Total population | |
---|---|
182,560[1] (2011 census) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
India | |
Jharkhand | 135,797 |
West Bengal | 44,538 |
Bihar | 2,225 |
Assam | 6,389 (1951 est.)[2] |
Languages | |
Malto • Mal Paharia • Bengali •Hindi | |
Religion | |
Hinduism • Christianity | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Sauria Paharia • Kurukh • Dravidian People |
The Mal Paharia people are a people of India, mainly living in the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal.[3][4] They are the original inhabitants of the Rajmahal Hills, known today as the Santal Parganas division of Jharkhand. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe by the governments of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.[3][5] They speak the Malto language, a Dravidian language, as well as a poorly-documented Indo-Aryan Mal Paharia language.[citation needed]