Diversity isn’t just some abstract concept you hear about or see around you. It contributes to the world in such an amazing way. Combining the cultures, ideologies, and lifestyles of so many diverse groups of people can make a place truly unique, and it’s the backbone of how our world exists. What places are best known for their diversity and uniqueness? Let’s talk about 10 countries with the most diverse populations.
As a brief note, the world is broken up into ratings on a cultural diversity index which is what this list is based off of. This helps give a specific quantifiable concept of the diversity in a country or region to rank it on a list or explain how different the ideologies and people are in a place. Diversity can refer to race or religious affiliation as a base concept, and it can also be measured in percentage of a population.
Liberia
Number one on the diversity list when discussing racial diversity is Libera, with almost 89% racial diversity. Its flag is actually pretty similar to the United States’ flag at a quick glance, and is on the Atlantic coast of Africa.
Uganda
Uganda is a fairly popular African country because it has such a vast range of weather, destinations, and landmarks located here. It has 88% racial diversity and everything from snowy mountains to national parks with unique wildlife and much else.
Togo
Second in the 88% diversity is Togo, third on the top list of racially diverse countries. Togo is on the Gulf of Guinea which means its beaches and villages are stunning and well-liked by residents and visitors alike.
Nepal
Who would’ve guessed, another African country. Nepal is landlocked and has about 86% diversity in its 30 million population. Nepal is known for being situated on the Himalaya mountains.
South Africa
The very bottom tip of Africa is the country known as South Africa, which has an 85% racial diversity and around 60 million people in population. South Africa is particularly loved and known for its cape towns and safari destinations.
Chad
This country’s official languages are French and Arabic, it’s a landlocked region in Africa with around 17 million people and a. 85% diversity rating for race. Chad has been close to the top or topping diversity charts for a decade.
Kenya
Another country you likely at least recognize the name of; Kenya is an African country that has 85% diversity, over 50 million people in population, and tons of absolutely stunning tourist attractions that bring in tons more diversity and visitation.
Mali
Yet another of this same statistic, Mali’s racial diversity is also around 85%. This country has around 20 million in population despite its fairly smaller size and being land-locked in the African continent.
Nigeria
Nigeria is known and loved for its natural wonders and wildlife which makes it a top tourist destination every year. Nigeria’s racial diversity is around 85%, similar to all of the last few on this list.
Guinea-Bissau
This country is located in West Africa, and the racial diversity here is around 80% which lands Guinea-Bissau in the last slot of the top 10 most diverse countries of the world. Guinea-Bissau actually has a lot of historic and wildlife offerings for travelers and locals.
But why are all these top 10 countries African based? Africa is a true melting pot, even more so than many of the other countries and regions we think of as being diverse in religion or race such as the United States. All of its individual countries have so many variations in languages spoken, cultures present, and religions. Which is why they often end up far above the list than others we may consider more unique or call melting pot countries.
This can be great for learning more about how diversity makes a country function, it can also help you think of more culturally unique places to visit on your travel bucket list, and much more. Learning about the differing mindsets and ideologies out there can help you really deepen your knowledge and understanding of your own views and of humanity as a whole. These are some truly interesting examples of diversity in countries around the world.