Would you be interested in knowing more about where the most ethnically diverse countries in the world are located? These nations’ population are made up of people belonging to different ethnic backgrounds, which have one way or another ended up living in the same country. Sometimes this is the product of immigration, yet in most cases, regions with a high degree of ethnic diversity are usually a product of colonialism. This will become quite evident when we reveal our list of the 10 most ethnically diverse countries in the world.
Since Africa’s colonial past resulted in the creation of unnatural borders within the continent, it comes as little surprise to learn that several different ethnic groups found themselves belonging to a nation they previously did not consider as their own. The ensuing civil wars during the post-colonial period were yet another demonstration of the lack of consideration for local populations when these new nations were born. Ethnic diversity can simply mean trouble sometimes, as we have seen in our previous post regarding the 10 most racist countries in the world. Nevertheless, the most ethnically diverse countries in the world also have a lot to offer in terms of culture and religion, making them fascinating societies.
Although at first glance some might not recognize it, Africa is the continent with the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Nations containing numerous ethnic groups, languages, and religions are rare, and even the usual suspects, such as the USA, come nowhere near the degree of diversity of some African states. Now that we have covered the basics, lets hit off our list of the 10 most ethnically diverse countries in the world.
10. Madagascar
Although the Malagasy ethnic group makes up around 90% of its population, it has 18 ethnic sub-groups which contribute heavily to the nation’s diversity. Genetic research has shown that Asian influences are particularly strong, as are East African and Arab ones.
The countdown of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world continues on the next page.
