Nasioi (Bougainville) DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Papua New Guinea · Oceania
The Nasioi live in the mountains of southern and central Bougainville, the large island at the northern end of the Solomon chain now an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea. Unlike many neighbours, they speak a Papuan language of the South Bougainville family rather than an Austronesian one, and Nasioi samples are part of the Human Genome Diversity Project, a classic global reference panel. In our model, the Nasioi average is 61.4% Papuan and Near Oceanian, 21.5% Southern Chinese Neolithic farmer, 9.8% South Asian hunter-gatherer related and 5.9% Southeast Asian Neolithic farmer, with a 1.5% Anatolian Neolithic trace. That is very close to the profile of the Ni-Vanuatu, who speak Austronesian languages, and the two are near neighbours genetically (0.0316): here, language family says little about ancestry. A second Nasioi sample is almost identical (0.0033). Among ancient groups, precolonial Watom Island off New Britain comes first (0.0429), with Vanuatu around 1600 AD next (0.0475).
- Largest ancient components in our model: Papuan and Near Oceanian 61.4%, Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers 21.5%, South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) 9.8%
- Closest modern population in our data: Nasoi, distance 0.0033
- Closest ancient group in our data: Papua New Guinea Watom Island Precolonial, distance 0.0429
Where does Nasioi (Bougainville) DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Nasioi (Bougainville) individuals sampled in Papua New Guinea, listed in the G25 sheet as "Nasioi" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Nasioi (Bougainville) average
The ancient make-up of the Nasioi (Bougainville) average is led by Papuan and Near Oceanian (61.4%), followed by Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers (21.5%) and South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) (9.8%). The Papuan and Near Oceanian component reflects the ancestry of the first peoples of New Guinea and Australia. The Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers share (21.5%) reflects the Neolithic rice and millet farmers of southern China, whose descendants spread into Southeast Asia. With well over half of the total, this single source dominates the profile.
Smaller traces of Anatolian Neolithic farmers (under 5%) 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 0.016), 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.
Closest modern populations to Nasioi (Bougainville)
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Nasioi (Bougainville) average is Nasoi, at a distance of 0.003 (very close). Next come Ni-Vanuatu at 0.032 and Australian Aboriginal at 0.086. By the tenth closest (Keiese (Ohoidertutu)) the distance grows to 0.158, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nasoi | 0.0033 | Very close |
| 2 | Ni-Vanuatu | 0.0316 | Close |
| 3 | Australian Aboriginal | 0.0858 | Distant |
| 4 | Alor | 0.0880 | Distant |
| 5 | Pantar | 0.1128 | Distant |
| 6 | Keiese (Waur) | 0.1276 | Distant |
| 7 | Baining | 0.1278 | Distant |
| 8 | Papuan (Highland B) | 0.1325 | Distant |
| 9 | Keiese (Faan) | 0.1455 | Distant |
| 10 | Keiese (Ohoidertutu) | 0.1577 | Distant |
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 Nasioi (Bougainville)
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Nasioi (Bougainville), Papua New Guinea Watom Island Precolonial (Pre-colonial) comes first, at 0.043, with Vanuatu 1600CE next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. 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 | Papua New Guinea Watom Island Precolonial | Pre-colonial | 0.0429 |
| 2 | Vanuatu 1600CE | c. 1600 AD | 0.0475 |
| 3 | Vanuatu 1100BP | c. 850 AD | 0.0570 |
| 4 | Vanuatu 2500BP | c. 550 BC | 0.0649 |
| 5 | Vanuatu 1200BP | c. 750 AD | 0.0658 |
| 6 | Vanuatu 1800CE | c. 1800 AD | 0.0675 |
| 7 | Vanuatu 2000BP | c. 50 BC | 0.0682 |
| 8 | Vanuatu 2350BP | c. 400 BC | 0.0756 |
| 9 | Australia Willandra Lakes 4000BP | c. 2050 BC | 0.0789 |
| 10 | AUS Barham 1600BP-1400BP | c. 350 AD | 0.0790 |
Ancient DNA from Papua New Guinea
Our ancient DNA database holds 41 individuals excavated in present-day Papua New Guinea, dated from about 1,650 BC to 1810 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are C1b (12), M1a (2) and O2a (2), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are B4 (16), P1 (2) and Q1 (1). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Nasioi (Bougainville) population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Papua New Guinea
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 41 from Papua New Guinea.
Compare yourself with Nasioi (Bougainville)
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Nasioi (Bougainville) average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Nasioi (Bougainville) 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.
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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 Nasioi (Bougainville). 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 Nasioi (Bougainville) average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
Comprehensive DNA analysis comparing your genetics to over 2,000 modern reference populations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Nasioi (Bougainville)?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Nasioi (Bougainville) average is about 61.4% Papuan and Near Oceanian, 21.5% Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers and 9.8% South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy). These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Nasioi (Bougainville)?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Nasioi (Bougainville) average are Nasoi, Ni-Vanuatu and Australian Aboriginal. The closest ancient matches are Papua New Guinea Watom Island Precolonial, Vanuatu 1600CE and Vanuatu 1100BP.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Nasioi (Bougainville)?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Nasioi (Bougainville) 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 Nasioi (Bougainville) ancestry?
Our regional report for this part of the world does not fit the Nasioi (Bougainville) average closely, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
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.