, the difference is that at that time were the most developed civilizations to the north while the less developed were to the south.
The main ethnic groups in Mexico are two: the mestizos and the aborigines, being the first most abundant in the population (they constitute about 60% of the total population of the country).
For their part, the Aborigines constitute a fifth of the population and stand out for their heritage and cultural heritage.
Added to this, the migratory movements that have occurred in the last centuries contribute in the development of the multiethnic character of the country.
The main ethnic groups of Mexico
The population of Mexico is almost 130 million and is made up of several ethnic groups, including three: Aboriginal people (who make up one-fifth of the total population), whites of European descent (who constitute one-fifth of the population of Mexico) and mestizos of aboriginal and European descent (the majority ethnic group).
In addition, immigration to Mexico, which began in the 19th century, makes this a multiethnic country.
Ethnic composition of Mexico, year 2010. Photo retrieved from www.britannica.com
The following is a list of the ethnic groups in Mexico:
1 - Mestizos, which resulted from the process of interracial mixing that occurred during the colony between aborigines, Europeans and Africans.
2 - White Mexicans, descendants of Europeans.
3- Aborigines who have left the tribes and who have been introduced into Mexican society
4. Other Aborigines: In Mexico, there are about 56 Aboriginal groups, most of whom live in extreme poverty. Some of these groups are:
Mayas
Zapoteco
Mixtec
Acoma
Cochiti
Chichimecas
Islet
Walatowa
Guachiles
Otomí
Purépecha
Tarahumara
Seri
Apache
Nahua
lagoon
Nambé
Navajo
Ohkay Owingeh
Picuris
Pajoaque
Na-fiat
Katishtya
Po-woh-ge-oweenge
Tamaya
Kha'p'oo Owinge
Kewa
Taos
Tesuque
Zia
Zuni
Totonaca
Tzotzil
Tzeltalt
Mazateco
Huasteco
Chol
Tlapenaco
Zoque
Amizgo
Tojolabal
Huichol
Popoluca
Chatino
5- Mexican Afro-descendants; These are mestizo Mexicans, whose features are more similar to those of African peoples.
6- Immigrant groups that have established themselves in Mexico and constitute a minority in the country. In the last decades, the migratory movement towards Mexico has intensified; Some of the main immigrant groups are:
Arab immigrants
Immigrant Americans
Immigrant Canadians
Immigrant Guatemalans
Immigrant Spanish
Immigrant Colombians
Argentinian immigrants
Immigrant Cubans
Immigrant Venezuelans
Immigrant Salvadorans
French immigrants
Cultural Regions and Ethnic Groups
There are ten cultural regions in the state of Mexico, in which the various ethnic groups of the country are distributed.
The regions are: the north, the northeast, the northwest, the peninsula of Baja California, the center, the west, Balsas, the Gulf of the coast, the plateau of the south and the peninsula of Yucatán.
Next, we present the distribution of ethnic groups in cultural regions.
North
The northern region corresponds to the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas and San Luis de Potosí. The population is mostly mestizo.
Northeast
The northwest region goes from Tampico to the border between Mexico and the United States and from there extends to the Sierra Madre Oriental; Includes the entities of Nuevo León and Taumalipas.
The aboriginal population of this zone was exterminated by the Europeans, reason why the majority of the population is mestiza of European descent.
Northwest
This is a region of great extension that goes from the entity of Sonora until the border with the United States.
Before the conquest, the aboriginal population was extensive but today it has declined. Currently the Tarahumara And the seri are one of the groups that still are in this zone.
Baja California Peninsula
The native population of this area was decimated during the conquest by the diseases brought by the Spaniards. At the moment, the majority of the population that occupies this zone is mestiza descending of Europeans.
Center
The central region is one of the most important in the nation, and includes the entities of Hidalgo, Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Queretaro and Tlaxcala, and the federal district.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, this was the center of the Aztec empire. At present, the majority of the population is mestizo. However, indigenous groups can still be found in Michoacan, Hidalgo and Puebla.
West
This region comprises the Jalisco entity, added to portions of other entities (Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Guanajuato). The population of this area is mainly rural mestizo, with the presence of some indigenous groups.
Ferries
This corresponds to the geographical area that receives the same name. The population is mostly mestizo.
Gulf Coast
This zone includes the coasts of Veracruz and Tabasco. The mestizo population predominates; However, some indigenous groups can be found in the mountains north of Veracruz.
South plateau
This region includes the entities of Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas. It is the poorest zone of Mexico and also is the one that presents / displays greater concentration of Aborigines, between which they emphasize the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs.
Oaxaca is the state with the largest aboriginal population; In fact, 53% of the population of the entity is Aboriginal. South of Chiapas is a mestizo population.
Yucatan Peninsula
It includes the entities of Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana. The population of this region is mostly Maya. Yucatan is the second entity with the largest aboriginal population (52% of the total population is indigenous).
References
- Largest Ethnic Groups in Mexico. Retrieved on July 5, 2017, from worldatlas.com
- Mexico - Ethnic Gropus. Retrieved on July 5, 2017, from britannica.com
- Demographics of Mexico. Retrieved on July 5, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org
- Mexico Ethnic Groups and Culture. Retrieved on July 5, 2017, from questconnect.org
- Mexico Ethnic Groups. Retrieved on July 5, 2017, from statista.com
- Mexico Ethnicity and Language. Retrieved on July 5, 2017, from countrystudies.us
- Mexico Ethnic Groups. Retrieved on July 5, 2017, from indexmundi.com