Indigenous peoples are the keepers of unique cultures, traditions, languages and knowledge. Here are ten things you might not know about how they live and what they value.

1. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ARE EVERYWHERE
There are more than 476 million Indigenous people in the world, spread across 90 countries and representing 5,000 different cultures. They make up 6.2 percent of the global population and live in all geographic regions.
2. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SPEAK THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD'S LANGUAGES
Indigenous languages are extensive, complex systems of knowledge. They are central to the identity of Indigenous peoples, the preservation of their cultures, worldviews and visions, as well as expressions of self-determination.

At least 40 percent of the world’s 7,000 languages are at some level of endangerment. It’s estimated that one Indigenous language dies every two weeks. Last year, the United Nations started another important milestone, the Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022 – 2032).
3. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE POOR AND VULNERABLE
More than 86 percent of Indigenous peoples work in the informal economy and are nearly three times as likely to be living in extreme poverty. They are more likely to suffer from malnutrition, and often lack adequate social protection and economic resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected their lives, causing them to suffer even more from poverty, illness, and discrimination.

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