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Georgia

GE

Western Asia

Georgia is home to 7 documented ethnic groups in Western Asia — led by Georgian (~87%), Azerbaijani Georgia (~6%), Armenian Georgia (~5%), Georgia Other (~1%). This page blends their phenotype and demographic data into one weighted reference: skin tone, facial features, hair texture and build, drawn from published census and ancestry sources.

Demographic Composition

Composition weights are derived from self-identification in published census and demographic surveys. Each row links to the source ethnic-group atlas page.

Ethnic groupWeightSource
GeorgianGeorgian86.6%National Statistics Office of Georgia 2014 Census; ethnic Georgians (Kartvelians) (~86.6%, ~3.2M+ of ~3.7M total). Predominantly Eastern Orthodox Christian (Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church). The Kartvelian language family includes Georgian, Mingrelian, Laz, and Svan — Georgian is the standard literary language and primary self-identification
Azerbaijani GeorgiaAzerbaijani Georgia6.3%Georgia 2014 Census, Azerbaijani (~6.3%, ~233,000); concentrated in Kvemo Kartli region in southern Georgia. Cross-border population
Armenian GeorgiaArmenian Georgia4.6%Georgia 2014 Census, Armenian (~4.6%, ~168,000); concentrated in Samtskhe-Javakheti region in southern Georgia plus Tbilisi
Georgia OtherGeorgia Other1.3%Georgia 2014 Census residual; includes Yezidi (~12,000), Greek (~6,000), Kurd, Ukrainian, Assyrian, plus other smaller groups
Russian GeorgiaRussian Georgia0.7%Georgia 2014 Census, Russian (~0.7%, ~26,000); declined substantially from 1989 peak
Ossetian GeorgiaOssetian Georgia0.4%Georgia 2014 Census; Ossetian (~0.4%, ~14,000 in Georgia-controlled territory); the broader South Ossetian and broader Ossetian populations are concentrated in the de facto independent South Ossetia (recognized by Russia and a few other states; not recognized by Georgia or the international community broadly) plus North Ossetia in Russia
Abkhaz GeorgiaAbkhaz Georgia0.1%Georgia 2014 Census; Abkhaz (~0.1%, ~3,500 in Georgia-controlled territory); the broader Abkhaz population is concentrated in the de facto independent Abkhazia (recognized by Russia and a few other states; not recognized by Georgia or the international community broadly)

Georgia Phenotype Profile

Georgia's population is dominated by ethnic Georgians (~87%) with substantial Azerbaijani (~6.3%) and Armenian (~4.6%) minorities plus smaller communities. The country's demographic structure reflects approximately 3,000+ years of Kartvelian / Caucasus Indigenous demographic continuity plus substantial influence from neighboring populations (Iranian, Greek, Roman/Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, Ottoman, Persian, Russian historical-political-cultural influences). The 1992-1993 Abkhazia war and 2008 Russo-Georgian War / South Ossetia conflict have produced the de facto independence of approximately 20% of the historic Georgian SSR territory. Skin tone Fitzpatrick II-III modal. Hair predominantly dark brown to black with elevated lighter-eye frequencies. Adult Georgian male mean stature approximately 174-177 cm.

A descriptive view, not a claim about individuals

This page shows a weighted aggregate of phenotype observations across the Georgia population, based on demographic composition from published census and ancestry sources. Phenotypes within any country are far more varied than the aggregate suggests; this is a descriptive reference, not a deterministic claim about any individual. For source-level detail on individual ethnic groups, see the constituent atlas pages linked below.

Methodology Notes

Composition weights are derived from the National Statistics Office of Georgia 2014 Census. The de facto independent territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are not enumerated in the Georgian census; their populations are documented separately via de facto authority enumeration. Caveats: (1) the substantial post-1991 emigration has reduced the Georgian source-country population from 1989 peaks; (2) the post-2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine produced substantial new Russian migration to Georgia (transient, with many migrants subsequently departing); (3) the de facto independent Abkhazia and South Ossetia are not under Georgian state control and produce demographic enumeration challenges.

See full project methodology →

Primary Sources

  1. 1.National Statistics Office of Georgia (Sakstat). 2014 General Population Census of Georgia. Tbilisi: Sakstat; 2016.
  2. 2.Suny RG. The Making of the Georgian Nation (2nd ed). Indiana University Press; 1994.
  3. 3.Yunusbayev B, Metspalu M, Järve M, et al. The Caucasus as an asymmetric semipermeable barrier to ancient human migrations. Mol Biol Evol. 2012;29(1):359-365.
  4. 4.Rayfield D. Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia. Reaktion Books; 2012.
  5. 5.Coppieters B (ed). Federalism and Conflict in the Caucasus. Royal Institute of International Affairs; 2001.

Other countries in Western Asia

Aggregate phenotype references for neighbouring Western Asia nations, weighted by demographic composition.

Browse all Western Asiaethnic groups & countries →