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The Population of Abkhazia and Ethnic Composition

2021 / 05 / 12

Author: Ani Zirakashvili

It is difficult to determine the exact number of people living in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region since the central government of Georgia is unable to conduct a population census in the occupied territories. Statistics published by the de facto governments of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region are largely unreliable and reflect the demographic interests of the de facto governments in these regions. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the ongoing changes in the ethnic composition of the population of Abkhazia through the available statistics.

Population of Abkhazia in 1989

According to the last census conducted in Soviet Georgia in 1989, the population of Abkhazia totaled about 525,000 people. As for the ethnic composition, the largest groups were Georgians (239,872 people - 45.7% of the population), Abkhazians (93,267 people - 17.7%), Armenians (76,541 people - 14.6%) and Russians (74,913 people - 14.3%). There was a drastic change after the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia when a large wave of internally displaced people (IDPs) emerged. According to official data, the number of IDPs from Abkhazia was about 350,000 people, most of them were ethnic Georgians.

Population of Abkhazia in 2003

Information on the population of Abkhazia since 1989 is mainly based on the results of a census conducted by the de facto government. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact number of the population of Abkhazia.

According to statistics published in 2003, the number of the population of Abkhazia dropped to 214,016, and Abkhazians comprise the largest ethnic group. The number of Abkhazians totals 94,597 people, which is 44.1% of the total population of Abkhazia. According to these data, the number of Abkhazians is practically unchanged compared to 1989; however, in the wake of the expulsion of ethnic Georgians, the percentage of Abkhazians has increased.

Armenians (44,869 people - 21% of the population) are the second largest ethnic group after Abkhazians and are followed by Georgians (40,443 people - 19%). According to the data published by the de facto government of Abkhazia in 2003, Mingrelians are singled out as a separate ethnic group, numbering 3,598 people - 1.7% of the total population of Abkhazia.

The data published in Abkhazia differs from the census data of the National Statistics Office of Georgia, according to which the population of Abkhazia was actually 179,000 people in 2003.

Population of Abkhazia in 2014

According to the de facto government, the number of people living in Abkhazia increased in 2014 compared to 2003. According to the statistics of the de facto republic of January 1, 2014, the population of Abkhazia numbered 242,756 people. The largest ethnic group was Abkhazians (123,767 people - about 51% of the total population). Other groups were comprised of Georgians (43,407 people - 17.8% of the population), Armenians (41,944 people - 17.2%) and Russians (22,280 people - 9.1%). Mingrelians were still a separate ethnic group, numbering 3,238 people - 1.3% of the total population.

Population of Abkhazia in 2020

In 2020, the de facto government of Abkhazia updated the census data. According to these data, the population of Abkhazia is 245,424 people, which is significantly higher compared to the 2003 data (about 13%) and slightly higher than it was in 2014 (about 1%).

Compared to 1989, the ethnic composition changed radically. In particular, the number of Abkhazians (125,974 people - 51.3% of the total population), the largest ethnic group, is about 2.6 times more than the number of ethnic Georgians (43,646 people - 17.7% of the population). Georgians and Mingrelians are still referred to as different ethnic groups. According to the statistics, there are 3,259 Mingrelians (1.3% of the total population) living in Abkhazia. In addition to Georgians, the largest ethnic groups living in Abkhazia are Armenians (41,870 - 17%), and Russians (22,468 - 9.1%).

Key Conclusions

  • Information about the population in Abkhazia is based on the data of the local de facto government. Therefore, existing statistics on population and ethnic composition cannot be a reliable source of information.
  • The demonstration of an increasing number of ethnic Abkhazians in the data on the population of the region is part of the policy of the de facto government of Abkhazia aimed at sharing less political power with other ethnic groups. Strengthening the status of the largest ethnic group is aimed at “legitimizing” power on a national basis.
  • The 1992-1993 conflict resulted in a sharp decline in the total number of ethnic Georgians living in Abkhazia. According to the latest data of the de facto government, the number of Georgians decreased by about 5.5 times compared to 1989. This number increased by only 3203 people from 2003 to 2020. It is noteworthy that the majority of Georgians live in de facto administrative regions, mainly in the Gali and Tkvarcheli regions, and the de facto authorities discriminate against them, which is ultimately aimed at their assimilation or forced emigration.
  • “Official” statistics present Georgians and Mingrelians as different ethnic groups. By strengthening the Mingrelian “identity,” the de facto government of Abkhazia seeks to artificially reduce the number of ethnic Georgians living in Abkhazia and, consequently, reduce the influence of Georgians in the Gali district.
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