At present 623 tribal groups with their subgroups are inhabiting hilly and plain forest regions in almost allover India. These tribal groups constitute 8.08 percent of total population of the country. The highest number of tribal population comprising 22.73 percent have been concentrated in Madhya Pradesh. The tribal population is an integral part of the biodiversity of the forests since ages. A large number of ethnic aboriginal tribes are there who live in and around forests in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh has largest tribal population in India.

Tribes in Madhya Pradesh
constitute a sizable population. The population of Tribals in Madhya Pradesh is 122.33 lakh constituting 20.27% of the total population of Madhya Pradesh (603.85 Lakh), according to the 2001 census. There were 46 recognized Scheduled Tribes and three of them have been identified as “Special Primitive Tribal Groups” in the State. The differences in the tribal community, spread over in various parts of the state, is clearly seen not only on the basis of their heredity, lifestyle and cultural traditions, but also from their social, economic structure, religious beliefs and their language and speech. Due to the different linguistic, cultural and geographical environment, and its peculiar complications, the diverse tribal world of Madhya Pradesh has not only been largely cut-off from the mainstream of development.

Distribution of tribal population
The main tribal groups in Madhya Pradesh are Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bhariya, Halba, Kaul, Mariya, and Sahariya. Dhar, Jhabua and Mandla districts have more than 50 percent tribal population. In Khargone, Chhindwara, Seoni, Sidhi and Shahdol districts 30 to 50 percent population is of tribes. Maximum population is that of Gond tribes.

• Gonds
  The Gondi, or Gond people are spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra(Vidarbha), Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, and western Orissa. They are the largest tribe in Central India. Among all other specified tribes only gonds have their own kingdom which ruled souther part of Central India for many centuries. The Gonds are traditionally agriculturalists.
  
  
• Bhils
  Bhils are a scheduled tribe in the states of Gujarat,Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan in western and central India, as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, on the border with Bangladsh. In past they  had even become warriors in armies. They were in the Mewar army of Maharana Pratap Singh and like Shivaji , were experts in guerilla warfare which the Mughals had trouble with so much. Shabri (in Ramayana) was also Bhil.
  
  
• Baiga: Baiga
  is a tribe found in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand states of India. They do not interact even with other tribals like the Gonds, believe in a hand-to-mouth existence, and do not try to access education, eat outside their community, or associate with others. After a death in the family, the Baigas just leave the house and build another. The Baigas live for the present, and do not think of the future. Their love for the country liquor called mahua daru is absolute. One of the tribes for whom tattooing is an integral part of their lifestyle is the Baiga tribe. They eat coarse grain, kodo, and kutki, drink pej, eat little flour and are normally content with what little that they get.
  
  
• Korku: Korku
  is a little-known tribe of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in India. Their Korku language belongs to the Kolarian or Munda family, isolated in the midst of a Dravidian (Gondi) population.
  
  
• Bharia: Bharia
  is one of interesting tribes of Madhya Pradesh in India.The Bharias live in Patalkot,which is completely isolated valley some 400 metres below Tamia in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.This valley is the source of Dudhi River. Patalkot is totally inaccessible by road and one enters along a foot-path only. There are hundreds of medicinal plant species in the Patalkot valley. The Bharias have a deep knowledge of the herbs and medicinal plants growing within their valley and the herbal healers from Bharia community are known as Bhagats.
  
  
• Halba
  The word Halba has got an etymological significance. In word Halba, hal means plough. So we can say their livelihood is based on cultivation & anima husbandry. It is a progressive tribe like Gonds. In married life, Halba women cannot give divorce to her spouse as per their system. These people also have addiction for wines and non-vegetarian food stuffs.
  
  
• Kaul
  Kaul tribes have adopted Hindu system of living. They believe in Hindu religion and deities. Their deities are Dulha Dev, Bairam Dev and Bada Dev. They believe in existence of ghosts. Kaul people are dependent on agriculture for livelihood. Their main occupation is agriculture and animal husbandry. They have their own Panchayats known as Gohia. They are more politically conscious than other tribes in Madhya Pradesh.
  
  
• Mariya
  Famous Bison-Horn dances are performed by people of Mariya Tribe.
  
  
• Sahariya: Saharia
  is a little-known tribe in India. They live in the Khair, Kardhai and Babool forests of the valleys of the Kuno, Parbati, Sindh, and Kali Sindh rivers. Their agricultural income is marginal but they get substantial additional income from working in the forests and collecting minor forest produce such as honey, edible gums, manufacture of kattha, collection of chironji, tapping Salai trees etc. The Saharias are good huntsmen.