Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, List, Onges, Jarawa

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to some of the world’s oldest surviving indigenous communities. The Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have preserved their unique cultures, languages and traditional lifestyles for thousands of years despite major social and environmental changes. The planned 16th Census of India (2026-27) will enumerate six major indigenous tribes of the islands. Among them, five are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), highlighting their small population and need for special protection.

Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The indigenous Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are broadly divided into six major tribes based on their geographical distribution, physical features, culture and way of life. The islands were originally inhabited only by these native communities before the establishment of the Penal Settlement at Port Blair in 1858, after which settlers from mainland India and other regions arrived. 

The four Andaman tribes are generally associated with the Negrito group, while the Nicobarese and Shompen belong to the Mongoloid group. These communities differ significantly in language, customs, social organisation and traditional occupations.

List of Major Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

There are six recognised indigenous Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with distinct histories, lifestyles, settlements, cultures and demographic characteristics. These communities include:

Great Andamanese Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Distribution: The Great Andamanese presently live on Strait Island after being resettled by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. They were once the largest indigenous tribe across the Andaman Islands.
• Population: Their population declined drastically due to diseases, especially influenza, following the establishment of the Penal Settlement. As per Census 2001, only 43 Great Andamanese remained.
• Historical significance: The tribe is remembered for resisting British occupation during the Battle of Aberdeen on 14 May 1859, where nearly 400-600 tribal warriors fought against better equipped British forces using bows and arrows.
• Present lifestyle: They are no longer completely nomadic. Government support includes housing, coconut plantations, clothing, free rations and medical assistance, although hunting and fishing are still practiced occasionally.
• Language: Members of the community communicate among themselves in the Jeru language, one of the traditional languages of the Great Andamanese people.
• Protection status: The Great Andamanese are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) because of their extremely small population and vulnerable socio-economic condition.

Onges Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Distribution: The Onge tribe lives on Little Andaman Island, mainly in the settlements of Dugong Creek and South Bay, where they have been rehabilitated by the administration.
• Population: According to Census 2001, the Onge population stood at 96, making them one of India’s smallest surviving indigenous communities.
• Traditional occupation: The Onges are semi nomadic hunter gatherers who depend on hunting, fishing and forest resources while also producing traditional canoes and handicrafts.
• Government support: Coconut plantations, healthcare facilities, free rations and other welfare measures have been introduced to improve their living conditions without completely replacing traditional practices.
• Cultural identity: The Onge call themselves En-iregale, meaning “perfect person.” They traditionally make community decisions through group consensus and practice ancestor worship along with animistic beliefs.
• Protection status: The Onge are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) because of their limited population and dependence on traditional subsistence practices.

Jarawa Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Distribution: The Jarawa inhabit the western coast of Middle Andaman and South Andaman Islands and continue to occupy dense forest areas within their traditional territory.
• Population: Census 2011 recorded the Jarawa population at 380. Earlier Census 2001 recorded around 240 individuals, indicating gradual demographic improvement.
• Lifestyle: The Jarawa remain a nomadic hunting and gathering community. They build temporary huts, move frequently and depend largely on forest resources for survival.
• Food and hunting: They hunt wild pigs and monitor lizards using bows and arrows fitted with iron tipped arrows. Unlike the Onges and Great Andamanese, they do not use dogs for hunting.
• Fishing and gathering: Men fish using bows and arrows, while women catch fish with baskets. Molluscs, forest fruits, roots and honey form an important part of their diet.
• Contact with outsiders: The administration began periodic Contact Expeditions in the 1970s. The first friendly interaction took place in 1974, after which the tribe gradually accepted gifts like coconuts, bananas and fruits from official teams.
• Protection status: The Jarawa are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) because of their isolated lifestyle and dependence on traditional forest based livelihoods.

Sentinelese Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Distribution: The Sentinelese inhabit North Sentinel Island and remain one of the world’s most isolated indigenous communities with minimal interaction outside their island.
• Population: Census 2001 recorded their population at 39, although other estimates suggest around 100-150 individuals due to the absence of complete enumeration.
• Traditional lifestyle: The Sentinelese depend entirely on hunting, fishing and food gathering. Wild pigs, fish and forest resources remain their primary sources of livelihood.
• Fishing and transport: They use dugout canoes in shallow coastal waters. These canoes are moved with long poles instead of oars because they generally remain close to the shoreline.
• Contact history: The first recorded friendly interaction occurred on 4 January 1991 during an official Contact Expedition. Despite briefly accepting gifts, they continue to avoid sustained contact with outsiders.
• Housing and clothing: The Sentinelese build temporary shelters and traditionally do not wear stitched clothing, maintaining their long established indigenous way of life.
• Protection status: The Sentinelese are listed as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and remain protected through strict restrictions on outside access to their island.

Shompen Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Distribution: The Shompen inhabit the forests of Great Nicobar Island and are divided into Mawa Shompens living near coastal river valleys and more isolated interior forest groups.
• Population: Census 2011 estimated the Shompen population at 229, making them one of the smallest indigenous communities in the Nicobar Islands.
• Physical features: Unlike the Negrito tribes of the Andaman Islands, the Shompen possess Mongoloid features and belong to a different ethnic group.
• Lifestyle: They are highly isolated, semi nomadic hunter gatherers who depend mainly on forest produce, hunting and gathering, with pandanus fruit forming an important staple food.
• Social organisation: Families are generally headed by the eldest male member. Monogamy is common, although polygamy is socially accepted within the community.
• Research status: The Shompen are among India’s least studied indigenous communities because of their remote habitat and limited interaction with the outside world.
• Protection status: The Shompen are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) owing to their isolation, low population and dependence on traditional forest ecosystems.

Nicobarese Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Distribution: The Nicobarese are distributed across 19 inhabited Nicobar Islands and constitute the largest indigenous community of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Population: Their population exceeds 27,000, making them significantly larger than all the other indigenous tribes of the islands.
• Ethnic origin: The Nicobarese belong to the Mongoloid ethnic group and differ from the four Negrito tribes of the Andaman Islands in physical features, language and culture.
• Social organisation: Society is organised into six territorial groups. Families traditionally live in joint family units known as Tuhet, which collectively own land, coconut plantations, pigs and other community resources.
• Livelihood: Agriculture forms the main source of livelihood. Coconut cultivation, farming and the use of fruits and nuts in traditional exchange systems remain important parts of their economy.
• Family system: The Nicobarese traditionally follow a well organised community life with collective ownership of resources under the Tuhet system, ensuring shared responsibility within the family.
• Protection status: Unlike the other five indigenous tribes, the Nicobarese are not classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) because of their comparatively larger population and broader social development.

‹ ›