Santal people
Hoṛku | |
|---|---|
Santals in traditional dress celebrating Baha parab | |
| Total population | |
| c. 7.5 million (2011) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| India • Bangladesh • Nepal | |
| India: Jharkhand | 2,754,723 |
| West Bengal | 2,512,331 |
| Odisha | 894,764 |
| Bihar | 406,076 |
| Assam | 213,139 |
| Tripura | 2,913 |
| Bangladesh | 129,049 (2021) |
| Nepal | 51,735 |
| Languages | |
| Santali | |
| Religion | |
| Majority Hinduism Minority Folk religions (Sari Dharam, Sarna Dharam) Islam Christianity, Buddhism, Others | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mundas • Hos • Juangs • Kharias • Savaras • Korkus • Bhumijs | |
| ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲ Santal | |
|---|---|
| Person | Santal |
| People | ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲ ᱦᱚᱲ |
| Language | Santali |
| Country | India, Bangladesh and Nepal |
The Santal (or Santhal) are an Austroasiatic-speaking Munda ethnic group of the Indian subcontinent. They constitute the largest tribal community in the Indian states of Jharkhand and West Bengal, and are also present in Odisha, Bihar, Assam, and Tripura. They are the largest ethnic minority in northern Bangladesh's Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division. They have a sizeable population in Nepal. The Santals speak Santali, the most widely spoken language of the Munda subfamily of Austroasiatic languages.