Tribes of Andaman: The Indigenous Peoples of the Islands
The tribes of Andaman are the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge and Sentinelese in the Andaman Islands, and the Shompen and Nicobarese in the Nicobar Islands. Their ancestors have lived here for thousands of years, and some groups remain isolated from the outside world. Indian law protects them, and visitors may not enter their reserves, photograph them or give them gifts. This guide covers who they are, their history, the laws that protect them, and how to travel in the islands respectfully. Last updated November 2026.
Quick facts: tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Tribe
Home
Population (Census)
Status
Great Andamanese
Strait Island
44 (2011)
PVTG
Onge
Little Andaman
101 (2011)
PVTG
Jarawa
West coast of South and Middle Andaman
380 (2011)
PVTG
Sentinelese
North Sentinel Island
15 counted from a distance (2011); estimates vary
PVTG, uncontacted
Shompen
Interior of Great Nicobar
229 (2011)
PVTG
Nicobarese
Car Nicobar and other Nicobar islands
About 28,000 (2001)
Scheduled Tribe
PVTG means Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, a government category for the most at-risk communities. Census counts of isolated groups are approximate.
Origins: who were the first people of the Andamans?
The four Andaman tribes are often grouped together by anthropologists because of shared physical features and related languages. Genetic research suggests their ancestors reached the islands very early and then lived in isolation for a very long time. The two Nicobar tribes, the Shompen and Nicobarese, are linked to Southeast Asian peoples and are culturally and linguistically distinct from the Andaman tribes.
Before colonial settlement, the Great Andamanese alone were divided into around ten distinct tribes, each with its own language. Most of that diversity has since been lost.
The six tribes in detail
Great Andamanese
The Great Andamanese once lived across the Great Andaman island group and may have numbered around 5,000 in the late 1700s. Disease, conflict and displacement after the British established a penal settlement in 1858 devastated them, and their numbers fell below 20 by the 1960s. The survivors were resettled on Strait Island, where the government provides housing and support. Most now speak Hindi, and their original languages have largely vanished. The community has grown slightly in recent decades. It remains one of India’s smallest, and it is closely monitored for health.
Onge
The Onge live on Little Andaman, within a protected reserve of around 400 square kilometres. Traditionally they hunted wild pigs, collected honey and fished, and they are skilled makers of outrigger canoes. Today they live in government-supported settlements such as Dugong Creek, and many depend partly on supplies from the administration. With about 100 people, they are among the smallest communities in India. Concerns include nutrition, health and the pressure of settlers on Little Andaman.
Jarawa
The Jarawa live on the west coasts of South and Middle Andaman, inside a reserve of around 1,000 square kilometres. They are nomadic hunter-gatherers who hunt, fish and gather forest produce. For most of the 20th century they resisted contact, but in 1998 some Jarawa began approaching outsiders. That brought new risks, including a measles outbreak in 1999. The Andaman Trunk Road, which runs through the reserve, has been a long-running source of conflict. The Jarawa Policy of 2004 favours minimal interference and protection of their forest, and the Baratang route is the road most visitors take through the area.
Sentinelese
The Sentinelese live on North Sentinel Island, which is about 60 square kilometres. They are among the last uncontacted peoples in the world. They have repeatedly resisted outsiders, and the authorities stopped attempting contact decades ago. Today the policy is to monitor from a distance and keep everyone away. The island is closed to visitors, and a prohibited zone extends several kilometres into the sea. Their population is unknown, because no one has counted them up close. The Sentinelese survived the 2004 tsunami, and in 2018 a trespasser who landed on the island was killed. Out of respect for them, we do not offer any boat trip near the island.
Shompen
The Shompen live in the interior forests of Great Nicobar Island, in a reserve of around 850 square kilometres. Some groups live along the rivers and coast, while others live deeper in the forest. They are semi-nomadic. They hunt, fish, gather pandanus fruit and practise small-scale cultivation. They are physically and culturally distinct from the Andaman tribes. Many Shompen avoid outsiders. Development plans on Great Nicobar have led to public discussion about how the community can be protected.
Nicobarese
The Nicobarese are the largest indigenous community in the islands, with a population of roughly 28,000 in the 2001 Census. They live mainly on Car Nicobar and the Nancowry group of islands, in village communities. Their economy centres on coconuts and pigs, and most are Christian. Unlike the other five groups, they are not classed as a PVTG. The 2004 tsunami caused heavy loss of life and damage in the Nicobar Islands. Most of the Nicobar Islands are closed to tourists.
A short history of the tribes
Ancient period: The Andaman tribes live in the islands for thousands of years, and their languages and cultures develop in isolation.
1858: The British establish a penal settlement at Port Blair. Contact brings disease, displacement and conflict.
1859: The Battle of Aberdeen, in which the Great Andamanese resist the British, is a notable episode of this period.
1956: India passes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, which restricts entry to tribal areas and protects the tribes’ land and way of life.
1990s: Contact attempts with the Jarawa and Sentinelese gradually end in favour of a hands-off policy. In 1998, some Jarawa begin friendly contact.
2004: The Indian Ocean tsunami strikes. Reports say the Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese largely survived, while the Nicobar Islands suffered terrible losses.
2000s onwards: The Jarawa Policy and court orders limit tourism near the Jarawa reserve.
2020: COVID-19 reaches the Great Andamanese community. The authorities respond with strict isolation to protect the other tribes.
How the tribes are legally protected
Several measures protect the tribes of Andaman:
Tribal reserves: Large areas of forest are legally set aside for the tribes, and outsiders are not allowed to enter without permission.
The 1956 Regulation: This law restricts entry and prohibits actions such as photographing members of protected tribes or interfering with their way of life.
PVTG status: This gives five of the six groups special government protection.
Prohibited zones: The sea around North Sentinel Island is off limits to all vessels.
Court orders and policy: Court orders and the Jarawa Policy aim to limit tourism pressure and ban exploitative tours.
These rules can be updated, so always follow the latest local instructions.
The biggest threats the tribes face
Disease: The tribes have limited immunity to common illnesses such as flu and measles. This is the main reason contact is restricted.
Poaching and encroachment: Outsiders entering reserves to hunt or fish threaten the tribes’ food sources.
Exploitative tourism: Tours that try to show tribal members to tourists are illegal and harmful.
Loss of language and culture: Several Andaman languages have disappeared or are close to doing so.
Dependence on outside supplies: For groups such as the Onge and Great Andamanese, settlement life brings health and dietary problems.
Visiting Baratang responsibly
The road to Baratang Island, where the limestone caves and mud volcano are, passes through part of the Jarawa reserve. Travel is by organised convoy at set times. Please follow these rules:
Do not stop your vehicle inside the reserve.
Do not photograph or film anyone, even from the vehicle.
Do not offer food, drink, clothes or gifts.
Keep noise down and follow your driver’s instructions.
Avoid any operator who promises to show you tribal people. Such tours are illegal and exploitative.
How to learn about the tribes the right way
Visit the Anthropological Museum in Port Blair for exhibits on the islands’ indigenous peoples. Check opening days before you go.
Visit Cellular Jail to understand the colonial history that reshaped the islands.
Read work from the Anthropological Survey of India and organisations that support tribal rights.
Choose tour operators who follow the rules and are open about what they do.
Visit Baratang with Andaman Emerald Travels
Our island-based team takes you to the Baratang limestone caves and mud volcano the legal and respectful way. Itineraries that include Baratang:
There are six main indigenous groups: the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese in the Andaman Islands, and the Shompen and Nicobarese in the Nicobar Islands.
The Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese live in the Andaman Islands. The Shompen and Nicobarese live in the Nicobar Islands.
No. Entering tribal reserves and contacting the tribes is illegal. Visitors can learn about them through museums and books.
No. Photographing or filming the Jarawa is prohibited and punishable by law, even from a vehicle on the Baratang road.
The Sentinelese live in isolation and have little immunity to outside diseases, so the government bans visits and maintains a prohibited zone around the island.
No. Any tour that promises to show you tribal people is illegal and harms the tribes. We do not offer or support such tours.
Yes, when you follow the rules. Vehicles travel in organised convoys, and your driver and guide give you instructions.
The Nicobarese, with about 28,000 people in the 2001 Census. The other five groups each have fewer than 500 people.
The Sentinelese and Great Andamanese are among the smallest. The Sentinelese count is uncertain because they have never been counted up close.
A Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group is a government category for tribal communities with very small populations and a high risk of decline. Five of the six tribes here are PVTGs. The Nicobarese are the exception.
Most of the Nicobar Islands are restricted for tourists and need special permission. Visitors usually go to Port Blair, Havelock, Neil Island and Baratang.
Visit the Anthropological Museum in Port Blair, and read the Anthropological Survey of India’s publications and the work of tribal rights organisations.
How to reach
C-43 WARD NO. 12, DIGNABAD, PORT BLAIR, South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 744101
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