The ethnic structure of the population in the municipality's territory is highly diverse. In this subregion, more than 12 different ethnic groups have been residing for a long time. In a brief historical overview of the settlement of this territory, it was emphasized that Serbs were the first settlers, and they have remained in this area to this day. Subsequently, Hungarians settled in several instances, followed by Germans and other ethnic groups. Greater ethnic diversity emerged only after World War II.
Analyzing the national structure of the population in the municipality in the years 1961 and 1971, both censuses show the highest representation of Serbs (71.2% and 70.2%, respectively). Serbs make up about two-thirds of the total population. The second most represented ethnic group is Hungarians, comprising about 26%. The remaining ethnic groups account for only about 3%.
A notable group of residents identified as Yugoslavs in the 1971 census is singled out. Germans, Slovenes, and Rusyns are separated from the group of other residents. In terms of numerical and percentage representation in 1971, the order of ethnic groups in the municipality was as follows: Serbs with over 70%, Hungarians with about 25%, residents who identified as Yugoslavs with about 1.5%, and then, below one percent, Roma, Croats, Romanians, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Germans, Slovaks, Slovenes, Rusyns, and, at 0.64%, other ethnic groups.
The ethnic structure of the population varies across different settlements in the municipality. Serbs form the largest ethnic group in all settlements, followed by Hungarians. The largest population of Hungarian ethnicity resides in Novi Bečej. It is noteworthy that the distribution of Roma is very different; they are most numerous in the village of Kumane and least in Bočar. Over 100 residents of Romanian ethnicity live in Novi Bečej, while only four or five live in Bočar, Kumane, and Novo Miloševo. A similar distribution is observed for Croats, Macedonians, and Montenegrins. Slovenes are evenly distributed: six or seven in Kumane, Novi Bečej, and Novo Miloševo, with only one residing in Bočar. Rusyns are present in only two settlements, Novi Bečej and Kumane.
Comparing the ethnic structure of the municipality according to the censuses of 1971 and 1981 indicates certain changes in the representation of certain ethnic groups over the past decade. The number of Serbs (the largest ethnic group) decreased from 22,298 (in 1971) to 20,115 (in 1981), or from 70.28% to 67.26%. The participation of Hungarians in the ethnic structure also decreased from 25.88% to 24.00%. The number of Yugoslav ethnicity residents increased significantly from 1.06% (in 1971) to 4.21% (in 1981). The numerical representation of other ethnic groups and nationalities did not change significantly. Muslims, undecided, and unaffiliated individuals were separated from the "other" group in the census, and their representation is minimal in the overall ethnic structure.