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National minorities
Home » Germany » Germany - People and Culture » National minoritiesThere are four national minorities in Germany: the Danish minority, the Friesian ethnic minority in Germany, the German Sinti and Roma and the Sorbs. All four groups come under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which Germany ratified in 1997. The minorities’ languages – Danish, North and Sater Friesian, Romany, and Lower and Upper Sorbian – are promoted under the terms of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which Germany ratified in 1998.
Approximately 50,000 German-national Danes have been a minority in the Schleswig region of Schleswig-Holstein since Denmark was defeated in war in 1864.
The Friesians have been known as a North Sea coastal people almost since German history has been recorded. The Friesians settled in North Friesia in about the seventh century, and in the Saterland region between 1100 and 1400.
Sinti and Roma have been mentioned in German historical documents since the 14th century. There are an estimated 70,000 Sinti and Roma German nationals who live primarily both in large conurbations as well as smaller towns throughout Germany.
Sorbs settled in the region to the east of the Elbe and Saale Rivers – largely abandoned by the Germanic peoples – since the year 600. There are around 20,000 Lower Sorbs living in Lower Lusatia (in the State of Brandenburg) and approximately 40,000 Upper Sorbs in Upper Lusatia (in the Free State of Saxony).
All four national minorities enjoy a rich cultural life, financially supported by the federal and state governments.
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