Demographic Situation in Modern Abkhazia - Fact or fiction?

Demographic Situation in Modern Abkhazia - Fact or fiction?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52340/ggj.2025.05.01.05

Keywords:

Abkhazia, population, demographic transition, birth, death, migration

Abstract

In the period after the armed conflict in Abkhazia (14.08.1992-27.09.1993), there is no reliable information about demographic data. The first official information about the population - published by the Department of State Statistics (in 2019 was renamed the State Committee) of unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia appeared in 2005. Since 2010, the statistical abstract “Abkhazia in Figures” has been regularly published, which, unlike the 2005 edition, no longer has classified as - "for official use". The demographic situation of modern Abkhazia is discussed on the basis of official Abkhaz sources. The article also uses data from foreign, Abkhaz experts and various international organizations, which significantly differ from official data. Even such a general indicator as the total number of population is unclear. The opinion was expressed that the official data does not reflect the reality. The theory of demographic transition and the estimated crude mortality rate were used to calculate the population size. According to calculations, the population is in the range of 140-160 thousand. 

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Author Biography

Giorgi Meladze, Tbilisi State University

Department of Geography of Georgia and Landscape Planning, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

Department of Human Geography, TSU, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography. Tbilisi, Georgia

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Published

2025-05-14

How to Cite

Meladze, G. (2025). Demographic Situation in Modern Abkhazia - Fact or fiction?. Georgian Geographical Journal, 5(1), 41–50. https://doi.org/10.52340/ggj.2025.05.01.05

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