Introduction

 
There are two main ethnic groups in Taiwan - indigenous people (Aborigines) and later immigrants. The great majority of the immigrants are ethnic Han (the majority ethnicity of China). Han people began to migrate to Taiwan in large numbers around the middle of the 17th Century. According to archaeological and anthropological research, Taiwan's Aborigines have been living on the island for thousands of years.

In Taiwan, "Aborigines" is an umbrella term that includes "highland" tribes, namely the Atayal, Bunun, Tsou, Rukai, Paiwan, Yami, Saisiyat, Amis, Puyuma, and Thao, and "lowland" tribes including the Kavalan , Sakizaya, Ketagalan, Taokas, Siraya, Pazeh etc. The first thirteen tribes in the list are recognized by the present-day Taiwanese authorities.

Taiwan's aboriginal people now number around 460,000, accounting for 2% of Taiwan's total population.