How Many Tribes in Nagaland? The Seventeen, Explained

Nagaland has 17 major recognised tribes, with many more sub-tribes and communities inside that count. Every December, all of them gather in one arena at the Hornbill Festival, which is the only week you can meet all seventeen Naga nations without driving a thousand kilometres.

The seventeen major tribes

Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kachari, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Tikhir, Yimkhiung and Zeme-Liangmai (listed as the Zeliang group in some counts). Each has its own language, shawl, festival and territory; “Naga” is the shared umbrella, not a single people.

Where each tribe lives, roughly

• Angami: Kohima hills, Khonoma.
• Ao: Mokokchung, the cultural capital east of Jorhat.
• Konyak: Mon district, the headhunter villages of Longwa.
• Phom, Chang, Khiamniungan, Yimkhiung: the eastern districts, the wildest corner.
• Lotha: Wokha, the land of the Doyang falcon roost.
• Sumi: Zunheboto, warriors and log drums.
• Chakhesang, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Zeme: the southern and central highlands.

We profile them tribe by tribe on the tribes pages, each with festival dates and shawl meanings.

Why the count varies

Some lists say 16, some 17, some 66: that is major tribes versus every sub-tribe and linguistic community. The state government’s festival framing uses 17; the Hornbill arena physically builds a morung for each.

Quick answers

How many tribes are there in Nagaland? Seventeen major recognised tribes, plus sub-tribes.

Which is the largest Naga tribe? By population the Ao, Konyak and Sumi are the biggest three.

Where can I see all the tribes at once? The Hornbill Festival, December 1–10 at Kisama. Start here.

Meet them properly: our tribe experiences put you inside villages, not outside fences. Message us.