World Ethnic Groups Quiz

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| By Saim Ansari
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Saim Ansari
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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 279
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  • 1/34 Questions

    Which Southern African country contains the largest number of people of European descent?

    • Namibia
    • Zimbabwe
    • Botswana
    • South Africa
    • Angola
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About This Quiz

Explore the ethnic and ancestral origins across the globe, from the Han Chinese diaspora to the predominant ethnicities in Argentina and Mauritius.

Demographics Quizzes & Trivia

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  • 2. 

    Which of the following countries does not have an African-diasporic (Black) majority?

    • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Brazil

    • Jamaica

    • Bahamas

    • Dominican Republic

    Correct Answer
    A. Brazil
    Explanation
    Although Brazil has a large African community, Africans do not form more than 50% of the population. The Dominican Republic has a Mulatto (mixed European/African) majority, but this still counts as an African majority.

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  • 3. 

    What is the largest super-ethnic (“racial”) grouping in South Africa?

    • Bantus

    • Khoisan

    • Europeans (Whites)

    • Indians (South Asians)

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Bantus
    Explanation
    The Bantu-speakers spread from West Africa throughout most of Central and Southern Africa, supplanting the native Khoisan and Pygmy peoples.

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  • 4. 

    What is the Canadian province or territory with an Inuit plurality?

    • Nunavut

    • Ontario

    • Yukon

    • Saskatchewan

    • Newfoundland

    Correct Answer
    A. Nunavut
    Explanation
    Nunavut is the correct answer because it is the only Canadian province or territory with an Inuit plurality. Inuit people make up the majority of the population in Nunavut, with Inuktitut being one of the official languages of the territory. Ontario, Yukon, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland do not have an Inuit plurality.

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  • 5. 

    What is the largest Indian ethnic group in Singapore?

    • Malayali

    • Punjabi

    • Gujarati

    • Tamil

    • Hindu

    Correct Answer
    A. Tamil
    Explanation
    Tamils were brought to Singapore by the British as 'Coolies', or plantation workers, in the 1800s. Punjabis and Malayalis are the next largest groups, but neither group has a population nearly as large as that of the Tamil Singaporeans.

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  • 6. 

    Which is the largest non-European minority in Australia?

    • East Asians

    • Indians

    • Indigenous Australian

    • Middle Easterners

    Correct Answer
    A. East Asians
    Explanation
    Chinese are the largest non-European ethnic group at nearly 700, 000 people. The mostly Catholic Lebanese only number around 180, 000, while Muslims as a whole only around 350, 000. Less than 100, 000 Australians are Assyrians, Jews or Coptic-Arabs.

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  • 7. 

    What is the largest Han Chinese people in Australia?

    • Hokkien

    • Cantonese

    • Shanghainese

    • Mandarin-speaking Chinese

    • Teochew

    Correct Answer
    A. Cantonese
    Explanation
    Due to its British colony status, Cantonese-speakers from Hong Kong had easier access to Australia than their Cantonese, Shanghainese, Teochew or Mandarin speaking neighbors. However, a larger number of Mandarin-speakers have begun immigrating to Australia in recent decades.

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  • 8. 

    What are the two largest ethnic groups of South Africa?

    • Dutch and English

    • Tswana and Xhosa

    • Xhosa and Zulu

    • Zulu and Sotho

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Xhosa and Zulu
    Explanation
    Although Dutch and English may well be the largest European groups, the Xhosa of the Eastern Cape and the Zulu of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng are the largest peoples overall.

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  • 9. 

    Which country hosts the largest Turkish diaspora population in Europe?

    • UK

    • France

    • Spain

    • Greece

    • Germany

    Correct Answer
    A. Germany
    Explanation
    Germany hosts the largest Turkish diaspora population in Europe. This is because Germany has a history of labor migration from Turkey, with many Turkish people moving to Germany for work opportunities. As a result, there is a significant Turkish community in Germany, making it the country with the largest Turkish diaspora population in Europe.

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  • 10. 

    What is Nelson Mandela’s ethnic background?

    • Zulu

    • Xhosa

    • Afrikaner

    • Tswana

    • Shona

    Correct Answer
    A. Xhosa
    Explanation
    Nelson Mandela's ethnic background is Xhosa. The Xhosa people are a Bantu ethnic group native to South Africa, and Mandela himself was born into the Xhosa royal family. He played a pivotal role in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and later became the country's first black president.

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  • 11. 

    What is the largest ethnic group in Israel?

    • Sephardic Jewish

    • Ashkenazic Jewish

    • Yemenite Jewish

    • Old Yishuv Jewish

    • Israeli

    Correct Answer
    A. Ashkenazic Jewish
    Explanation
    Israeli is the nationality that describes people from Israel, and thus is not an ethnic group. Ashkenazi Jews are the largest ethnicity in Israel. They originated in the region of Rhineland in Germany, and then spread all over Europe. Later, Ashkenazim, mostly from Eastern Europe and Germany, immigrated to European colonies, particularly the United States. These American and European Jewish immigrants and their descendants form the largest group of Jews in Israel.

    Sephardi, on the other hand, originated in Spain but later immigrated to France, northern Europe (a notable example of a northern European Sephardi is Benjamin Disraeli, former Prime Minister of Britain), Italy, Greece, northwest Africa and the Middle East. Yemenite Jews originated in southern Arabia, while Old Yishuv Jews originated in Palestine.

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  • 12. 

    What ethno-linguistic group were historical the dominant group of Andorra?

    • French

    • Portuguese

    • Basques

    • Castilians

    • Catalans

    Correct Answer
    A. Catalans
    Explanation
    Catalans were the largest group in Andorra for centuries. More recently, Spanish and Portuguese immigration has challenged this dominance.

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  • 13. 

    What two regions have an Armenian majority?

    • Armenia and Azerbaijan

    • Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

    • Anatolia and Armenia

    • Anatolia and Nagorno-Karabakh

    • Armenia and Turkey

    Correct Answer
    A. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
    Explanation
    Nagorno-Karabakh is an Azerbaijani region with an Armenian majority. It borders Armenia.

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  • 14. 

    What is the largest ethnic group in Kerala?

    • Hindu

    • Malayali

    • Aryan

    • Hindi

    • Kerala

    Correct Answer
    A. Malayali
    Explanation
    Hindus are a religious group, while 'Aryans' were an ancient people that settled in the north of India, not the south. 'Hindi' is a language, and the proper adjective form of 'Kerala' is 'Keralite', not 'Kerala'. The correct answer is therefore Malaylis (an ethno-linguistic group formed out of many Keralite communities). They are mostly Hindu and speak Malayalam.

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  • 15. 

    What is the largest ethnic/ancestral group in Argentina?

    • Castilians

    • Galicians

    • Indigenous

    • Italians

    • Mestizos

    Correct Answer
    A. Italians
    Explanation
    Argentines, like Australians and US-Americans, are a nationality primarily descended from colonial-era European immigrants. Among the largest groups are Iberian peoples such as Galicians and Basques, and the Italians (who, if Iberians are broken up, form a plurality of the population). Other groups include Arabs, East Asians and Indigenous peoples. Argentina has a substantial Mestizo population, who are descended from a mixture of European and Indigenous peoples.

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  • 16. 

    What was Mohandas Gandhi’s ethnic background?

    • Punjabi

    • Rajasthani

    • Uttar Pradeshi

    • Hindu

    • Gujarati

    Correct Answer
    A. Gujarati
    Explanation
    Gandhi was a Gujarati Hindu Brahmin. Uttar Pradeshi and Hindu are not ethnicities.

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  • 17. 

    What are the two largest Indian ethnic groups in New Zealand?

    • Malayali, Tamil

    • Punjabi, Gujarati

    • Punjabi, Tamil

    • Bengali, Malayali

    • Bihari, Tamil

    Correct Answer
    A. Punjabi, Gujarati
    Explanation
    Many Punjabis and Gujaratis from British India and later the Republic of India immigrated to New Zealand during the 1900s. Indians are the second fastest growing ethnic group in New Zealand.

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  • 18. 

    The Kabyles are a Berber people found in which North African country?

    • Morocco

    • Algeria

    • Egypt

    • Saudi Arabia

    • Tunisia

    Correct Answer
    A. Algeria
    Explanation
    The Kabyles are a Berber people, and Berbers are indigenous to North Africa. Among the given options, Algeria is the North African country where the Kabyles are found. Therefore, the correct answer is Algeria.

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  • 19. 

    Most people in the Han Chinese diaspora are descended from emigrants from which two regions?

    • Guangdong and Fujian

    • Guangxi and Sichuan

    • Shanghai and Heibei

    • Beijing and Shanghai

    • Shanghai and Hong Kong

    Correct Answer
    A. Guangdong and Fujian
    Explanation
    Hong Kong and Macau were originally part of the Guangdong (also known as Canton) province until British and Portuguese colonization. Fujian is a province located directly to the east.

    Most diasporic Chinese are either Hoklos/Hokkiens (from Fujian, majority of Chinese in Taiwan, Phillipines, Malaysia and Singapore), Teochew/Chiu Chew (from Chaozhou in Guangdong, a large minority in Singapore and Malaysia), Hakka (from Guangdong, large minority in ) or Cantonese (from Guangdong, including Hong Kong and Macau, largest group in the Western world).

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  • 20. 

    Which is the odd one out, out of the following: Arab, Jewish, Turkish, Assyrian, Tigrinya, Amhara?

    • Arab

    • Jewish

    • Turkish

    • Amhara

    • Tigrinya

    Correct Answer
    A. Turkish
    Explanation
    Arabs, Jews, Amhara and Tigrinya are all Semitic peoples, although Arabs and Jews are of Middle Eastern origin like Turks, while Tigrinya and Amhara are Ethiopic Semites. Semites are ethnic groups that is associated with a Semitic language.

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  • 21. 

    What are the two subgroups of Indigenous Australians according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics?

    • Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders

    • Australian Aborigines and Maori Australians

    • Pama-Nygungan and Tasmanian aboriginal

    • Tasmanian aboriginal and Australian aboriginal

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
    Explanation
    According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the two subgroups of Indigenous Australians are Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

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  • 22. 

    What ethnicity did most Mauritian heads of state belong to?

    • Bihari

    • Creole/African

    • Punjabi

    • European (White)

    • Mauritian

    Correct Answer
    A. Bihari
    Explanation
    Mauritius was unique in terms of European colonies, as it did not have any indigenous populations to supplant or exploit. After failed attempts of settlement by the Dutch and Portuguese, the French claimed the island. The British then annexed Mauritius after the Napoleonic wars. Indian emigrants from Britain's Indian colony, primarily Bhojpuri-speakers from the region of Bihar, began settling in the island. Biharis then became largest ethnic group in Mauritius. Other ethnic groups include the African-Creoles, the Europeans and Chinese.

    Subsequently, most Mauritian presidents have been Biharis. A notable exception is the French-Mauritian Paul Berenger.

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  • 23. 

    What was Karl Marx’s ethnic background?

    • Russian

    • German

    • English

    • Ukrainian

    • Ashkenazi

    Correct Answer
    A. Ashkenazi
    Explanation
    Karl Marx's ethnic background was Ashkenazi. Ashkenazi refers to Jews who originated from Eastern Europe, specifically from regions such as Germany, Poland, and Russia. This background is significant because it influenced Marx's upbringing and perspective, as he came from a Jewish family and experienced the discrimination and social inequality faced by Jews in Europe during his time.

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  • 24. 

    Which of the following is the odd one out?

    • Azeri

    • Turkish

    • Turcoman (Iraqi Turkmen)

    • Turkmen

    • Uzbek

    Correct Answer
    A. Uzbek
    Explanation
    The Azeris, Turks, Turcomans and Turkmens all all part of the Oghuz subgroup of Turkic peoples. Uzbeks, on the other hand, are Karluks.

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  • 25. 

    What is the largest ethnic minority in Albania?

    • Greeks

    • Roma/Gypsies

    • Romanians

    • Slavs

    • Albanians

    Correct Answer
    A. Greeks
    Explanation
    The largest ethnic minority in Albania is the Greeks. This is because there is a significant Greek population living in Albania, especially in the southern region near the border with Greece. The historical and cultural ties between Albania and Greece have led to a large Greek community in Albania.

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  • 26. 

    What are the two Coloured-majority states of South Africa?

    • KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng

    • Free State and Limpopo

    • Northern Cape and Western Cape

    • Free State and KwaZulu-Natal

    • Free State and Northern Cape

    Correct Answer
    A. Northern Cape and Western Cape
    Explanation
    Coloureds are a Southern African community comprised of a mixture of various ethnic groups in South Africa.

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  • 27. 

    What is the largest indigenous minority of Austria?

    • Germans

    • Slovenes

    • Hungarians

    • Croats

    • Jews

    Correct Answer
    A. Slovenes
    Explanation
    The Slovene-speakers are the largest indigenous minority. There are also substantial Hungarian and Croatian speaking communities. German-speaking immigrants from Italy, Switzerland and Germany constitute the largest immigrant group. Serbs, Croats, and Turks are also large immigrant groups.

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  • 28. 

    In the context of the Han Chinese subgroups, which is the odd one out?

    • Taiwan

    • Singapore

    • Macau

    • Malaysia

    • Fujian

    Correct Answer
    A. Macau
    Explanation
    The largest Han group in Taiwan, Singapore, Fujian and Malaysia are all Hoklo/Hokkien, while in Macau it is Cantonese.

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  • 29. 

    Which of these US states have (self-identified, based on Census data) English-American pluralities?

    • Idaho and Washington

    • Utah and Maine

    • Maine and Virginia

    • Utah and Kansas

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Utah and Maine
    Explanation
    English have historically been the largest ethnic group in the United States. Recently, according to Census data, Germans and Irish have surpassed them. However, a large number of Americans of English descent identified as just 'American', and many English-Americans prefer to identify with a more recent or differentiated ancestry of theirs (such as Italian, African or Greek) as English have been dominant for centuries.

    Based on Census data, Utah and Maine are the only US states that have an English plurality.

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  • 30. 

    Which is the largest ethnic group in Nepal?

    • Bhojpuri

    • Bhotiya

    • Sherpa

    • Pahari

    • Hill-Brahmin

    Correct Answer
    A. Pahari
    Explanation
    Paharis are the various Indo-Aryan hill groups that speak a variety of related dialects, including Kumaoni, Garhwali and Gurkha.

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  • 31. 

    The largest Angolan people, the Ovimbundu, are dominant in which of the following cities?

    • Luanda

    • Ovimbunda

    • Ambrizate

    • Nova Lisboa

    • Angola City

    Correct Answer
    A. Nova Lisboa
    Explanation
    Neither Ovimbunda nor Angola City exist. Luanda, though the capital of Angola, is dominated by Kimbundu.

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  • 32. 

    Which country contains the largest number of Italians outside of Italy?

    • United States

    • Argentina

    • Brazil

    • Switzerland

    • Australia

    Correct Answer
    A. Brazil
    Explanation
    Although there are substantial Italian populations in all these countries, Brazil has the largest Italian population.

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  • 33. 

    Other than Dutch, what two European peoples contributed the most to the present Afrikaner population?

    • Scots and English

    • French and German

    • French Hugenot and British

    • English and German

    • French and English

    Correct Answer
    A. French and German
    Explanation
    French Protestants (known as Huguenots) and Germans contributed a significant amount to the present Afrikaner population. Many Afrikaners have Dutch-icized French and German surnames.

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  • 34. 

    What is the main language of the Tajiks?

    • Tajiki

    • Persian

    • Dari

    • Pashto

    • Arabic

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. Persian
    A. Dari
    Explanation
    Dari is the language of the Tajiks of Afghanistan, which is also spoken by the Hazaras. Tajiki is spoken in Tajikistan, where there is a smaller Tajik population. Persian is also a correct answer, as both Dari and Tajiki are dialects of Persian.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 22, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Jun 06, 2009
    Quiz Created by
    Saim Ansari
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