# What's the most racially homogenous country in the world?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 29, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068 "2008-10-29T12:42:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/21 "2008-10-29T18:06:16Z")
Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
I suppose Ireland (Republic) could have been a candidate 12 years ago.
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### Author:  [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/22 "2008-10-29T18:07:40Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#):
>
> What about Scotland?
Not enough true Scotsmen? (or Scotswomen)
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/23 "2008-10-29T18:25:20Z")
> [@AK84](#):
>
> Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
I don’t understand this at all.
Our little island has been historically populated by:
- Celts
- Romans
- Saxons
- Jutes
- Angles
- Belgae
- Danes
- Hugenots
- Jews
and we have had significant immigation from
- the Caribbean
- India
- Uganda
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Nepal
- China
- Poland
etc.
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### Author:  [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/24 "2008-10-29T18:45:09Z")
> [@Nava](#):
>
> I don’t know how they collect it, but they’re still UScentric enough to list one “National Holiday” for Spain (October 12, which is actually a multinational holiday) and to have information on… our independence 😛 (which by the way and if you call it our unification instead is still off by over 300 years). Oh, and Felipe is our heir - apparent? Gosh, I’m sure the Casa Real would be surprised about that one. He’s “apparent” only inasmuch as his Pa still holds the job. In Spanish law, “heredero aparente” means one that hasn’t been confirmed as heir, not one who is waiting for the inheritance to come his way.
>
> Sorry, but seeing information like that means that if someone from the CIA walks in drenched and complains about the rain, I will verify his data by looking out the window.
Heh. That doesn’t necessarily strike me as being USCentric… out of date and a little out of touch, maybe, but being USCentric is either:
- Referring to how horrible your country is or how the US is better
- Listing details with US-specific terms that aren’t generally applicable. I don’t think that ‘independence day’ counts here, because it would be relevant in a lot of countries that used to be colonies.
- Just not bothering to collect data about the rest of the world at all!
And just what are you complaining about the use of the term ‘heir apparent?’ Wikipedia would agree, not that that’s necessarily a great point. I’m not quite sure what point you were making about Spanish law, but in English usage:
Heir apparent: an heir whose right is indefeasible, provided he or she survives the ancestor.
Seems to me that Prince Felipe qualifies there.
And after posting, I realized that **panamajack** concurs too. _sigh_
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### Author:  [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/25 "2008-10-29T23:48:28Z")
> [@chrisk](#):
>
> Heh. That doesn’t necessarily strike me as being USCentric…
Not that many people in the US pay attention to Columbus Day/_Dia de la Raza_, except for the fact they get the day off if they work for a bank or a federal bureaucracy. Probably the most attention it gets is in places like San Francisco’s North Beach, because Columbus was, after all, an Italian, not a Spaniard.
But it’s also a day off from work in many Latin American countries, though people there don’t go around praising Columbus, or Spain for that matter.
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### Author:  [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/26 "2008-10-29T23:59:44Z")
that list is total BS. For one, China recognizes over 37 minorities within the “chinese” people, that site only lists like 10.
Second, the majority of the Japanese and Korean populations are genetically similar, and descended from, the Han Chinese. In fact the first emperor of Japan, around 400 AD (not the mythical Himiko or whomever, obviously) was cousin of the emperor of one of the three kingdoms that became Korea. Also, the Japanese are much more genetically diverse than they like to believe, even discluding the Ainu (the true “native” Japanese, the Jomon people, whatever you wanna call them. Basically Japan’s version of the Native American) Just looking at the physical characteristics of the Japanese you can see genetic differences, some with more philipino or chinese blood, etc. I mean, it’s not like america, I definitely still get the “gaijin stare” wherever I go (even from my neighbors, i mean seriously, they see me every day, it can’t be that much of a shock) but it is definitely less racially homogenous than you’ve been lead to believe
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### Author:  [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/27 "2008-10-30T01:25:28Z")
> [@PopeJewish](#):
>
> that list is total BS. For one, China recognizes over 37 minorities within the “chinese” people, that site only lists like 10.
>
> Second, the majority of the Japanese and Korean populations are genetically similar, and descended from, the Han Chinese. In fact the first emperor of Japan, around 400 AD (not the mythical Himiko or whomever, obviously) was cousin of the emperor of one of the three kingdoms that became Korea. Also, the Japanese are much more genetically diverse than they like to believe, even discluding the Ainu (the true “native” Japanese, the Jomon people, whatever you wanna call them. Basically Japan’s version of the Native American) Just looking at the physical characteristics of the Japanese you can see genetic differences, some with more philipino or chinese blood, etc. I mean, it’s not like america, I definitely still get the “gaijin stare” wherever I go (even from my neighbors, i mean seriously, they see me every day, it can’t be that much of a shock) but it is definitely less racially homogenous than you’ve been lead to believe
I think this is a good point. I haven’t (yet) been to Korea or Japan, but from the the Koreans and Japanese that I meet (in my line of work, I meet a lot), they can look very different. I imagine that homogeneity could be more a of cultural construct than an actual physiological reality. After all, a person in the U.S. who is only 25% black (that is, of African origin) and 75% white will still be considered black, depending on the person’s appearance. Some people say that Obama is black, but he’s equally white.
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### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/28 "2008-10-30T01:51:26Z")
I wouldn’t think that “racially homogenous” has any sensible meaning – unless it means “If I look at the people of that country, I’ll see a group that some redneck would say is all black, or all white, or all yellow.” Ethnolinguistic breakdowns, on the other hand, are meaningful – if the Thai and the Lao see a clear difference between each other, that counts, even if Joe from Bug Tussle would lump them together. And some legitimate lumping – creating the equivalent of ‘genera’ and ‘families’ of ethnolonguistic ‘species’, would I think be valid. For example, in the Federation of Micronesia data presented by **mlees** , the groups in red are ethnically nearly identical and speak closely related languages, and could be taken together as ‘Micronesian’: Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census). The neighboring Republic of Belau, also included in the old Trust Territory, is ethnolinguistically quite distinct, being ethnically Melanesian and linguistically a fairly close relative of Malay (which the Polynesian and Micronesian languages are more distant relatives of).
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### Author:  [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/29 "2008-10-30T06:16:54Z")
Somalia’s up there, at least in terms of African countries.
**An Gadaí** , Scotland? WTF?
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/30 "2008-10-30T06:43:36Z")
I think there is no way to do this, because “diversity” is too ambiguous a word. In Cameroon- a country of 17 million people, I personally knew at least half of the foreigners in the country and knew _of_ most of the rest. It was pretty much to the point where I’d know every time a white person entered the province- and certainly my town. Only a very small handful of foreigners actually lived there permanently.
But Cameroon also has 237 different languages, and ethnic groups to go along with them. Are they diverse? I think they are one of the most diverse places on Earth. Others might just see a bunch of black people.
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### Author:  [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/31 "2008-10-30T09:46:33Z")
> [@ruadh](#):
>
> Somalia’s up there, at least in terms of African countries.
>
> **An Gadaí** , Scotland? WTF?
In 2001, Scotland was almost 98% white according to census figures. I’d say that percentage has changed since though.
[http://83.137.212.42/sitearchive/cre/diversity/map/scotland/index.html](http://83.137.212.42/sitearchive/cre/diversity/map/scotland/index.html)
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/32 "2008-10-30T12:39:08Z")
> [@panamajack](#):
>
> And Granada was indeed conquered in 1492, wasn’t it? The quote refers to Muslim occupation from the 8th Century, and continues with “…the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492;”. Arguably Spain did exist prior to this but it sets that date as the endpoint of the process - It’s more detail than the two phrases France gets.
Spain existed before this as a geographical entity. As a political entity, no. And it didn’t become the Kingdom of Spain until the XIX century. Until Felipe V it was 3 different countries (Castilla, Aragon and Navarra). Until Carlos IV, 2 (Castilla and Navarra). During Jose I, 1 (Spain). Again 2 (Castilla and Navarra): the Navarrese Parliament specifically required Fernando VII’s promise to honor our independence in order to support him. Since the Sisterhood Treaty (mid-reign of Isabel II) and except for a few curious declarations of independence during the Second Republic and 36-39 Civil War, 1 (Spain).
So 1492 is NOT the end date of the unification process.
> [@](#):
>
> I’m not sure exactly what is meant by the Spanish term — is it someone whose bloodline is in question, or is there a specific confirmation process to ensure that they can or will become the monarch?
Someone who hasn’t gone through the confirmation process. Felipe has.
Spain has more than one national holiday. Picking October 12 is like picking December 25 for any of the many countries which celebrate it (Spain among others). The one closest to THE big national holiday would be Santiago, July 25th.
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### Author:  [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/33 "2008-10-30T14:17:52Z")
> [@even\_sven](#):
>
> I think there is no way to do this, because “diversity” is too ambiguous a word. In Cameroon- a country of 17 million people, I personally knew at least half of the foreigners in the country and knew _of_ most of the rest. It was pretty much to the point where I’d know every time a white person entered the province- and certainly my town. Only a very small handful of foreigners actually lived there permanently.
>
> But Cameroon also has 237 different languages, and ethnic groups to go along with them. Are they diverse? I think they are one of the most diverse places on Earth. Others might just see a bunch of black people.
You mean **white European foreigners.** It is possible of course not to be white and be a foreigner. And that is not true, the capital has many expats, I doubt you knew the business expats.
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### Author:  [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/34 "2008-10-30T14:26:46Z")
To get us back on track.
What about Egypt or Algeria? Both mainly Arab countries, which don’t “import” laborers from Asia (like the Gulf Coast countries do) and have a big enough native population so that some immigration doesn’t “dilute” it too much.
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### Author:  [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/35 "2008-10-30T14:29:19Z")
> [@Nava](#):
>
> Spain existed before this as a geographical entity. As a political entity, no. And it didn’t become the Kingdom of Spain until the XIX century. Until Felipe V it was 3 different countries (Castilla, Aragon and Navarra). Until Carlos IV, 2 (Castilla and Navarra). During Jose I, 1 (Spain). Again 2 (Castilla and Navarra): the Navarrese Parliament specifically required Fernando VII’s promise to honor our independence in order to support him. Since the Sisterhood Treaty (mid-reign of Isabel II) and except for a few curious declarations of independence during the Second Republic and 36-39 Civil War, 1 (Spain).
>
> So 1492 is NOT the end date of the unification process.
>
> Someone who hasn’t gone through the confirmation process. Felipe has.
>
> Spain has more than one national holiday. Picking October 12 is like picking December 25 for any of the many countries which celebrate it (Spain among others). The one closest to THE big national holiday would be Santiago, July 25th.
Believe me, the CIA knows all of this and lots, lots more. However, it defines things very narrowly, and frankly, it really doesn’t give a [checks forum] **FLYING FLIP** [/checks forum]about what you or your culture or nation prefer, officially or otherwise. They only list certain surfance-level information because they keep their entries short. You can argue exactly when Spain was supposedly “unified” or not, but it’s a defensible date and one frequently accepted by historians.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/36 "2008-10-30T14:46:52Z")
> [@Nava](#):
>
> Again 2 (Castilla and Navarra): the Navarrese Parliament specifically required Fernando VII’s promise to honor our independence in order to support him.
Didn’t Ferdinand annex it after the War of the League of Cambrai? I thought Navarre had autonomy, and kept its legal code, but it didn’t have independence.
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### Author:  [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/37 "2008-10-30T15:04:07Z")
To continue the detour…
> [@Nava](#):
>
> Oh, and Felipe is our heir - apparent? Gosh, I’m sure the Casa Real would be surprised about that one.
Or perhaps not. The English language version of the Casa Real’s own website describes him as ‘heir apparent’.
> [@](#):
>
> _On the 1 November 2003, Their Majesties the King and Queen announced the engagement of their son and heir apparent, H.R.H. The Prince of Asturias, to Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano…_
>
> [InicioCastellano - Casa Real](http://www.casareal.es/sar_principe/index-iden-idweb.html)
Or consider the briefing information it provided to journalists covering his wedding.
> [@](#):
>
> _Heir apparent to the Throne since the proclamation of his father as King of Spain on 22nd November 1975…_
>
> [http://www.casareal.es/boda/info/annex.pdf](http://www.casareal.es/boda/info/annex.pdf) [pdf], p. 3
Seems to me that the Casa Real is well-informed and sensitive enough to know that, as English usage on this point is very precise, it makes sense to follow that usage when writing for English language audiences. Indeed, they’ve presumably been careful enough not to just make literal translations from the Spanish versions. The CIA are quite possibly less well-informed and less sensitive, but they doubtless call him ‘heir apparent’ for exactly the same reason.
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### Author:  [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/38 "2008-10-30T15:46:57Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#):
>
> To get us back on track.
>
> What about Egypt or Algeria? Both mainly Arab countries, which don’t “import” laborers from Asia (like the Gulf Coast countries do) and have a big enough native population so that some immigration doesn’t “dilute” it too much.
Egypt has Nubian people and although largely Arabised nowadays they are a distinct ethnic group I believe.
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/39 "2008-10-30T15:55:41Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#):
>
> Didn’t Ferdinand annex it after the War of the League of Cambrai? I thought Navarre had autonomy, and kept its legal code, but it didn’t have independence.
F VII I assume you mean… Queen Elizabeth of England is dead, Queen Elizabeth of England is alive. Although FVII tried it, it wasn’t legal, as it hadn’t been ratified by the Navarrese Parliament. Once it got accepted by the Navarrese, that’s when the Kingdom of Spain was formed, from the Treaty of Sisterhood. If it had been an annexation, it would be the Kingdom of Castilla, same as when Felipe V declared Aragon “conquered land” it became a part of the Kingdom of Castilla.
I stand corrected re. the Heir Apparent.
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### Author:  [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-racially-homogenous-country-in-the-world/470068/40 "2008-10-30T15:57:16Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#):
>
> Egypt has Nubian people and although largely Arabised nowadays they are a distinct ethnic group I believe.
I forgot about them. Well, it still leaves Algeria (or Tunisia)?
But the Berbers in Algeria, probably disqualify it. Which leaves Tunisia in the run.
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