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Traditionally, theTaiwanese indigenous peoples are usually classified into two groups by their places of residence. Languages and cultures of aboriginal tribes were recorded by the government ofDutch Formosa,Spanish Formosa and theQing Empire.
| Name | Chinese | Hokkien | Hakka | Japanese (1935–1945) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountains indigenous peoples | 高山族 | Ko-suann-co̍k | Kô-sân-chu̍k | 高砂族（たかさごぞく, Takasago-zoku） |
| Plains indigenous peoples | 平埔族 | Pênn-poo-co̍k | Phìn-phû-chu̍k | 平埔族（へいほぞく, Heiho-zoku） |
Research on ethnic groups ofTaiwanese indigenous peoples started in late 19th century, whenTaiwan wasunder Japanese rule. The Government of Taiwan (臺灣總督府,Taiwan Sōtokufu) conducted large amount of research and further distinguished the ethnic groups ofTaiwanese indigenous peoples by linguistics (seeFormosan languages). After the research, the household registration records remarks of "mountains/plains indigenous peoples". The governmental statistics also listed 9 recognized subgroups under mountains indigenous peoples. However, afterWorld War II, the government refused to recognize theplains indigenous peoples.
The following is a list of classifications throughJapanese andpost World War II. Note that the Japanese names in parentheses does not exist in pre-World War II Japanese demographic research.
The Taiwanese government officially recognises 16 ethnic groups of mountains indigenous peoples.
| Name | Formosan native name | Chinese (after 1945) | Japanese (before 1945) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amis | Pangcah, 'Amis | 阿美族 | アミ族、阿眉族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Atayal | Tayal, Tayan | 泰雅族 | タイヤル族、大么族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Bunun | Bunun | 布農族 | ブヌン族、ヴォヌム族、武崙族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Kanakanavu | Kanakanavu | 卡那卡那富族 | カナカナブ族 | Classified asTsou, recognized since 2014 |
| Kavalan | Kebalan, Kbaran | 噶瑪蘭族、加禮宛族 | カバラン族 | Classified asAmis, recognized since 2002 |
| Paiwan | Kacalisian | 排灣族 | パイワン族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Puyuma | Pinuyumayan | 卑南族、比努優瑪樣族 | プユマ族、彪馬族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Rukai | Drekay | 魯凱族 | ルカイ族、ツァリセン族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Saaroa | Hla'alua | 拉阿魯哇族 | サアロア族、四社生蕃 | Classified asTsou, recognized since 2014 |
| Saisiyat | Say-Siyat | 賽夏族、獅設族 | サイシャット族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Sakizaya | Sakizaya | 撒奇萊雅族、奇萊族 | （サキザヤ族） | Classified asAmis, recognized since 2007 |
| Seediq | Seediq | 賽德克族 | セデック族、紗績族 | Classified asAtayal, recognized since 2008 |
| Taroko | Truku | 太魯閣族 | （タロコ族） | Classified asAtayal, recognized since 2004 |
| Thao | Thao, Ngan | 邵族、水沙連族 | サオ族 | Classified asTsou, recognized since 2001 |
| Tsou | Cou | 鄒族、曹族 | ツォウ族、新高族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
| Tao (Yami) | Tao | 達悟族、雅美族 | ヤミ族 | Recognized sinceJapanese era |
Kavalan andThao are disputed to be part of mountains or plains indigenous peoples.
Cultures of theplains indigenous peoples have undergone heavySinicization. This increases the difficulty in identifying ethnic groups.
| Name | Formosan native name | Chinese (after 1945) | Japanese (before 1945) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arikun | Arikun | 阿立昆族 | アリクン族 | Sometimes classified asHoanya |
| Babuza | Babuza, Poavasa | 貓霧拺族、巴布薩族 | バブザ族 | |
| Basay | Basay, Basai | 巴賽族、馬塞族 | （バサイ族） | Sometimes classified asKetagalan |
| Hoanya | Hoanya | 洪雅族、和安雅族、荷安耶族 | ホアニヤ族 | Sometimes split intoLloa andArikun |
| Kaxabu | Kaxabu, Kahapu | 噶哈巫族 | （カハブ族） | Sometimes classified asPazeh. Inrevitalization. |
| Ketagalan | Ketagalan | 凱達格蘭族 | ケタガラン族 | |
| Kulon | Kulon | 龜崙族 | （クーロン族） | |
| Lloa | Lloa | 羅亞族、魯羅阿族 | ロッア族 | Sometimes classifiedHoanya |
| Luilang | Luilang | 雷朗族 | ルイラン族 | Sometimes classified asKetagalan |
| Makatao | Makatao, Tao | 馬卡道族 | マカット族、タッオ族 | Sometimes classified asSiraya. Recognized inPingtung. Inrevitalization. |
| Papora | Papora, Vupuran | 拍瀑拉族、巴布拉族、巴波拉族 | パポラ族 | |
| Pazeh | Pazéh, Pazih | 巴宰族、巴則海族、拍宰海族 | パゼッヘ族 | Inrevitalization. |
| Qauqaut | Qauqaut | 猴猴族 | (カウカット族) | |
| Siraya | Siraya | 西拉雅族、希萊耶族 | シラヤ族 | Recognized inTainan andFuli. Inrevitalization. |
| Taivoan | Taivoan, Taivuan | 大武壠族、大滿族 | （タイボアン族） | Sometimes classified asSiraya. Recognized inFuli. Inrevitalization. |
| Taokas | Taokas | 道卡斯族、斗葛族、大甲族 | タオカス族 | Inrevitalization. |
| Favorlang | Favorlang, Vavorolang | 虎尾壟族、費佛朗族、華武壟族、法波蘭族、法佛朗族 | ファボラン族 | |
| Trobiawan | Trobiawan, TuRbuan | 哆囉美遠族、哆囉布安族 | (トルビアワン族) | Sometimes classified asKetagalan |
