Georgia

Summary

Official Name: Georgia
Population: 3,729,000
General Remarks: Census does not include results from Abkhazia
Principal Languages: Georgian, Russian
Literacy Rate: 99% (2017 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Naby 1975, Kibrik 1991, Sebeok 1963
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Georgia is 22. All are living languages. Of these, 16 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 5 are developing, 3 are vigorous, 10 are in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 5 unestablished languages.

Languages

Abkhaz abk: Abkhazia region: Black Sea coast, separate areas near Gudaut’a and Och’amch’re. Users: 129,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Total users in all countries: 194,710. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Abkhazia, co-official with Georgian (1995, Constitution, Article 8). Alternate Names: Abkhazian, Abxazo Autonym: аҧсуа бызшәа‎ (Aṗsua byzšwa), аҧсшәа‎ (Aṗsšwa) Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Abkhaz-Abazin
Armenian, Western hyw: Samtskhe-Javakheti region: Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe; Kvemo Kartli region: Tsalka. Abkhazia region (Hamshen dialect). Users: 150,000 in Georgia (2016). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic aii: Transcaucasia area: scattered. Users: 3,400 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Ethnic population: 14,000. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Aisorski, Assyriski Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern
Avar ava: Kakheti region: Qvareli district, Tivi village. Users: 2,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Avar-Andic, Avar
Azerbaijani, North azj: Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions. Users: 239,000 in Georgia (2016). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Azərbaycan dili, Azərbaycanca Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
Bats bbl: Kakheti region: Akhmeta district, Zemo-Alvani (Upper Alvani). Users: 600 (Hauk and Rentz 2019). Ethnic population: 1,600 (Gippert et al 2006). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Bac, Batsaw, Batsba, Batsbi, Batsbiitsy, Batsi, Tsova-Tush, Tush Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Batsi
Bezhta kap: Kakheti region: Qvareli district, Chatliskure and Saruso villages. Users: 700 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Ethnic population: 1,000 (2014 NCRP). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Bezht’alas mits Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Tsezic, East Tsezic
Bohtan Neo-Aramaic bhn: Kvemo Kartli region: mainly Garbadani village. Users: 900 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern
Chechen che: Kakheti region: Ahmeta municipality, Duisi village and several nearby villages. Users: 10,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Dido ddo: Kakheti region: Qvareli district, Ibtsokhi village. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Tsezic, West Tsezic
French fra: Users: 16,600 in Georgia (Marcoux et al 2022), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Georgian kat: Users: 3,404,000 in Georgia, all users. L1 users: 3,250,000 in Georgia (2014 census). L2 users: 154,000 (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 3,945,790 (as L1: 3,791,790; as L2: 154,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 8). Alternate Names: Common Kartvelian, Grunzinski yazyk Autonym: ქართული‎ (Kartuli), ქართული ენა‎ (Kartuli ena) Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
Hunzib huz: Kakheti region: Lagodekhi municipality, Tkhilistsqaro, Qvareli district, Chatliskure village. Users: 410 in Georgia (Koryakov 2006). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Hontl’os myts Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Tsezic, East Tsezic
Judeo-Georgian jge: Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions; T’bilisi. Users: 2,800 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Kvemo Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti regions; T’bilisi area. Users: 20,600 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Ezdiki, Kurdî, Kurmancî, Kurmanji Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Laz lzz: Adjara region: a few villages. Users: 1,000 in Georgia (Salminen 2007). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Chan, Chanuri, Chanzan, Laze, Lazuri, Zan Classification: Kartvelian, Zan
Lezgi lez: Users: 3,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic
Mingrelian xmf: Abkhazia region: Gali and T’q’varčeli districts; Samegrelo-Zemo Svateni, all except Poti town; T’bilisi. Users: 344,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Total users in all countries: 345,530. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Iverian, Margalepi, Margali, Margaluri, Margaluri nina, Megrel, Megrelian, Megruli Classification: Kartvelian, Zan
Ossetic oss: Imereti region: Sachkhere municipality; Kvemo Kartli region: small border areas near Tbilisi; Mtskheta-Mtianeti region: Akhalagori and Mtskheta municipalities; Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti region: Oni municipality; Shida Kartli region: Gori and Tskhinvali municipalities. Users: 39,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Osetin, Ossete, Ossetian Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern
Pontic pnt: Users: 15,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Rumka Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Russian rus: Adjara, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and T’bilisi regions. Users: 2,376,200 in Georgia, all users. L1 users: 46,200 in Georgia (2016). L2 users: 2,330,000 (Arefyev 2012). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Svan sva: Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti region: Lentekhi municipality; Samegrelo-Zemo Svateni region: Mestia municipality. Users: 14,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015), decreasing. Ethnic population: 15,000 (2000 A. Kibrik). Total users in all countries: 14,071. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Svanuri, Šwan-är Autonym: ლუშნუ ნინ‎ (lušnu nin) Classification: Kartvelian, Svan
Tatar tat: Users: 3,400 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Turkish tur: Users: 3,200 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Udi udi: Kakheti region: Oktomberi village. Users: 90 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Ethnic population: 500 (1990 A. Kibrik). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Udin, Udin muz Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Udi
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 6,800 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Urum uum: Shida Kartli region: Gori area. Users: 90,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Total users in all countries: 185,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Turkic

Maps

Georgia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Georgia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Georgia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Georgia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Georgia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Georgia in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Georgia ($149.95, 27 page PDF)

Georgia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Georgia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action