Mongols

Mongols
Монголчууд
Mongolchuud
ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯᠴᠤᠳ
Mongolians in traditional dress
during Naadam festival
Total population
c. 10 million
Regions with significant populations
China6,290,204
Mongolia3,046,882
Russia651,355
South Korea37,963
Japan20,416
United States19,170
Kyrgyzstan12,000
Czech Republic10,236
Canada9,090
Kazakhstan7,218
Sweden6,992
Australia5,538
Germany3,972
France3,102
Turkey2,716
Austria2,658
Languages
Mongolian and other Mongolic languages
Mandarin Chinese · Russian
Religion
Predominantly:
Tibetan Buddhism · Mongolian shamanism (Tengrism)
Minorities:
Christianity (Orthodox · Catholic· Sunni Islam
Related ethnic groups
Other Mongolic peoples

Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia and China (Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family of Mongolic peoples. The Oirats and the Buryats are classified either as distinct ethno-linguistic groups or as subgroups of Mongols.

The Mongols are bound together by a common heritage and ethnic identity, descending from the Proto-Mongols. Their indigenous dialects are collectively known as the Mongolian language. The contiguous geographical area in which the Mongols primarily live is referred to as the Mongol heartland, especially in discussions of the Mongols' history under the Mongol Empire.