divided into 3 subregions according to its deviation in topography and climate, namely: North Tây Nguyên (Bắc Tây Nguyên) (inclusive of Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces), Middle Tây Nguyên (Trung Tây Nguyên) (covering provinces of Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông), South Tây Nguyên (Nam Tây Nguyên) (Lâm Đồng). Trung Tây Nguyên has a lower altitude and therefore has a higher temperature than the other two subregions. Ethnic groups Below is a list of officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam that are indigenous to the Central Highlands and nearby areas. They speak Austroasiatic languages of the Katuic and Bahnaric, as well as Chamic languages (which belong to the Austronesian language family). Population statistics are from the 2009 Vietnam Population Census. Katuic speakers Bru (2009 population: 74,506): Quảng Trị Province Cơ Tu (2009 population: 61,588): Quảng Nam Province Tà Ôi (2009 population: 43,886): Thừa Thiên-Huế Province and Quảng Trị Province Bahnaric speakers West Bahnaric Brâu (2009 population: 397): Kon Tum Province East Bahnaric Co (2009 population: 33,817): Quảng Ngãi Province North Bahnaric Xơ Đăng (2009 population: 169,501): Kon Tum Province and Quảng Nam Province Hrê (2009 population: 127,420): Quảng Ngãi Province Rơ Măm (2009 population: 436): Kon Tum Province Central Bahnaric Ba Na (2009 population: 227,716): Gia Lai Province and Kon Tum Province Giẻ Triêng (2009 population: 50,962): Kon Tum Province and Quảng Nam Province South Bahnaric Chơ Ro (2009 population: 26,855): Đồng Nai Province Cờ Ho (2009 population: 166,112): Lâm Đồng Province Mạ (2009 population: 41,405): Lâm Đồng Province X’Tiêng (2009 population: 85,436): Bình Phước Province Mnông (2009 population: 102,741): Đắk Lắk Province and Đắk Nông Province Chamic speakers Chăm (2009 population: 161,729): Ninh Thuận Province and Bình Thuận Province Chu Ru (2009 population: 19,314): Lâm Đồng Province Ê Đê (2009 population: 331,194): Đắk Lắk Province Gia Rai (2009 population: 411,275): Gia Lai Province Ra Glai (2009 population: 122,245): Ninh Thuận Province and Khánh Hòa Province Listed by province, from north to south as well as west to east: Quảng Trị Province: Bru (Katuic), Tà Ôi (Katuic) Thừa Thiên-Huế Province: Tà Ôi (Katuic) Quảng Nam Province: Cơ Tu (Katuic), Xơ Đăng (North Bahnaric), Giẻ Triêng (Central Bahnaric) Quảng Ngãi Province: Hrê (North Bahnaric), Co (East Bahnaric) Kon Tum Province: Giẻ Triêng (Central Bahnaric), Ba Na (Central Bahnaric), Xơ Đăng (North Bahnaric), Rơ Măm (North Bahnaric), Brâu (West Bahnaric) Gia Lai Province: Gia Rai (Chamic), Ba Na (Central Bahnaric) Đắk Lắk