Uncontacted peoples

Uncontacted peoples are groups of Indigenous peoples who live far away from other communities and the wider world community. Some choose to stay apart, while others just haven't met many people outside their group yet. It’s hard to know how many uncontacted peoples there are because they often hide, but experts think there are many small groups.

In 2025, a group called Survival International made a report about uncontacted peoples around the world. They found signs of many groups living in ten countries, mostly in South America, Asia, and the Pacific. The place with the most uncontacted peoples is Brazil.

We learn about these hidden communities from talks with nearby Indigenous groups and from pictures taken from the air. These peoples have their own ways of living and protect their homes carefully.

Definition

Uncontacted peoples are Indigenous groups who live far away from most of the world. They choose to stay separate from other communities. They keep their traditional ways of life and do not want regular contact with people outside their own group. Some groups have had a little contact before but decided to live quietly away from others.

International groups, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Survival International, help protect these communities. They remind us to respect these groups' choices to stay separate and live in their own way. These peoples are part of today's world, even though they prefer to stay hidden and undisturbed.

Relations with outsiders

International groups want to protect the lands and health of uncontacted peoples. They say contact can bring sickness and unfair treatment. Threats come from companies that want to use their land for farming, logging, or mining. Some tribes stay apart because they have been harmed by outsiders before. Governments have set aside protected areas for them, like the Vale do Javari in Brazil. Efforts to protect these groups include controlled trading and medical help, but they still face dangers from people who want to use their land.

By region

India

The Sentinelese people live on North Sentinel Island near South Andaman Island in the Bay of Bengal. They stay away from others and do not welcome visitors. Their language is very different, showing they have been separate for a long time.

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Shompen people live on Great Nicobar Island. They prefer to stay isolated and do not like contact with outsiders.

South America

In Bolivia, there are groups like the Toromona near the Madidi River who live apart from others.

Brazil has many isolated groups, such as the Awá in the Amazon rainforest. These groups have trouble when people want to use their land.

In Colombia, there are groups like the Nukak people who move around and avoid contact.

Ecuador has isolated groups such as the Tagaeri and Taromenane in Yasuni National Park.

In Paraguay, around 100 Ayoreo people live apart in the forest.

Peru has many isolated groups, including the Nomole in Manú National Park.

In Venezuela, some groups like the Hoti live away from others.

Indonesia

In Java, the Baduy people choose to stay separate from others.

In North Maluku, the O'Hongana Manyawa live deep in the forests of Halmahera Island.

The Polahi live in the forests of Gorontalo in Sulawesi.

In West Papua, there may be several uncontacted tribes, though little is known about them.

Historical

New Guinea

The New Guinea Highlands were seen by Western visitors in the 1930s. At that time, over a million people lived in the highland valleys.

Peru

The Matsés met the outside world in 1969. Before this, they had problems with the government of Peru.