A minority shareholder is practically any private investor who has bought shares on the stock exchange. The opposite is a majority shareholder whose stake allows determining company decisions.
The economic rights of a minority shareholder do not differ from those of a major owner: dividends per share are the same for all, as well as the share of assets in case of liquidation. The difference lies in management rights — a small stake does not allow influencing voting outcomes.
Therefore, protection is built on legislative mechanisms rather than votes: special approval procedures for related-party transactions, preemptive rights when issuing additional shares, the right to demand share buyback when certain decisions are made, and the company's obligation to disclose information. Certain rights arise when a specified stake is accumulated — for example, the right to demand convening an extraordinary meeting.
Practical conclusion for investors: when choosing securities, it makes sense to evaluate not only financial indicators but also how the company has treated minority shareholders in the past — the history of dividend decisions, additional issuances, and related-party transactions is more informative than any declarations.