What distinguishes ethnicity from nationality?

Ethnicity is primarily concerned with cultural factors, such as traditions, language, and shared history, while nationality refers to the status of belonging to a specific nation-state, which is often associated with citizenship and political identity. For example, individuals may share an ethnicity based on common cultural traits, such as customs or heritage, while their nationality might reflect their legal citizenship or identity as members of a specific political entity, often linked to a defined territory.

The distinction lies in the fact that ethnicity can encompass a wide array of cultural identities, which may not correspond to a specific nation-state. In contrast, nationality is explicitly tied to the legal and political recognition by a government. This relationship highlights how someone can belong to an ethnic group that might be spread across several countries, while their nationality is connected to only one nation-state.