Fulani DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · West Africa (Sahel) · Sub-Saharan Africa
The Fulani (Fulbe, or Peul in French) are one of the most widespread peoples of Africa, found across the Sahel from Senegal to Cameroon and Sudan. Their language, Fula, belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo family, and Fulani-led movements founded states such as the Sokoto Caliphate in the 19th century. In our model, the Fulani average is 51.8% West African, 22.7% North African hunter-gatherer (Iberomaurusian), 15.3% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 6.9% Nilotic East African, 2.0% Natufian and 1.4% Levantine Neolithic. That is far more North African-related ancestry than among their Senegambian neighbours: the Mandinka have only 4.4% Iberomaurusian and no Anatolian farmer share above 1%. The closest modern averages are North African groups that also carry substantial West African-related ancestry, from Western Sahara (0.0399) and southern Tunisia. The nearest ancient group is far away (0.1077): Neolithic pastoralists from Takarkori in Libya, who lived when the Sahara was green.
- Largest ancient components in our model: West African 51.8%, North African hunter-gatherers (Iberomaurusian) 22.7%, Anatolian Neolithic farmers 15.3%
- Closest modern population in our data: Hartani Arab (Western Sahara), distance 0.0399
- Closest ancient group in our data: Libya N Saharan Pastoral Takarkori, distance 0.1077
Fulani is one of the 335 modern populations in our population genetics atlas. The numbers on this page describe the average Global25 (G25) genome of the Fulani individuals sampled in West Africa (Sahel). Like every population average, it smooths over a lot of variation between individuals.
Ancient make-up of the Fulani average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Fulani average, 51.8%, goes to West African, ahead of North African hunter-gatherers (Iberomaurusian) (22.7%) and Anatolian Neolithic farmers (15.3%). The West African component reflects ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The North African hunter-gatherers (Iberomaurusian) share (22.7%) reflects the Late Stone Age North Africans known from the Taforalt cave in Morocco.
Smaller traces of Natufian hunter-gatherers (Levant) and Levantine Neolithic farmers (under 5% each) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The model fits well (fit distance 0.013), so these proportions are a reasonable summary. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Sankofa – African Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Fulani
Ranking every modern population by genetic distance puts Hartani Arab (Western Sahara) first for Fulani, at 0.040, then Fulani (Burkina Faso Ziniare) and Shwashin Berber (East Zenati Tunisia Matmata). Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Hartani Arab (Western Sahara) (0.040), Shwashin Berber (East Zenati Tunisia Matmata) (0.051) and Shwashin Arab (Tunisia) (0.051). By the tenth closest (Hartani/Gnawa Arab (Morocco Errachidia)) the distance grows to 0.074, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartani Arab (Western Sahara) | 0.0399 | Close |
| 2 | Fulani (Burkina Faso Ziniare) | 0.0505 | Moderate |
| 3 | Shwashin Berber (East Zenati Tunisia Matmata) | 0.0507 | Moderate |
| 4 | Shwashin Arab (Tunisia) | 0.0511 | Moderate |
| 5 | Shwashin Arab (Tunisia Douz) | 0.0514 | Moderate |
| 6 | Fulani (Burkina Faso B) | 0.0589 | Moderate |
| 7 | Hartani Berber (Algeria Timimoun, Gourara) | 0.0619 | Moderate |
| 8 | Tunisian Arab (Intermediate Shwashin Profile) | 0.0672 | Moderate |
| 9 | Hartani Berber (Algeria, Mozabite) | 0.0672 | Moderate |
| 10 | Hartani/Gnawa Arab (Morocco Errachidia) | 0.0743 | Moderate |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Fulani
Looking back in time, the ancient sample that most resembles the Fulani average is Libya N Saharan Pastoral Takarkori (Neolithic), at 0.108. Tanzania Late Medieval-Early Modern Kilwa Swahili (Swahili-Mixed Profile) and Kenya Early Modern Mtwapa Swahili come next. Even the best ancient match is distant, so the modern population is better described as a blend of several ancestral sources than as the continuation of one. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Libya N Saharan Pastoral Takarkori | Neolithic | 0.1077 |
| 2 | Tanzania Late Medieval-Early Modern Kilwa Swahili (Swahili-Mixed Profile) | Late Medieval to Early Modern, c. 1300-1800 AD | 0.1188 |
| 3 | Kenya Early Modern Mtwapa Swahili | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.1555 |
| 4 | Spain Andalusia Early Modern (SSA-Mixed Profile) | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.1590 |
| 5 | Tanzania Early Modern Songo Mnara Swahili (Swahili-Mixed Profile) | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.1656 |
| 6 | Kenya Pastoral IA | Iron Age | 0.1702 |
| 7 | Tanzania Early Modern Songo Mnara Swahili (Southern Nilotic Profile) | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.1732 |
| 8 | Kenya Pastoral N Molo Cave 1500BP | c. 450 AD | 0.1894 |
| 9 | Tanzania Luxmanda 3000BP | c. 1050 BC | 0.1897 |
| 10 | Kenya Late Medieval-Early Modern Makwasinyi Swahili | Late Medieval to Early Modern, c. 1300-1800 AD | 0.1899 |
Compare yourself with Fulani
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Fulani average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Fulani and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
Keep in mind that a population average is a statistical summary of a limited number of sampled individuals. Real people inside any group vary, some carry more of one ancestry and some less, and no genetic profile decides who is or is not Fulani. Use these numbers as a map of deep ancestry, not as a label.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Fulani average. Your own DNA has its own story: Sankofa – African Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people of predominantly Sub-Saharan African (SSA) ancestry: modelling against 230+ regional African populations (West, Central, East & Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa, Madagascar) plus the European, Amerindian and...
More populations from Sub-Saharan Africa
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Fulani?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Fulani average is about 51.8% West African, 22.7% North African hunter-gatherers (Iberomaurusian) and 15.3% Anatolian Neolithic farmers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Fulani?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Fulani (Burkina Faso Ziniare)), the closest modern populations to the Fulani average are Hartani Arab (Western Sahara), Shwashin Berber (East Zenati Tunisia Matmata) and Shwashin Arab (Tunisia). The closest ancient matches are Libya N Saharan Pastoral Takarkori, Tanzania Late Medieval-Early Modern Kilwa Swahili (Swahili-Mixed Profile) and Kenya Early Modern Mtwapa Swahili.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Fulani?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Fulani average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Fulani ancestry?
Sankofa – African Ancestry Report is the report built for this heritage, and its reference panel fits the Fulani average closely. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.