As per 2001 census scheduled tribes numbering 4,406,794 persons constituted 5.5 per cent of the total population of the state.
Santals constitute more than half (51.8 per cent) of the total ST population of the state.
Oraons (14 per cent),
Mundas (7.8 per cent),
Bhumij (7.6 per cent) and Kora (3.2 per cent) are the other major STs having sizeable population. Along with Santal, they constitute nearly 85 per cent of the state's total ST population. The
Lodhas,
Mahalis,
Bhutias, Bedias, and
Savars are the remaining STs, and having population of one per cent or more as per 2001 census report.{{cite web |none|thumb More than half of the total ST population of the state is concentrated in
Medinipur,
Jalpaiguri,
Purulia, and
Bardhaman districts. Of the remaining districts,
Bankura,
Malda,
Uttar Dinajpur, and
Dakshin Dinajpur have sizable ST population. == List of tribes ==