Study Guides/Geography/Andaman Nicobar Tribes
Study Guide · Geography

Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to some of the world's most fascinating and ancient indigenous tribal communities. These tribes have lived in the islands for possibly 60,000–70,000 years — making them among the earliest surviving human populations on Earth.

Question (Click to Flip)

What are the major tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

Answer

Major tribes include: Sentinelese, Jarawa, Great Andamanese, Onge (Andaman Islands) and Nicobarese and Shompen (Nicobar Islands).

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Key Facts

Most Isolated: Sentinelese (North Sentinel Island).

Most Endangered: Great Andamanese (~60 remaining).

Largest Tribe: Nicobarese (~30,000).

Legal Protection: Indian law forbids contact with most tribes without permission.

Major Tribes of Andaman Islands

1. Sentinelese The most famous and isolated tribe on Earth. They live on North Sentinel Island and have violently rejected all contact with outsiders for centuries. They are protected by Indian law — it is illegal to approach within 5km of their island.

2. Jarawa Live in South and Middle Andaman. They were hostile to outsiders until the late 1990s, when they gradually began accepting contact. The Indian government now protects them from exploitation.

3. Great Andamanese Almost extinct — only about 60 individuals remain. They were the most numerous Andaman tribe before British colonization decimated their population through disease.

4. Onge Live on Little Andaman Island. A critically endangered tribe with only ~100 individuals remaining.

Major Tribes of Nicobar Islands

5. Nicobarese — The largest tribal group, with a population of around 30,000. They are more integrated with modern society than Andamanese tribes.

6. Shompen — Live in the interior of Great Nicobar Island. Semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers with very limited contact with the outside world.

Questions and Answers

What are the major tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?+

Major tribes include: Sentinelese, Jarawa, Great Andamanese, Onge (Andaman Islands) and Nicobarese and Shompen (Nicobar Islands).

Which is the most isolated tribe in the world?+

The Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island are considered the most isolated tribe in the world, having resisted all contact with modern civilization.

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