Has a mixed population. Many say that Dagestan is a constellation of peoples, because among the population of 3 million people, Dagestanis themselves do not exceed 30%. The number of nationalities here is compared to the number of stars in the sky. What common ethnic groups live here, how many are there, what religions do they profess and what languages do they speak? Let's figure it out.
Ethnic composition of the population of Dagestan
Let's start with the ethnic composition. This region of Russia is inhabited by a wide variety of nations, whose number exceeds a hundred. According to their language, they can be classified into three groups: Turkic, Nakh-Dagestan branch, Indo-European branch.
The first group is part of the Altai family. Approximately 20% of the entire Republic speaks languages of the Turkic group. The Nakh-Dagestan branch belongs to the family of Iberian-Caucasian languages and is most often heard in the republic. Other peoples speak Indo-European languages. An interesting fact is that only 14 nations are officially recognized.
Turkic peoples. Almost 15% of the total population of Dagestan are Turks. Kumyks alone account for 13% of the total population of Dagestan in 2018—about 415 thousand people. Their habitats are the foothills and the Tersko-Sulak lowland. Approximately equal numbers of the Turkic population are distributed among the cities and rural areas of Dagestan.
Nakh-Dagestan peoples. The Nakh and Dagestan families are the main representatives of this land. The most numerous ethnic group among these families are the Avars, of whom there are more than 1 million people - more than a third of the total population of Dagestan in 2019. There are areas where only Avars live - Akhvakhsky, Shamilsky, Kazbekovsky. Next come the Dargins. Their number is approximately half a million people – about 18%. They live mainly in rural mountainous areas. In addition to them, the Nakh-Dagestan family is represented by Laks, Tabasarans, and Chechens.
Indo-European family. There are also Russians among the residents of the Republic. They number about 300 thousand people - about 10% of the total population of Dagestan in 2019. Most often, Russians can be found in Kizlyar, most of the city’s population, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk. Sometimes Ukrainians and Belarusians meet. No more than 1% are Tat Jews. Every year there are fewer and fewer of them - many move to Israel.
National composition in Dagestan
The 2010 population census states that there are more than a hundred peoples in Dagestan. It is almost impossible to give an exact figure, because some peoples do not even have their own written language. This is clearly seen when comparing the 2002 and 2010 censuses, where the number of ethnic groups was reduced from 121 to 117. The most numerous nationalities were named: Russians, Kumyks, Avars, Dargins, Chechens, Lezgins and Laks - they amounted to approximately 95-99%.
Population of Dagestan
The population of Dagestan for 2018 is 3,063,885 people. There are the same number of inhabitants in Rome or Jamaica. The Dagestan Republic ranks fifth in terms of population in Russia. Average life expectancy is 75 years. The population increases by approximately 13% annually.
Linguistic diversity in Dagestan
90% of residents speak Russian, 28% speak Avar, 18% speak Dargin. About 10% speak Kumyk, Lezgin, Chechen, and Azerbaijani languages.
Religion of Dagestan
The main religion is Islam; Shiites, Jews, and Christians are less common. The population size in Dagestan can be judged from the population census of recent cities. This is one of the few administrative units in Russia where the number of residents is increasing from year to year.
Once you find yourself in the Caucasus, or more precisely in Dagestan, over time you begin to understand that at first the inhabitants of this hospitable country seem to be the same, but in fact they are all completely different. On the same land there are dissimilar traditions, customs, dialects and even languages. Why is this happening? Ethnographers say with confidence: 33 people live on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan. Let's find out a little more about them.
Nationalities of Dagestan
In another way, the country is called a unique constellation of peoples. Speaking about their number, it is difficult to count. However, it is known that all nationalities are divided into three main language families. The first is the Dagestan-Nakh branch, which belongs to the Iberian-Caucasian language family. The second is the Turkic group. Third - Indo-European
There is no concept of “titular nationality” in the republic, but its political attributes still apply to representatives of 14 nationalities. Dagestan is one of the most multinational regions of Russia, and today more than 3 million citizens live on its territory.
A little more about language families
As we have already said, the nationalities of the Republic of Dagestan are divided into three language groups. The first - Dagestan-Nakh branch - includes Avars, Chechens, Tsakhurs, Akhvakhtsi, Karatins, Lezgins, Laks, Rutuls, Aguls, Tabasarans. This community also includes the Andians, Botlikhs, Godoberins, representatives of the Tindals, Chamalyals, Bagulals, Khvarshins, Didois, Bezhta, Gunzib, Ginukhs, Archins. This group is also represented by the Dargins, Kubachi and Kaitag people. The second family - Turkic - is represented by the following nationalities: Kumyks, Azerbaijanis, Nogais.
The third group - Indo-European - is made up of Russians, Tats. This is what the nationalities in Dagestan look like today. The list may be replenished with lesser-known nationalities.
Avars
Despite the fact that there is no titular nationality in the republic, among Dagestanis there is still some division into more and less widely represented nationalities of Dagestan (by number). Avars are the most numerous of the region (912 thousand people, or 29% of the total population). Their main area of residence is considered to be the regions of the western. The rural population of Avars makes up the majority of the total number, and their settlement occurs in an average of 22 regions. They also include the Ando-Tsez peoples, who are related to them, and the Archins. Since ancient times, the Avars were called Avars; they were also often called Tavlinians or Lezgins. This nation received the name “Avars” from the name of the medieval king Avar, who ruled the kingdom of Sair.
Dargins
What nationalities live in Dagestan? The second largest ethnic group is considered to be the Dargins (16.9% of the population, which means 490.3 thousand people). Representatives of this people live mainly in the mountainous and foothill regions of central Dagestan. Before the revolution, the Dargins were called a little differently - Akushins and Lezgins. In total it occupies 16 regions of the republic. The Dargins belong to the Sunni Muslim religious group.
Recently, the number of Dargins near the capital of Dagestan - Makhachkala - has begun to increase significantly. The same thing happens with the Caspian coast. Dargins are considered the most commercial and skilled among the entire population of the republic. Their ethnic group was formed for many years at the junction of passing trade roads, which left its mark on the way of life of the nationality.
Kumyks
Let's find out further what nationalities live in Dagestan. Who are the Kumyks? This is the largest Turkic people in the North Caucasus, which is ranked third in number among the nationalities of Dagestan (431.7 thousand people - 14.8%).
Kumyks inhabit the foothill and plain regions of the republic, occupying a total of 7 regions. They are classified as peoples of agricultural culture who firmly settled in the place chosen for this. This nation has well-developed agriculture and fishing. More than 70% of the entire country's economy is also concentrated here. The national culture of the Kumyks is very rich and original in its own way - it includes literature, folklore, and art. Among them there are a lot of famous wrestlers. However, the trouble of the people is that the Kumyks represent those nationalities of Dagestan, among which there are a lot of uneducated residents.
Lezgins
So, we learned the nationalities of Dagestan by number. We touched a little on the three leading nationalities. But it would be unfair not to touch on some of the country's nationalities. For example, Lezgins (385.2 thousand people, or 13.2% of the population). They inhabit the lowland, mountainous and foothill regions of Dagestan. Their historical territory is considered to be the adjacent regions of today's republic and neighboring Azerbaijan. Lezgins can rightfully be proud of their rich history, stretching back to ancient times. Their territory was one of the very first lands of the Caucasus.
Today the Lezgins are divided into two parts. Also, this nation is considered the most warlike, and therefore the most “hot.” So how many nationalities are there in Dagestan? The list can be continued for a very long time.
Russians and Laks
A few words should be said about the Russian-speaking representatives of the country. They also represent the nationalities of Dagestan, inhabiting mainly the Caspian Sea and the surrounding area of Makhachkala. Most Russians (104 thousand, 3.6%) can be found in Kizlyar, where more than half of the total population live. One cannot help but recall the Laks (161.2 thousand, 5.5% of the population), who have inhabited the central parts of mountainous Dagestan since historical times.
It was thanks to the Laks that the very first devout Muslim state arose on the territory of the country. They are recognized as jacks of all trades - the first Caucasian artisans came from this ethnic group. To this day, lacquer products participate in various international competitions, taking the most honorable places.
Small peoples of Dagestan
It would be unfair to talk only about the numerous representatives of this country. The smallest people of the republic are the Tsakhurs (9.7 thousand, 0.3%). These are mainly residents of villages located in the Rutul district. There are practically no Tsakhur residents in the cities. The next small nation is the Aguls (2.8 thousand, 0.9%). They live mainly in the Agul region, most of them also live in settlements.
Aguls can be found in Makhachkala, Dagestan Lights and Derbent. Another small people of Dagestan are the Rutuls (27.8 thousand, 0.9%). They inhabit the southern territories. Their number is not much larger than the Aguls - the difference is in the range of 1-1.5 thousand inhabitants. Rutulians try to stick to their relatives, so they always form into small groups. Chechens (92.6 thousand, 3.2%) are the most hot-tempered and aggressive people. The number of this nation was much larger. However, military actions in Chechnya significantly influenced the demographic situation. Today, Chechens can also be classified as a small nationality of the Republic of Dagestan.
Bottom line
So, which nationalities of Dagestan are the most important? There can be only one answer - everything. As they say about the republic, Dagestan is a kind of synthesis of many ethnic groups. It is noteworthy that almost every nationality has its own language, which is strikingly different from its neighbors. How many nationalities live in Dagestan - so many customs, traditions and peculiarities of life exist in this sunny country.
The list of languages of the Dagestan people lists 36 varieties. This, of course, introduces complexity into communication between representatives of these peoples. But in the end, you need to know one thing - the Dagestan people, represented by so many nationalities, have their own historical past, which gave birth to today’s diverse, interesting and so dissimilar national ethnic group of the republic. Be sure to visit this place - you won't regret it! You will be happily welcomed in any corner of the country.
Dagestan, with a population of approximately 2,711,000, is the largest of the North Caucasus republics. Almost two Armenias can fit in an area of 50,300 square kilometers. The GDP (gross domestic product) is over a billion US dollars. The nature here is exceptionally picturesque and therefore attracts a huge number of travelers to this region; the most famous writers, poets and artists have sung the praises of this region.
The side of mountains and the mysteries hidden in them is Dagestan. The population is distinguished by its hospitality, but at the same time, the cruel customs of blood feud have not been completely eradicated. The wealth of customs is unique, and, characteristically, nowhere are they honored as much as here. The beauty of the mountain landscapes is soothing, but wars have been fought here since time immemorial - a variety of people fought for the possession of this land for many thousands of years - from the Mongol-Tatars, Turks, Arabs and Khazars to the Romans and Huns.
Geography
Now, after the collapse of the USSR, Dagestan, whose population is subject to a wide variety of religious sentiments, has become the southernmost and border republic in Russia, and also the largest in population. The land borders with Azerbaijan and Georgia are not currently impenetrable, so the threat of Islamic terrorism constantly hangs over Russia from the south. By sea, Dagestan has borders with Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, where the situation is also not very calm at the moment.
If it were possible to cut off the terrorist threat in these territories, then it would simply be impossible to find a better place for the development of tourism. There are not only magnificent mountains here, but also a liana subtropical forest, the only one in Russia, there are also steppes with herbs woven from a variety of flowers, and high-mountain glaciers. The entire population of Dagestan is more than two and a half million people, and everyone would find something to do, if not in tourism, then in mining. Oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea are very large, and the largest copper deposit has been discovered in the south of Dagestan.
About the population
The population of the Republic of Dagestan is a unique ethnic community, the only one in the world, since there is no other such not too large territory where more than a hundred peoples and nationalities live in harmony. About 600 thousand people chose the capital of the republic as their place of residence. This is Makhachkala, the cultural and administrative center of Dagestan.
Dagestan occupies an extremely advantageous position as a transport and important strategic hub, since it is located at the junction of Asia and Europe. The largest trade routes that connected the West and the East have always lay here. The medieval legendary route called the Great Silk Road also passed here. And now the map of the republic is dotted with dotted lines and lines of the most important road, rail, air, sea routes and pipeline routes. All of them have federal significance.
Economy
The economic potential is very high, it is supported by the transport and fuel and energy complex, industry and agriculture are actively involved in the process. The population of the Republic of Dagestan is constantly growing. According to the 2002 and 2009 censuses, it increased by more than one hundred and eleven thousand people, taking into account only natural increase. The share of industry in the gross regional product is sixteen and a half percent, with priority given to food production, the chemical industry and mechanical engineering. The climate in the republic is favorable for agriculture, the soil resources are diverse, the ecology is unique, so many crops are grown here, among which one of the most important is winemaking.
Ninety percent of cognac products are produced in Dagestan, and they are appreciated at many international exhibitions, being the basis of the country's alcohol stock. No matter how many people there are in Dagestan, the majority are Muslims who do not drink alcoholic products, therefore all winemaking is aimed at export. This is a coastal republic, and the fishery complex is excellently developed: salmon and trout production has been established here. And sheep farming is a permanent occupation, which the population in Dagestan has been practicing for many centuries, and therefore the number of goats and sheep here is the largest in the Russian Federation.
Culture
The history of Dagestan, its original and unique culture, its art - these are the main assets of the republic. Monuments of antiquity - stone fortresses, active mosques, minarets and towers - are treasured by the population of the Republic of Dagestan like the apple of their eye. The silhouettes of the villages have chased lines of silhouettes, and the mountain roads are whimsically winding.
This is how modern civilization coexists with hoary antiquity. All this is reflected in the works of the Kubachi craftsmen, in the songs of the Tabasaran carpet patterns, in the dishes made by the Balkhar potters, in the singing wood of the Untsukul craftsmen, in the silver patterns of the Gotsatlin minters. Customs are revered sacredly, the native land is loved here selflessly, elders and the past of their people are unshakably respected.
Peoples
The constellation of nationalities in Dagestan is unique: Kumyks, Lezgins, Laks, and Nogais live next to the Azerbaijanis, Avars, Aguls and Dargins. Russians coexist with Rutulians and Tabasarans, Tatas and Tsakhurs, Chechens and Akkins. Languages and dialects are completely different, cultural traditions and purely everyday features are also often completely different.
Dagestan is a country of mountains and a mountain of languages, as they used to say in ancient times when describing this region. In terms of linguistic diversity, three main groups can be distinguished: North Caucasian, Altai and Indo-European. Some scientists insist on a more fractional division. How good it is that there is such a beautiful and understandable Russian language, which is the state language and has taken upon itself all the problems of interethnic communication!
Settlement
The rural population of Dagestan makes up a little more than half - 57.6%, and the urban population - the remaining 42.4%, in addition, according to government republican data, to the 2,711,700 people it is necessary to add approximately 700,000 more living outside of Dagestan. Its population density is 54 people per square kilometer. The population of the regions of Dagestan is divided religiously as follows: up to ninety-six percent of believers are Muslims, of which only five percent are Shiites, the rest are Sunnis.
There are very few Orthodox Christians - only four percent. The birth rate in the republic is very high, higher only in Chechnya and Ingushetia, and it amounts to almost twenty people per thousand population. There are no fewer than three children in Dagestan families. Until the forties of the last century, Germans lived in the Babayurt, Khasavyurt and Kizlyar districts - about six thousand, who were resettled at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War to Central Asia.
Derbent
The oldest city in Russia, located in the west - near the Caspian Sea, where the spurs of the Greater Caucasus mountains almost bathe in it. There are only three kilometers of coastal strip - a narrow strip of plain. The fortress city has existed for one and a half thousand years. Derbent is much older than Rome. It was built precisely on the coastal lowland, where in ancient times the Caspian Route lay - the only relatively convenient road for traveling from Europe to the Middle East. (Which is where Middle Eastern terrorists now appear in our area - in the opposite way.)
The citadel of the fortress was built on a high plateau, with impregnable walls extending from it - stone and high, two of them reached the sea, and the third went far into the mountains. This unique structure is compared by many to the Great Wall of China. Numerous strong gates were built within the walls, and the name of the city itself comes from the Persian “Derbent” meaning “gate castle” or “gate junction”.
Kizlyar and Khasavyurt
The center of the richest agricultural region of Dagestan is Kizlyar. This has long been a famous city, associated with the presence of the most outstanding personalities there - writers, artists, for whom memorials were created. More recently, this city became notorious after terrorists seized a school and killed many hostages.
Khasavyurt is the second most important city in Dagestan, second in size only to Makhachkala, which is located ninety kilometers away. About one hundred and forty thousand people live here. It was here that the agreement was concluded that deprived Russia of victory in the first Chechen war. The situation there still cannot be called calm.
The Dagestan Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic as part of the RSFSR was formed on January 20, 1921, since 1991 - the Republic of Dagestan.
The Republic of Dagestan is the southernmost region of the Russian Federation and has direct access to international sea routes.
The republic borders by land and sea with five countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran.
The index of industrial production (by type of economic activity "Mining", "Manufacturing" and "Production and distribution of electricity, gas and water") for 2016 compared to 2015 amounted to 136.3%.
According to the results of the first quarter of 2017, the growth of industrial production was . The growth was partly due to the development of industry under the import substitution program.
Defense enterprises of the republic are working to attract additional orders for military equipment and components, and to gradually introduce into production a certain range of import-substituting products. In 2016, the Dagdizel plant increased its production almost three times, the Gadzhiev plant - by 1.6 times, JSC Concern KEMZ and JSC PO Azimut - by 1.7 times.
The Caspian Sea is the country's most important fishing basin, whose biological resources include the world's reserves of rare and valuable sturgeon fish. 70% of the world's sturgeon stock is concentrated here, more than 60% of large parts.
Dagestan's foreign trade turnover in 2016 amounted to $252.6 million, of which exports — $46.4 million, imports — $206.2 million.
In Dagestan, 255 springs and 15 deposits of mineral medicinal waters have been identified. The republic is home to more than six thousand historical and cultural monuments, of which 173 are of federal significance, the most famous being the Derbent Naryn-Kala fortress, recognized by UNESCO as a monument of world significance.
The authorities expect that the development of tourism infrastructure will significantly increase the annual tourist flow to the region.
In 2017, as part of the federal target program for the development of domestic and inbound tourism in the Russian Federation for 2011-2018, Dagestan will receive from the federal budget for the construction of the Golden Dunes tourist and recreational complex in the village of Krainovka and the reconstruction of the Golden Sands tourist center in the village of Michurino , another 8 million rubles for the same purposes will be allocated from the republican budget.
In 2017, Dagestan joined the project to return Central Asian leopards to the Caucasus. To do this, by joining the Kosob-Kelebsky and Bezhtinsky regional reserves.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Dagestan is the most unique region of Russia: in a small territory there are more than a hundred peoples and ethnic groups. What nationalities live in Dagestan today? We will answer this question in the article.
The nationalities of the republic make up an extensive list. Historically determined and some modern processes influence the number of a particular nation present in the republic. Peoples left Dagestan, new nationalities appeared. Attitudes towards the national palette and its perception were not always positive, which immediately affected the development of the social and economic spheres. And the more Dagestanis develop tolerance towards each other, the easier it is to solve common problems.
Nationalities of the Republic of Dagestan
The first attempt to count the population of Dagestan was made by the military department of the Russian Empire at the end of the nineteenth century. But more accurate data were obtained during the census eleven years later. It turned out that almost 590 thousand people lived in Dagestan within the borders of that time.
If we compare these figures with those obtained in the 2010 population census of Dagestan, they increased almost five times - 2 million 323 thousand people. Population growth was noted from the mid-20s to the 40s. last century, also the decade before the 70s. and from 1989 to 2002. The lowest population in Dagestan was noted in the period from 1897 to 1926, as well as from 1939 for the next twenty years.
The civil war and the drought of the early 20s also affected demographic indicators. At the same time, Russians, Ukrainians and Jews began to leave Dagestan, followed by the emigration of some Dagestanis to Turkey. This led to a 20% drop in population.
However, after the mid-20s of the twentieth century, a sharp increase began. It is associated with natural growth, reaching more than 20%. The influx of Russians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Tatars, Jews and representatives of other nationalities also had an impact. People moved to the Dagestan Republic in search of work.
Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, almost 970 thousand people lived in Dagestan. The population of the republic, like other territories, was affected by the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union. The mobilization involved more than 160 thousand men, some of whom did not return from the battlefields. Since the early 50s. Demographers note the highest birth rate and natural increase - almost 34%.
Nationalities that live in Dagestan
Answering the question of what nationalities live in Dagestan, we note right away that today the republic is one of the three most numerous national republics in Russia, behind Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. In the North Caucasus Federal District, among seven constituent entities, Dagestan ranks first in terms of population - more than 30% of the total population of the district. In this indicator it surpasses Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, Montenegro, Qatar, Cyprus, Kuwait and Bahrain. However, in recent decades there has been a downward trend in the birth rate.
Speaking about how many nationalities there are in Dagestan, we should refer to the numbers of censuses and modern data.
According to Rosstat, more than three million people live in Dagestan in 2017. This is the 13th largest population in Russia. The absolute population growth was 26 thousand people - 5th place in the country. 12th place in terms of relative growth - 0.86%.
In the list of nationalities of Dagestan, the largest groups are Avars, Dargins, Kumyks, Lezgins and Laks. Books are published and the media operate in the languages of these peoples. Small ethnic groups of Dagestan: Chukchi, Arabs, Serbs and Slovaks.
The population in the 1959 census was just over one million people. In 1970 - about one and a half million people. Nine years later - two hundred more people. In 1989, the population increased by another two hundred people - 1 million 800 thousand. A census conducted fifteen years ago showed that more than two and a half million people live in Dagestan. The 2010 census provided data with an increase of 2 million 900 thousand people.
How did the population change?
Of the nationalities living in Dagestan, the Avars remain the most numerous:
- 1959 - 22.5%;
- 1970 - 24.4%;
- 1979 - 25.7%;
- 1989 - 27.5%;
- 2002 - 29.4%;
- 2010 - 29.4%.
The second largest group is the Dargins:
- 1959 - 14%;
- 1970 - 14.5%;
- 1979 - 15.2%;
- 1989 - 15.6%;
- 2002 - 16.5%;
- 2010 - 17%.
The third group in number is the Kumyks:
- 1959 - 11.4%;
- 1970 - 11.8%;
- 1979 - 12.4%;
- 1989 - 12.9%;
- 2002 - 14.2%;
- 2010 - 14.9%.
Data for Russians and Jews show an increasing decline.
- 1959 - 20.1%;
- 1970 - 14.7%;
- 1979 - 11.6%;
- 1989 - 9.2%;
- 2002 - 4.69%;
- 2010 - 3.6%.
- 1959 - 2.3%;
- 1970 - 2.0%;
- 1979 - 1.6%;
- 1989 - 1.44%;
- 2002 - 0.13%;
- 2010 - 0.08%.
What other peoples live in Dagestan
The list of nationalities of Dagestan includes dozens of names of peoples. The latest population census showed the following data for other peoples: Georgians - almost 700 people, Laks - more than 160 thousand, Lezgins - almost 390 thousand, Nogais - 40 and a half thousand, Ossetians - less than 900, Tatars - almost 4 thousand, Kazakhs and Persians - more than 500, Ukrainians - one and a half thousand, Chechens - almost 94 thousand, Tsukhurs - about 9800 people.
If you count how many nationalities live in Dagestan, you can find very interesting data. An analysis of the population census of the republic showed that there were fewer nationalities, some nationalities left Dagestan, but those that were not there also appeared. Sometimes the names of the nationalities to which some residents consider themselves made the researchers smile.
Changes in national groups:
- 2002 - 121 nationalities. 2010 - 117 nationalities and ethnic groups.
- During the 2010 population census, the Bagulals, Americans, Besermyans, Vepsians, Karaites, Tuvans, Udins, Nagaibaks, Nanais, Pashtuns, Eskimos, Yukaghirs and Yakuts, who were listed previously, were no longer found among the residents. Representatives of the Afghan nation, Albanian, Bulgur, Colombian, Nigerian, Turkic, Serbian, French, Ethiopian and Japanese nations settled in Dagestan.
It is interesting that almost 450 people, denoting their nationality, called themselves Akhtynts, Buinakts, Dagestanis, Makhachkala residents (this is what the residents of the city of Makhachkala are called, but there is no separate nationality) and Tsumadinians, as well as mestizos, Russians and even Afro-Russians. Fifteen years ago, more than 350 people considered themselves to be among the amazing and extremely unusual-sounding ethnic groups and nationalities.
The number of Cossacks increased - almost 700 people. In 2002, 11 residents of Dagestan called themselves Cossacks. Before this, Cossacks were present only in the 1897 census data.
Avars
In Dagestan, the most numerous peoples are Avars, Dargins and Kumyks.
The Avars are settled mainly in the territories of mountainous Dagestan and speak several dialects and dialects. The literary language of the Avars is called the language of the guest or the language of the army. Arabic graphics provided the basis for Avar writing in the 15th and 16th centuries. But by the thirtieth year of the twentieth century, Avars began to master the Russian language en masse, because they were trained in it. In 1938, representatives of the nationality began to use the Cyrillic alphabet. Children in schools were first taught in their native language, and in middle classes - in Russian. Today, Avars speak both the language of their people and Russian, which has allowed them to easily integrate into the cultural space of Russia.
Avars are considered Sunni Muslims by religious affiliation.
Dargins
The Dargins were among the first to start fighting during the Civil War: they rebelled against Denikin and defeated the White Cossacks in the Aya-Kakak Gorge. These people are very hospitable. Previously, the Dargins reverently revered blood feud, but the community, represented by the elders, gradually achieved a change in attitude towards this in the Dargian code of honor. For example, murderers began to be expelled from the community.
Islam as a religion among the Dargians was established by the fourteenth century. They are Sunni Muslims - madhhab. Before the Islamic faith, they worshiped the forces of nature and were pagans, just like the original Russian population before the adoption of Christianity.
Kumyks
Kumyks are also the indigenous inhabitants of Dagestan. They are Sunni Muslims. It is believed that the Kumyk language began to take shape in the pre-Mongol era. Kumykia was crossed by all travelers of the Great Silk Road. The first national theater in Dagestan appeared precisely among these people.
Kumyks are very proud of their scientists, artists (artists, writers) and athletes. The special pride of the people is Hero of the Soviet Union Abdulkhakim Ismailov, who, together with Kyivian resident Alexei Kovalev and Minsk resident Leonid Gorichev, hoisted the Victory Banner over the defeated Reichstag in Berlin. Two representatives of the Kumyk people became full holders of the Order of Glory.
Russians in Dagestan
Russians have lived side by side with the mountaineers for thousands of years. And in Soviet times, they went en masse to the republic to teach children in schools, treat people in hospitals, build houses and work in other professions. The Soviet distribution after universities and colleges made the teaching profession the most respected and revered in Dagestan. Therefore, it is no coincidence that a monument dedicated to the work of Russian teachers was erected in Makhachkala.
Today, Russians in Dagestan make up more than 8%, which is about one hundred and fifty thousand people. A large proportion of Russians live in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk; half of the Russian population lives in Kizlyar. In the nineties, many native Dagestan Russians left Dagestan due to the growth of a national movement, radical and cruel. At that time, there was a sharp decline in the population - seven to eight thousand Russian citizens a year were leaving the republic.
However, recently Caucasian Russians have been making a comeback. Experts associate this with longing for their small homeland and the land of their ancestors, as well as the special Dagestan character. But they are not returning in the same numbers as when they left Dagestan: in ten years, only about five thousand people returned to their small homeland.
In addition, today the government pays special attention to protecting the interests and security of Russians in Dagestan. The number of cases of violation of human rights based on nationality is gradually decreasing.
Linguistic composition of the inhabitants of Dagestan
Almost seven hundred thousand people speak the Avar language, about 420,000 speak Dargin, and almost 380,000 citizens speak Kumyk. About 140,000 people know Lak, almost 360,000 speak Lezgin. There are 500 people who speak the Chamalin language, 230 people who speak Karata language, more than 180 people who speak Botlikh language, and only one citizen who speaks Ginukh language. This is data from the latest All-Russian population census, which took place in 2010.
More than two and a half thousand Dagestanis constantly use the Russian language in everyday life. Among foreign languages, citizens identified English, German, Arabic, French, Turkish, Persian, Hindi and Japanese. Two answered that they knew Esperanto.
Russian alone is used by almost half a million people; more than two million speak two languages, 115 thousand speak three languages, 10 thousand speak four languages, and only seventeen people know five languages.
Young Dagestan
More than thirty percent of the population of Dagestan are young people. The average age of Dagestanis does not reach thirty years. Even less in Chechnya - twenty-five years. Demographers believe that this forecast in the region will continue for the next eighteen to twenty years. The difference between the age of the young population in Dagestan and the elderly people of the republic is almost fifteen years.
Finally
The nineties had a hard impact on Dagestan, when the struggle for sovereignty that had just begun almost broke the multinational region into dozens of small groups and did not lead to large casualties among the civilian population. Of course they were. The echoes of that time are still felt by society in the region and the demographic situation. But the population of Dagestan is still very diverse by nationality.
