Khumi people

Khumi

Total population
c. 17,780
Regions with significant populations
In Myanmar the Khumis reside in the Paletwa District of southern Chin State. In Bangladesh they reside in Bandarban District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Myanmar	14,000 (2024)
Bangladesh	3,780 (2022)
Languages
Khumi language
Religion
Christianity Buddhism indigenous religion

The Khumis are a community inhabiting in the Rakhine and Chin State of Myanmar and Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. They have a population of around 14,000 across western Myanmar. The Khumis are one of smallest ethnic groups in Bangladesh with a population of only 1214 according to the 1991 census (in the census of 1981 their population was recorded as 1258). ^[1]

History

Among the ethnic groups in Chittagong Hill Tracts the Khumis were the war like people. ^[2] Earlier they were very often engaged in internecine or intertrinal warfare with the Bawms and the Mros. The Khumis originally lived in Arakan; however, after a fierce battle between them and the Mro, the latter were defeated and fled to the Chittagong Hill Tracts. But later the Khumis themselves entered Chittagong Hill Tracts after being defeated by Arakan. ^[2]

The term "Khumi" might have originated from a combination of two words in the Khumi language: "Kha," meaning "man," and "Ma," meaning "the best race." Together, they signify "the man who excels in racing." But according to the Arakanese language, "Kha" translates to "dog," and "Ma" refers to "race," which interprets as "the dog that races best." ^[3]

Geographical distribution

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, there are 3,780 Khumi in Bangladesh. ^[4] They mainly concentrated in Bandarban District with 3287 population. ^[5]

Upazila/States	Population	Percentage who are Khumi [5]
Thanchi Upazila	1,829	6.14%
Ruma Upazila	890	2.74%
Rowangchhari Upazila	436	1.57%
Chin State	14,000	c. 2.86%
Other (Diaspora)	>1,000	N/A

Persecution

The Khumis have faced discrimination within Bangladesh and Myanmar. ^[6] The Arakan Army imposed the Rakhine language in schools with children that originally speak the Khumi language. They have also been subjected to forced labour and conscription. ^{[7] [8]}

Religion and culture

The Khumis are primarily Christian with a minority Buddhist and animist population. ^[1] Historically, the Khumis were animist until the 1930s, following British missionary work. The men keep long hair and tie it into a tuft on the head. They are dependent on shifting cultivation. In 1995, only one of their members passed Secondary School Certificate examination.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "KHUMI(EASTERN)" (PDF). operation.asiaharvest.org. 23 February 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 March 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
2. Saradindu Shekhar Chakma. Ethnic Cleansing in Chittagong Hill Tracts. p. 39.
3. "Indigenous (Tribal/Ethnic) People of Bangladesh: Their Belief, lifestyle and Culture - Travel Mate". 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
4. "Table 1.4 Ethnic Population by Group and Sex" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2021. p. 33. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
5. Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Bandarban (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 202–206. ISBN   978-984-475-276-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
6. "Lelung Khumi". dtp.org.au. 23 February 2026.
7. "AA implements Arakan education system in Paletwa". cnimyanmar.com. 23 February 2026.
8. "The Indigenous World 2025: Myanmar". iwgia.org. 23 February 2026. Archived from the original on 24 February 2026.

External links

• An Ethnographic Study on the Khumi
• Khumi Lives