20 Least Diverse Countries in the World

In this article, we will take a look at the 20 least diverse countries in the world.

The uniqueness of a country’s culture is deeply rooted in its historical heritage and distinct civilizations. Diverse nations exhibit varying degrees of receptivity and adaptability to change, with some cultures embracing openness and flexibility while others adhere to more traditional and closed cultural norms. Moreover, globalization does not unfold uniformly across the globe. It has fundamentally transformed how we perceive and interact with diverse cultures, altering our approach to travel.

Social scientists embarked on the task of quantifying ethnic diversity by cross-referencing data from a myriad of sources, including national censuses, the Encyclopedia Britannica, CIA records, Minority Rights Group International, and a 1998 study named “Ethnic Groups Worldwide.” Their objective was to discern the most reliable and comprehensive dataset by scrutinizing both consistency and discrepancies among these sources. It’s essential to recognize that data sources such as censuses or surveys rely on self-reporting, meaning individuals categorize themselves based on how they perceive their ethnic identity, rather than how external parties categorize them. This approach resulted in the identification of 650 distinct ethnic groups across 190 countries.

One crucial aspect examined by these scientists was what they termed “ethnic fractionalization,” a concept akin to diversity. To gauge this, they posed an elegantly straightforward question: If two individuals were randomly selected in a specific country and asked about their ethnicity, what were the odds that they would provide different responses? Higher odds signified greater ethnic “fractionalization” or diversity within the country. The findings revealed that countries in Europe and Northeast Asia tended to exhibit higher levels of homogeneity, while sub-Saharan African nations were characterized by greater diversity. The Americas generally fell somewhere in between. Furthermore, it appeared that wealthier countries tended to be more homogenous in terms of ethnic composition.

It’s crucial to acknowledge that conceptions of ethnicity can evolve over time, as seen in instances like Somalia, where individuals began identifying themselves differently in the wake of conflict. Additionally, national demographics can shift due to factors such as immigration, conflicts, demographic trends, and other variables. Consequently, it’s entirely plausible that the diversity “scores” might exhibit variations with contemporary data.

Another important consideration is that individuals in various countries may have varying criteria for defining a separate ethnicity. As a result, these data sets could be regarded as assessing the perception of ethnic diversity rather than the diversity itself. It’s worth noting that ethnicity is fundamentally a social construct, and the distinction between these two metrics is not always as clear-cut as it may initially appear. While ethnicity may overlap with race to some extent, they are not synonymous concepts.

It’s essential to bear in mind that every nation, regardless of its size, harbors its own minority groups. A country is typically deemed homogeneous when a substantial majority, usually close to 90%, of its population shares a common racial or ethnic background. Several Asian countries, such as South and North Korea and Japan, where the percentage approaches 100%, as well as the Philippines, with over 95% homogeneity, and Indonesia at 95%, exemplify this characteristic. Additionally, it can be noted that the Philippines is the most diverse country in Asia and the United States is among the racially diverse countries in the world based on our 25 Most Diverse Countries in the World article. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, despite their racial diversity stemming from ancient Iranian, Native ASI, and Central Asian influences, can also be considered largely monoracial because a significant portion of their populations share a similar genetic mix, albeit to varying degrees. Likewise, various Middle Eastern nations, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Yemen, and Jordan, can be classified as monoracial. In contrast, certain Balkan countries exhibit less than 90% of their populations belonging to a single racial group.

Our Methodology

A country’s racial diversity can be assessed by considering the proportions of its population belonging to various racial groups. Multiple factors contribute to a country’s racial diversity, including historical events, patterns of immigration, and governmental social policies. To compile our list of the 20 least diverse countries in the world, we relied on data reflecting the percentage breakdowns of racial diversity by country. The information utilized was sourced from the Historical Index of Ethnic Fractionalization Dataset (HIEF), which offers comprehensive measurements of ethnic fractionalization for 165 countries spanning from 1945 to 2013. This dataset quantifies racial diversity on a scale that ranges from 0%, representing complete homogeneity, to 100%, indicating complete fragmentation, based on the relative proportions of each ethnic group within a nation’s total population. You can also take a peek at our Most Racially Diverse Countries in the World article to see the most multicultural countries in the world.

So without further ado, let us now discuss our list of the 20 least diverse countries in the world.

20 Least Diverse Countries in the World

20. Argentina

Racial Diversity: 15.8%

Argentina boasts a rich tapestry of ethnic diversity, with its main ethnic groups comprising Italians, Jews, Spanish, Germans, Guaraní, Mapuche, Qom, Kolla, and Wichí. Additionally, the country is home to an array of thirty-six Indigenous ethnic groups, along with numerous other ethnic communities originating from African, Asian, and European settlers. In terms of demographic composition, Argentina is predominantly characterized by individuals of European descent, predominantly of Spanish and Italian origins, accounting for 97.2% of the population. A significant portion of the population falls under the category of mestizo, reflecting a blend of European and Amerindian ancestry, constituting 2.4% of the population. A smaller percentage, 0.4%, identifies as African, according to estimates from 2010.

19. Norway

Racial Diversity: 15.1%

Norway ranks 19th in our list of the least diverse countries in the world by race. Norwegians represent both an ethnic group and a native population indigenous to Norway, where they comprise the predominant segment of the inhabitants. In contemporary Norway, there is a discernible increase in ethnic and cultural diversity, surpassing previous levels. The population experienced a 1.3% growth rate in the past year, with immigration contributing significantly, constituting 72% of this overall growth. It can be noted that Norway is one of the least diverse countries in Europe.

18. Albania

Racial Diversity: 13.9%

Albania stands out as one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in Europe, where individuals of non-Albanian descent constitute less than one-tenth of the total population. The Albanian people represent an indigenous ethnic group rooted in the Balkan Peninsula, characterized by a shared Albanian history, language, ancestry, and culture.

17. Finland

Racial Diversity: 13.8%

Finland landed in the 17th spot in our list of the least diverse countries in the world. Finland is primarily characterized as an ethnically homogeneous nation, with the prevailing ethnicity being of Finnish descent. Finland does not exhibit substantial diversity, instead, it is largely ethnically homogeneous. Finnish nationals constitute over 90% of the population, while the country also encompasses national minority groups such as the Sami, the Finnish-Swedes, the Roma, the Jewish community, etc.

16. Lebanon

Racial Diversity: 13.3%

From an ethnic perspective, the Lebanese population is characterized by a blend of Phoenician, Greek, Armenian, and Arab influences, creating a rich tapestry of heritage. Within the broader Lebanese community, you can also find ethnic minorities, including Armenian and Kurdish populations. Lebanon’s religious composition is diverse, with approximately 95% of the population adhering to either Islam or Christianity, further divided among various sects and denominations.

15. Yemen

Racial Diversity: 12.6%

Yemen ranks 15th in our list of the least diverse countries in the world. The majority of Yemenis identify as ethnic Arabs with Afro-Arab roots. Notably, the black al-Muhamasheen ethnic minority is distinct from the three primary Arab tribes in the country. Estimates suggest that this minority group constitutes between 2% to 5% of the population, although certain community assessments suggest a proportion closer to 10%.

14. Azerbaijan

Racial Diversity: 12.2%

The population of Azerbaijan primarily consists of Turkic-speaking Azerbaijanis, constituting around 90% of the country’s inhabitants. The remaining portion is made up of smaller minority groups, including Lezgians, Russians, and Armenians.

13. Italy

Racial Diversity: 11%

Italy garnered the 13th spot in our list of the least diverse countries in the world. It is fair to say that Italy has a predominantly Caucasian population. According to the National Institute for Statistics, over 95% of the country’s residents, exceeding 60 million people, identify as ethnic Italians, a category often associated with a white demographic. The remaining 5% of the population comprises various ethnic groups, including Albanians, Romanians, Ukrainians, and other Europeans, constituting 2.5%, Africans, constituting 1.5%, and several other minority communities.

12. Haiti

Racial Diversity: 10.5%

Haiti secured the 12th spot in our list of the least diverse countries in the world. As per population DNA tests, it’s estimated that roughly 80% of Haiti’s population identifies as Afro-Haitian. Within this Black Haitian demographic, the genetic makeup is approximately 75% African and 25% European or of mixed European origin. The remaining segment of Haiti’s population consists predominantly of Mulattoes, Europeans, Asians, and Arabs.

11. Solomon Islands

Racial Diversity: 9.7%

The Solomon Islands is a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions. Among its population of 496,000, the majority, 93.3%, are of Melanesian descent, with 4% identifying as Polynesian and 1.5% as Micronesian. Additionally, there are small but notable communities of Europeans and Chinese in the country. This diverse nation boasts a remarkable linguistic diversity, with approximately 120 distinct languages spoken throughout its islands.

10. South Korea

Racial Diversity: 9.5%

Ranking 10th in our list of the least diverse countries in the world is South Korea. South Korea, situated in East Asia, is home to a population of 52 million. South Korea’s population exhibits a high degree of homogeneity, with the vast majority being ethnically Korean. A small minority of permanent residents of ethnic Chinese origin also reside in the country.  Moreover, the country also hosts approximately 1.6 million temporary residents who were born in other countries.

9. Poland

Racial Diversity: 6.9%

Ranking 9th in our list of the least diverse countries in the world is Poland. The majority of residents in Poland, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, identify themselves as Polish. Consequently, about 98% of the nation’s population is categorized as Polish. Poland is also home to various other ethnic groups, including Kashubians, Germans, Belorussians, Ukrainians, Romas, Jews, and Silesians.

8. Comoros

Racial Diversity: 5.4%

The population of Comoros is a diverse blend of Arabs, Persians, Indonesians, Africans, and Indians, with a smaller European presence resulting from settlements on the islands during the period from the 8th to the 19th centuries when Comoros played a key role as a regional trade hub. Approximately 90% of the Comorian population identifies as black, while the remaining 10% is of mixed race, predominantly of black and white heritage.

7. Armenia

Racial Diversity: 4.5%

Armenia ranks 7th in our list of the least diverse countries in the world. Armenians make up the overwhelming majority of the nation’s population, and they primarily communicate in Armenian, which is a unique branch within the Indo-European language family. The remaining portion of the populace encompasses Kurds, Russians, and smaller communities of Ukrainians, Assyrians, and various other ethnic groups.

6. Jordan

Racial Diversity: 4.4%

Ranking 6th in our list of the least diverse countries in the world is Jordan. Approximately 94% of Jordan’s population is of Arab descent, with the remaining 6% consisting of various ethnic minorities such as Circassians, Chechens, Armenians, and Kurds. In addition, foreigners, including both expatriates and immigrants, constitute a significant portion, accounting for 34% of Jordan’s total population, which is more than one-third of the nation’s residents.

5. Egypt

Racial Diversity: 4.1%

Egypt’s demographic composition is primarily characterized by the dominance of the Egyptian ethnic group, with two smaller minority groups, the Bedouins and the Berbers. According to the CIA World Factbook, approximately 87% of the population adheres to Islam, while 10% follow Christianity. In general, Egypt maintains a high degree of ethnic homogeneity, with approximately 99.6% of the population identifying as ethnically Egyptian.

4. Tunisia

Racial Diversity: 3.4%

Tunisia ranks 4th in our list of the least diverse countries in the world. Tunisia boasts a rich and diverse culture, shaped in part by extended periods of Ottoman and subsequent French colonial rule. Additionally, the coexistence of Jewish and Christian communities within a predominantly Muslim majority for centuries has further contributed to its cultural diversity. The nation’s populace is primarily Arab, accounting for 98% of the population. The remaining 2% includes 1% European settlers and 1% from various other ethnic backgrounds, notably Berbers and sub-Saharan migrants.