Ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts


The Chittagong Hill Tracts is a region consisting three hilly districts of the south-eastern part of Bangladesh – Khagrachari, Bandarban, and Rangamati – adjoining international boundaries with Myanmar on the southeast, the Indian states of Tripura on the north and Mizoram on the east. It is a extensively hilly area and home to a variety of tribal peoples in the country, which makes up almost 49% of the total population of the region.
In Bangladesh, there are many indigenous peoples living in the other parts of the country, but the majority of these peoples live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. Among all of them, the Chakmas are the largest, followed by the Marmas and the Tripuris. Also a good number of mainstream Bengalis live in this area.
The indigenous peoples of CHT has maintain their unique and different lifestyle from the mainstream Bengali population of the country. Most of these ethnic groups are matriarchal. Their agricultural system is based on grow Jhum cultivation. Some of those groups are still engaged hunting with bows and arrows.

Bengalis

According to 2022 census, Bengalis are the largest ethnic group in Bandarban District and Khagrachhari District and second largest in Rangamati Hill District with almost equal to Chakma people .
They are largest ethnic group in
Naikhongchhari Upazila, Langadu Upazila, Lama Upazila, Matiranga Upazila,
Manikchhari Upazila, Ramgarh Upazila, Alikadam Upazila, Bandarban Sadar Upazila, Kaptai Upazila, Rangamati Sadar Upazila, Kaukhali Upazila and Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila.
UpazilaDistrictPercentage of population speaking Bengali
Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District83.48%
Langadu UpazilaRangamati Hill District80.84%
Lama UpazilaBandarban District76.22%
Matiranga UpazilaKhagrachhari District76.01%
Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District73.57%
Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District73.14%
Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District60.64%
Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District56.97%
Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District55.71%
Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District52.33%
Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District44.88%
Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District40.77%
Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District39.00%
Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District36.95%
Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District33.02%
Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District33.02%
Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati Hill District32.33%
Barkal UpazilaRangamati Hill District28.96%
Bagaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District28.23%
Lakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District25.76%
Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District18.27%
Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District15.87%
Ruma UpazilaBandarban District13.02%
Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District12.38%
Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District10.51%
Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District4.65%

Chakmas

According to 2022 census, Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in Rangamati Hill District and second largest in Khagrachhari District .
They are the largest ethnic group in Juraichhari Upazila, Naniarchar Upazila, Barkal Upazila, Bagaichhari Upazila, Dighinala Upazila, Lakshmichhari Upazila, Panchhari Upazila and Mahalchhari Upazila .
UpazilaDistrictPercentage of Chakma
Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District91.15%
Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District79.89%
Barkal UpazilaRangamati Hill District69.33%
Bagaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District66.19%
Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District53.38%
Lakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District51.33%
Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District44.04%
Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District43.52%
Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District41.23%
Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District27.13%
Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District26.68%
Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District25.92%
Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District7.37%
Matiranga UpazilaKhagrachhari District3.12%
Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District2.77%
Langadu UpazilaRangamati Hill District2.31%
Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District2.25%
Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District1.93%
Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District1.67%
Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District1.49%
Others_<1%

Marmas

According to 2022 census, Marmas are Second largest ethnic group in Bandarban District, third largest in Rangamati Hill District and fourth largest in Khagrachhari District.
They are largest ethnic group in Rowangchhari Upazila, Guimara Upazila, Rajasthali Upazila, Thanchi Upazila, Ruma Upazila.
UpazilaDistrictPercentage of MarmUnions with majority
Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District49.48%
  • Alekkhyong Union
  • Nowapatang Union
  • Rowangchhari Union
  • Tarachha Union
Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District38.10%
  • Sindukchhari Union
    • Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati Hill District36.65%
  • Gaindya Union
    • Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District31.37%
  • Balipara Union
  • Remakri Union
    • Ruma UpazilaBandarban District31.04%
  • Paindu Union
  • Ruma Union
    • Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District28.59%
  • Chitmaram Union
    • Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District27.86%
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District23.97%
  • Jamchhari Union
  • Kuhalong Union
  • Rajbila Union
    • Lakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District21.82%
    Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District18.73%
    Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District15.25%
    Lama UpazilaBandarban District11.32%
    Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District10.86%
    Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District10.61%
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District8.97%
    Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District6.15%
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District6.04%
    Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District3.12%
    Matiranga UpazilaKhagrachhari District2.07%
    Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District1.88%
    Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District1.73%
    Others_<1%

    Tripuris

    According to 2022 census, Tripuras are mainly found in Khagrachhari District, Bandarban District and Rangamati Hill District.
    They are the second largest ethnic group in Matiranga Upazila and Ramgarh Upazila .
    UpazilaDistrictPercentage of TripuraUnions with majority-
    Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District21.27%
    • Tindu union
    		-
    Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District20.99%
  • Khagrachhari union
  • Bhaibonchhara union
  • Perachhara union
    		• -
    Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District19.36%
  • Latiban union
    		• -
    Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District18.79%-
    Matiranga UpazilaKhagrachhari District18.68%
  • Matiranga union
    		• -
    Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District13.28%-
    Ruma UpazilaBandarban District8.95%-
    Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati District8.16%-
    Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District7.73%-
    Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District7.38%-
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati District6.08%-
    Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District5.60%-
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District5.41%
    Baghaichhari UpazilaRangamati District5.13%-
    Lama UpazilaBandarban District4.12%-
    Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District3.97%-
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District1.59%-
    Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati District1.50%-
    Others<1%-

    Mrus

    According to 2022 census, Mru (Murong) are mainly found in Bandarban District.
    They are the second largest ethnic group in Alikadam Upazila, Thanchi Upazila and Ruma Upazila.
    UpazilaDistrictPercentage of MruUnions with majority
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District23.77%
    • Kurukpata union
    Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District23.57%
  • Thanchi union
    • Ruma UpazilaBandarban District22.00%
  • Galengya Union
    • Lama UpazilaBandarban District7.72%
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District6.55%
  • Tankabati union
    • Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District6.08%
    Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District3.08%

    Tanchangyas

    According to 2022 census, Tanchangyas are mainly found in Rangamati Hill District and Bandarban District .
    They are the largest ethnic group in Belaichhari Upazila and second largest in Rowangchhari Upazila .
    UpazilaDistrictPercentage of TanchangyaUnion with majority
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati District38.77%
    • Farua Union
    Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati District16.30%
  • Ghilachhari union
    • Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District14.39%
    Kaptai UpazilaRangamati District12.42%
  • Wagga union
    • Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District5.05%
    Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District3.77%
    Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati District3.33%
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District3.10%
    Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati District2.38%
    Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati District1.02%
    Others<1%

    Boms

    According to 2022 census, there are 12,311 Bom in CHT. Among them, 11854 Boms live in Bandarban District, constituting 2.46% of district's population.
    They are third largest ethnic groups in Ruma Upazila.
    UpazilaDistrictPercentage of Bom
    Ruma UpazilaBandarban District19.89%
    Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District6.79%
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District2.47%
    Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District2.30%
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati District1.21%
    Others<1%

    Others

    Khyang

    According to 2022 census, there are 4,176 Khyang in Chittagong hill tracts. Almost 60% khyang live in Bandarban District and other 40% in Rangamati district.
    They form 5.10% in Rajasthali Upazila, 2.35% in Rowangchhari Upazila, 1.21% in Thanchi Upazila, 1.18% in Bandarban Sadar Upazila and <1% in neighboring Upazila's.

    Chak

    According to 2022 census, There are 2,725 Chak people in Chittagong Hill tract. Almost entire 2662 Chaks live in Bandarban District and more specifically 2,329 Chaks live in Naikhongchhari Upazila, constituting 3.05% of Upazila's population.

    Khumi

    According to 2022 census, there are 3,291 Khumi people in Chittagong hill tracts. Almost entire 3287 khumis live in Bandarban District. They form 6.14% in Thanchi Upazila, 2.74% in Ruma Upazila, 1.57% in Rowangchhari Upazila and <1% in neighboring Upazila's.

    Pankho

    According to 2022 census, there are 1,458 Pankho people in Chittagong hill tracts. Almost entire 1,398 Pankhos live in Rangamati district. They form 1.21% in Belaichhari Upazila.

    Lushei

    According to 2022 census, there are 216 Lushei people in Chittagong hill tracts. Their population is in Rangamati district 147, Bandarban District 58 and Khagrachhari district 11.

    Religion

    Islam remains the largest religion in the CHT, predominantly followed by the Bengalis. But indigenous peoples are mainly followers of Buddhism. According to the 2022 Bangladesh census, the percentages of Muslims are: Bandarban 52.68%, Khagrachari 46.56% and Rangamati 36.22%. Most of the Christian population is in Bandarban. Khagrachari and Rangamati have only small numbers.

    Islam

    According to 2022 census, Islam is the largest religion in Bandarban District, Khagrachhari district and the second largest in Rangamati district.
    UpazilaDistrictPercent Muslim
    Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District79.38%
    Langadu UpazilaRangamati Hill District74.62%
    Matiranga UpazilaKhagrachhari District73.94%
    Lama UpazilaBandarban District71.65%
    Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District68.02%
    Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District65.48%
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District54.71%
    Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District47.37%
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District45.77%
    Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District40.69%
    Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District40.05%
    Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District35.70%
    Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District34.98%
    Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District30.94%
    Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District30.78%
    Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District30.60%
    Bagaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District24.74%
    Barkal UpazilaRangamati Hill District22.74%
    Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati Hill District21.92%
    Lakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District20.07%
    Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District14.84%
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District10.62%
    Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District8.80%
    Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District7.87%
    Ruma UpazilaBandarban District7.38%
    Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District3.26%

    Buddhism

    According to 2022 census, Buddhism is the largest religion in Rangamati Hill District and second largest in Khagrachhari District and Bandarban District.
    UpazilaDistrictPercent Buddhist
    Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District95.60%
    Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District83.18%
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District78.21%
    Lakshmichhari Upazila,Khagrachhari District77.73%
    Barkal UpazilaRangamati Hill District75.81%
    Bagaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District67.99%
    Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District67.58%
    Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District61.67%
    Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati Hill District58.48%
    Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District56.76%
    Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District54.54%
    Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District48.50%
    Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District47.25%
    Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District46.74%
    Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District45.35%
    Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District42.34%
    Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District38.50%
    Ruma UpazilaBandarban District36.80%
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District36.49%
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District30.54%
    Langadu UpazilaRangamati Hill District23.74%
    Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District21.50%
    Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District19.41%
    Lama UpazilaBandarban District17.09%
    Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District14.63%
    Matiranga UpazilaKhagrachhari District5.58%

    Hinduism

    According to 2022 census, Hinduism is third largest religion in Khagrachhari district, Rangamati district and fourth largest in Bandarban District. Hinduism is the second largest religion in all other districts of Bangladesh except CHT.
    UpazilaDistrictPercent Hindu
    Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District24.76%
    Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District22.51%
    Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District21.46%
    Matiranga UpazilaKhagrachhari District19.73%
    Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District19.16%
    Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati District10.29%
    Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District10.15%
    Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District9.41%
    Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati District8.77%
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District7.85%
    Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District6.93%
    Baghaichhari UpazilaRangamati District6.67%
    Kaptai UpazilaRangamati District6.23%
    Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati District3.09%
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District3.03%
    Lama UpazilaBandarban District2.92%
    Lakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District2.07%
    Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati District1.87%
    Ruma UpazilaBandarban District1.71%
    Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District1.55%
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati District1.24%
    Langadu UpazilaRangamati District1.23%
    Barkal UpazilaRangamati Hill District0.87%
    Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District0.76%
    Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District0.70%
    Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District0.63%

    Christianity

    According to 2022 census, Christianity is third largest religion in Bandarban District, fourth largest religion in Rangamati district and Khagrachhari district.
    UpazilaDistrictPercent Christian
    Ruma UpazilaBandarban District37.32%
    Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District34.43%
    Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District17.83%
    Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati Hill District10.83%
    Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District9.60%
    Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District6.51%
    Lama UpazilaBandarban District6.24%
    Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District5.83%
    Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District1.75%
    Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District1.02%
    Others<1%