Mongolians all around the World

The Mongols are not confined to the borders of modern-day Mongolia. Due to centuries of empire-building, migration, warfare, and exile, ethnic Mongol communities are spread across Russia, China, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and even farther afield. Some of these groups have preserved their language and traditions, while others have gradually assimilated into local cultures.

The global dispersion of Mongol peoples can be understood in three historical waves, each tied to major political and cultural transformations:

This first wave occurred during and after the expansion of the Great Mongol Empire (1206–1368). As Genghis Khan’s descendants pushed westward and southward, Mongol warriors and administrators settled in newly conquered lands, often intermarrying with local populations. Notable descendants of this era include:

Notable Groups:

• Hazaras (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran):
  Descendants of Mongol soldiers and settlers, Hazaras live primarily in central Afghanistan (approx. 3 million), with ~650,000 in Pakistan and ~1 million in Iran. Though they speak Persian (Dari), many retain Mongol facial features and oral traditions linking them to Genghis Khan’s army. Today, they face ongoing persecution and discrimination.

• Moghols (or Mohols) (India):
  A small, isolated ethnic group in Bihar, India, considered remnants of Mongol invasions. Though their Mongolian language is now extinct, some cultural elements persist.

• Daurs (Inner Mongolia, China):
  Likely descended from Khitans and Mongolic tribes who fled during the fall of the Liao Dynasty. About 132,000 Daurs exist today, mostly in northeastern Inner Mongolia, but only ~94,000 still speak the Daur language, a Mongolic tongue.

• Bonan, Dongxiang, Monguor (Tsagaan Mongol), and Yugurs (China):
  These ethnic groups reside mostly in Gansu, Qinghai, and Yunnan provinces. Some maintain Mongolic languages and link their heritage to Mongol military settlers from the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368).

• Sogwo Arig (Sog Mongols), Katso, and Sichuan Mongols:
  Residing in the Tibetan Plateau and southwestern China, they claim descent from Mongol administrators and soldiers stationed during the Yuan period.

The second wave of dispersion followed the collapse of the Mongol Empire, internal civil wars, and the expansion of Russian and Manchu power in Central and East Asia. This period reshaped the map of Mongol identity across Eurasia.

Key Ethnic Groups:

• Buryats (Russia – Lake Baikal area):
  The largest Mongolic group in Russia today (~461,000 people). They were incorporated into the Russian Empire via the Treaties of Nerchinsk (1689) and Kyakhta (1727), which separated their territory from Mongolia.

• Kalmyks (Russia – Caspian Sea region):
  Western Mongolic-speaking Oirats who migrated westward in the 17th century and settled in Kalmykia, now the only Buddhist-majority republic in Europe.

• Tuvans (Russia – Tyva Republic):
  Originally a Turkic-Mongolic hybrid group, the ~366,000 Tuvans have strong historical ties to Mongolic culture. Tyva was once part of the Mongol Empire and later Qing China before joining the Soviet Union.

• Altai Mongols (Russia – Altai region):
  Related to both Mongolic and Turkic peoples, this group maintains ancient shamanistic and nomadic traditions.

• Inner Mongols (China – Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region):
  Ethnic Mongols here include Chahar, Tumet, and Khorchin tribes. Inner Mongolia was annexed by the Manchus in 1635 and remains under Chinese administration, with about 4.5 million ethnic Mongols, although only about half speak the Mongolian language fluently today.

The third and most recent wave began in the early 1990s, after Mongolia transitioned from a socialist state to a democratic republic. This era brought economic challenges that pushed many Mongolians to study, work, or settle abroad.

Where Are Mongols Today?

• Approx. 216,000 Mongols now live outside Mongolia in over 80 countries.
• Major Mongol diaspora hubs include:
  • South Korea (large labor and student population)
  • United States (notably in California, Chicago, and Denver)
  • Germany, the UK, and Czech Republic (students and migrants)
  • Japan, Turkey, and Australia

This “global Mongol generation” is often well-educated, multilingual, and connected through social media and cultural networks. Mongolian cultural events, wrestling tournaments, and Naadam festivals are now celebrated across the globe.

Preserving Identity in a Globalized World

While some Mongolic groups have lost their native language and traditions due to assimilation and intermarriage, others continue to preserve and revive their cultural heritage through:

• Language schools
• Cultural organizations
• Online communities
• Global festivals (such as Eagle Festivals, Tsagaan Sar, and Naadam)

Organizations like Mongol Identity, diaspora cultural clubs, and online archives are playing a key role in connecting modern Mongols with their ancestral roots.