Hunan Facts
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Population, Nationalities and Religions
Population
In 2025, 315,000 babies were born around the province. The birthrate was 4.83‰, and the natural growth rate of population was -4.4‰.
The population aged between zero and 15 took up 17.17 percent in proportion to the total, down 0.89 percentage points. The proportion of those aged between 16-59 was 58.1 percent, down 0.35 percentage points. The proportion of the population aged 60 and above hit 24.72 percent, up 1.23 percentage points.
Nationalities
Autonomous prefecture, counties, or townships are specially set for Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai, Hui, Zhuang, and Uyghur ethnic groups who have resided in Hunan for generations. These ethnic minority areas include:
One autonomous prefecture – Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, composed of Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, Huayuan, Guzhang, Fenghuang, and Luxi counties, and Jishou City;
7 autonomous counties – Tongdao Dong, Jianghua Yao, Chengbu Miao, Xinhuang Dong, Zhijiang Dong, Jingzhou Miao, and Mayang Miao autonomous counties;
3 counties and districts that enjoy related preferential policies for ethnic autonomous areas – Sangzhi County, Yongding District, and Wulingyuan District;
6 counties with more than half of their population being ethnic residents – Suining, Huitong, Yuanling, Jiangyong, Shimen, and Cili counties; and,
84 ethnic townships.
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn; Hunan Statistics Bureau
Hunan is a multiethnic province, where the Han nationality and other 55 ethnic groups reside. According to the 7th nationwide population census in 2020, the population of 55 ethnic groups in Hunan Province amounted to 6.6852 million, accounting for 10.06% of the total. Ethnic people reside in all cities, autonomous prefecture, counties, and districts of Hunan Province. Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Huaihua, and Zhangjiajie have more than one million of ethnic residents each, while Yongzhou, Shaoyang, Changde, and Changsha have more than 100,000 each.
Autonomous prefecture, counties, or townships are specially set for Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai, Hui, Zhuang, and Uyghur ethnic groups who have resided in Hunan for generations. These ethnic minority areas include:
One autonomous prefecture – Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, composed of Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, Huayuan, Guzhang, Fenghuang, and Luxi counties, and Jishou City;
7 autonomous counties – Tongdao Dong, Jianghua Yao, Chengbu Miao, Xinhuang Dong, Zhijiang Dong, Jingzhou Miao, and Mayang Miao autonomous counties;
3 counties and districts that enjoy related preferential policies for ethnic autonomous areas – Sangzhi County, Yongding District, and Wulingyuan District;
6 counties with more than half of their population being ethnic residents – Suining, Huitong, Yuanling, Jiangyong, Shimen, and Cili counties; and,
84 ethnic townships.
For more information about the ethnic groups in Hunan, please refer to National Customs.
Religion
Multiple religions have coexisted in Hunan for a long history, including Buddhism, Taoism, Islamism, Catholicism, and Christianity. There are about 5.4 million religious people, more than 6,200 registered clerical personnel, 255 patriotic religious organizations, three religious colleges and schools, and more than 5,400 lawful religious venues including 6 national key Buddhist temples in Han nationality areas. Among the 36 Dongtian (caves lead to heaven) and 72 Fudi (blessed spots) of Taoism, about 1/6 are located in Hunan.
Updated in April 2026