The predominant ethnic group in Georgia is the Kartveli, which constitutes the largest segment of the country’s population, estimated at approximately 3.7 million. Within this rich tapestry of culture, several distinct ethno-linguistic groups also thrive. Among them are the Svans, who inhabit the northwestern region of Svaneti, and the Megrels, found in the western area of Samegrelo. Additionally, the Laz are a separate ethno-linguistic group primarily residing in present-day Turkey, although some members can be found in the southwestern regions of Adjara and Samtskhe-Javakheti.
While these four ethnic groups each speak their own unique languages, they all belong to the Kartvelian language family, a classification that sets them apart from the world’s primary language families. In the remote areas of the Greater Caucasus Mountains along the northern border, other distinct languages from the Northwest Caucasian and Northeast Caucasian language families can also be heard.
Various dialects of the Georgian language are spoken across different regions, including Adjaran, Gurian, Javakhetian, Imeretian, Rachan, Khevsurian, Tushi, Kartli, Shida Kartlian, Qvemo Kartlian, and Kakhetian. Major urban centers like Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi also have their own localized dialects. Most of these dialects are mutually intelligible, allowing for fluid communication among Georgians.
Beyond the borders of Georgia, small but vibrant enclaves of the Georgian diaspora can be found in cities such as Moscow, Brooklyn, Washington D.C., Paris, and across Greece, Turkey, Armenia, and Iran. The global Georgian population is estimated to be around 4 million.
Georgians are descended from tribes that migrated from Anatolia, populating what is now present-day Georgia. The ethnic core of the Georgian people is a blend of three major related tribes: the Karts, Migrelo-Zans, and Svans. A distinct Georgian identity began to emerge during the early centuries of the 1st millennium BCE. Key factors influencing the formation of the Georgian ethnos include the strengthening of the Iberian state in the first and second centuries CE, the adoption of Christianity by Georgians between the 4th and 6th centuries, and the development of the Georgian written language.
The formation of the ethnic Georgian identity was largely completed between the 6th and 10th centuries, a period marked by the consolidation and prominence of the Georgian language, the establishment of a defined state territory, and significant cultural advancement.
For centuries, Georgians have engaged in agriculture and livestock cultivation, with cattle breeding being particularly prevalent in the mountainous regions. In the foothills, this was complemented by developed agricultural practices, which formed the backbone of the economy in the plains. These agricultural traditions have played a crucial role in shaping the national identity of Georgia as it is recognized today.
Each region of Georgia boasts its own unique ethnic characteristics:
The regions of Kartli, Qvemo Kartli, and Samtskhe-Javakheti are considered the most culturally and ethnically diverse areas in Georgia, reflecting the rich heritage and multifaceted identity of the Georgian people.
