Our world is home to a large population of different people following various cultures, language, religion and more. Each country is characterized by different groups of people following different set of beliefs & traditions. However, some countries are more diverse than the others.
So, if you want to know more about the magnitude of diversity across different nations, here’s an overview of the most diverse countries in the world.
Language Diversity
Facts reveal that almost 7,117 languages are spoken across the globe. What’s more surprising is that only 23 languages are spoken by 50% of the population. Others are restricted to smaller groups in different countries that speak a language gifted to them by their ancestors. Well, 40% of the spoken languages are nearing extinction with reduced usage generation after generation. However, some of them have successfully sustained the test of time in their groups. The primary reason behind this is their negligible exposure to the modern, outside world.
Here’s a list of countries with the maximum amount of linguistic diversity.
- Papua New Guinea: Even with a meager population of 8.8. million, 840 languages, which contribute to 12% of the world’s spoken languages are spoken here. The primary reason behind this diversity is their isolation from the modern world.
- Indonesia: A nation comprising of more than 17,000 islands, 7,500 of which are uninhabited is bound to be highly diverse. 711 languages are spoken across these islands.
Diversity in Ethnicity
Groups bound by ethnicity refers to their common ancestry and genealogy. They share the same beliefs and practices, often with a unique language too. The list of countries with the highest ethnic diversity are listed below.
An ethnic group following its unique customs
- Papua New Guinea: Despite being a small country, it is home to a large number of small groups with different customs and beliefs.
- Tanzania: More than a hundred ethnic groups call Tanzania their home. The primary reason for this diversity are the various migrants from other parts of Africa and some parts of Europe, who brought along and maintained their cultural beliefs, customs and practices. In fact, most of them even speak a unique language.
- Democratic Republic of Congo: Even with a population as small as 81 million, it is home to almost 200 ethnic groups that speak about 242 different languages. French, however, is the official language spoken here.
- Uganda: It is one of the most diverse countries in the world with a large number of ethnic groups following their unique customs and beliefs. The three larger groups that exist here are Baganda, Banyankole and Basoga; contributing about 16.9%, 9.5% and 8.4 % of the country’s population respectively.
Religiously Diverse
Although most countries have a large part of their population following a certain religion, other groups with different religious beliefs exist within their boundaries. Some countries have a higher religious diversity than the others. Hers’s a list of the most religiously diverse countries in the world.
- Singapore: It is the homeland of Buddhist monks following Buddhism, Muslim Malaysians and Christians from different parts of Europe. With a large part of their population being migrants, it is the most religiously diverse country in the world.
- Taiwan: It boasts of a population following the major religions of the world. Additionally, it has different groups following a number of folk religions too. This is what makes it one of the most religiously diverse countries across the globe.
- Vietnam: It stands at the third position, boasting of a large part of its population following folk religions, 16% of Buddhists and 8% Christians. Moreover, 30% of the population are not associated with any specific religion.
Diverse Biologically
Nations in the world are also biologically diverse, one more than the other. Out list comprises of the most biologically diverse nations in the world.
- Brazil: It out-rivals the others in biological diversity with the largest number of plant and amphibian species. What’s more, it has the Amazon rain forest, Meta-Atlantic forest, aquatic ecosystems and much more.
- Indonesia: Second in line starts Indonesia with its massive marine ecosystems and various land resources. Besides this, it is home to the third largest rain forest and the famous Coral Triangle.
Curtains Down
Isolation from the modern world, abiding by their own customs and beliefs are the primary reasons behind the amazing diversity across the globe. Well, the sad truth is that 40% of languages are dying a slow death by losing their place generation after generation. The United Nations is keen on saving the diversity that is reflective of a rich history of different cultures, religions and others.
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