A tribe is viewed, developmentally or historically, as a social group existing before the development of nation states, or outside them. A tribe is a group of distinct people, dependent on their land for their livelihood, who are largely self-sufficient, and not integrated into the national society. It is perhaps the term most readily understood and used by the general public to describe such communities. Stephen Corry defines tribal people as those who "...have followed ways of life for many generations that are largely self-sufficient, and are clearly different from the mainstream and dominant society". This definition, however, would not apply to countries in the Middle East such as Iraq and Yemen, South Asia such as Afghanistan and many African countries such as South Sudan, where the entire population is a member of one tribe or another, and tribalism itself is dominant and mainstream. 

There are an estimated one hundred and fifty million tribal individuals worldwide, constituting around forty percent of indigenous individuals. Although nearly all tribal people are indigenous, some are not indigenous to the areas where they now live. 

The distinction between tribal and indigenous is important because tribal peoples have a special status acknowledged in international law. They often face particular issues in addition to those faced by the wider category of indigenous peoples.
what is a tribe viewed as
what is it a group of
what does corry define them as
are they self sufficient
how many are tribal
what percent are indigenous
are they in the middle east
are they a socail group
why is the distinction important
who is dependent on their land
are they faced with issues
do they have special status
when did they exist
is yemen included
is it view as historical
what about developmental
are tribes dependent on the land
are they different from the mainstream
who was existing before the development of nation states
what term discribes the comunities
social group
social group
distinct people
distinct people
have followed ways of life for many generations
have followed ways of life for many generations
yes
self-sufficient
one hundred and fifty million
one hundred and fifty million 
forty percent
orty percent
no
ould not apply to countries in the Middle East 
yes
as a social group 
have a special status acknowledged
have a special status acknowledged
A tribe
A tribe
yes
often face particular issues
yes
have a special status 
currently
There are an estimated one hundred and fifty million tribal individuals worldwide,
no
This definition, however, would not apply to countries in the Middle East such as Iraq and Yemen
yes
historically,
yes
developmentally
yes
dependent on their land 
yes
clearly different from the mainstrea
A tribe
A tribe
group of distinct people, dependent on their land for their livelihood
group of distinct people, dependent on their land for their livelihood