 Distribution of the Meskhetian dialect | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 89,995 - 100,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Georgia Samtskhe-Javakheti: 77 498 or 48,3 % (2014[1])  Turkey Ardahan province: unknown | |
| Languages | |
| Meskhetian dialect of Georgian language | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly † Georgian Orthodox Church Catholic, Jewish and Muslim minority. |
| Part of a series on |
| Georgians ქართველები |
|---|
 |
| Nation |
| Georgia |
| Ancient Kartvelian people |
| Subgroups |
| Culture |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Symbols |
| History of Georgia |
Meskhians (Georgian: მესხები, Meskhebi) are an ethnographic subgroup of Georgians who speak the Meskhetian dialect of the Georgian language, which among Georgia's regional dialects is relatively close to official Georgian. Meskhetians are the indigenous population of Meskheti, a historical region in southern Georgia.[2][3] Today they are mainly followers of Georgian Orthodox Church, while part of them are Catholics.
- ^ Georgian census, 2014
- ^ "East of Center » Archive » Meskhetian Turks Bouncing From Exile to Exile". Retrieved 2016-06-10.
- ^ "ECMI - European Centre for Minority Issues: Publications". www.ecmi.de. Retrieved 2016-06-10.