Abstract: Cluster analysis and principal component analysis of the physical characters of 23 populations in China with 13 measurements, including maximum head length, maximum head breadth, minimum frontal breadth, bizygomatic breadth, morphological facial heigth, nose breadth, nose heigth, mouth breadth, interocular breadth, stature, sitting height, breadth of shoulder and distance between iliac crests are made. The results show that the 23 populations ca n be divided into three groups: the south group, the north group and the group of middle type. The differences between south group and north group are principally in the lenghth and breadth of body. There are significant differences in cranio-facial measurements among the north populations. While the cranio-facial measurements o f the south populations are comparatively close.

Key words: Measurements, Nationality , Cluster analysis, Principal component analysis