Religion in Georgia (country)

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← Previous revision Revision as of 12:14, 1 May 2026 Line 32: Line 32: ==Overview== ==Overview==

The most recent census in 2014 showed that most of the population in Georgia practiced [[Eastern Orthodox Christianity]], primarily in the [[Georgian Orthodox Church]], whose faithful make up 83.4% of the population. Around 2.9% of the population followed the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] ([[Oriental Orthodoxy]]), almost all of which are ethnic Armenians.<ref name="census2014"/> Adherents of Islam made up 10.7% of the population<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/georgia/ |title=CIA - The World Factbook - Georgia |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=4 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204222544/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/georgia/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and are mainly found in the [[Adjara]] and [[Kvemo Kartli]] regions and as a sizeable minority in [[Tbilisi]]. [[Catholics]] of the Armenian and Latin churches made up around 0.8% of the population and were mainly found in the south of Georgia and a small number in Tbilisi. Protestants also made up less than 1%.<ref name="United States Department of State 2022">{{cite web | title=Georgia | website=United States Department of State | date=2022-06-02 | url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/georgia/ | access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref> There was also a sizeable [[Jewish]] community in Tbilisi served by two synagogues. The most recent census in 2014 showed that most of the population in Georgia practiced [[Eastern Orthodox Christianity]], primarily in the [[Georgian Orthodox Church]], whose adherents make up 83.4% of the population. Around 2.9% of the population followed the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] ([[Oriental Orthodoxy]]), almost all of which are [[ethnic Armenians]].<ref name="census2014"/> Adherents of [[Islam]] made up 10.7% of the population with are mainly found in the [[Adjara]] and [[Kvemo Kartli]] regions and as a sizeable minority in [[Tbilisi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/georgia/ |title=CIA - The World Factbook - Georgia |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=4 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204222544/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/georgia/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Adherents of the [[Armenian Catholic Church]] and the [[Latin Church]] together made up approximately 0.8% of the population and were mostly located in southern Georgia, with a small number in Tbilisi. Protestants accounted for less than 1%.<ref name="United States Department of State 2022">{{cite web | title=Georgia | website=United States Department of State | date=2022-06-02 | url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/georgia/ | access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref> There was also a sizeable [[Jewish]] community in Tbilisi served by two synagogues.

The Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the world's most ancient Christian Churches, founded in the 1st century by the Apostle [[Saint Andrew|Andrew the First Called]]. In the first half of the 4th century [[Christianity]] was adopted as the state religion. This has provided a strong sense of national identity that has helped to preserve a national Georgian identity, despite repeated periods of foreign occupation and attempted assimilation. The [[Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] is one of the world's most ancient Christian churches, founded in the 1st century CE by the [[apostle Andrew]]. In the first half of the 4th century, [[Christianity]] was adopted as the [[state religion]]. This has provided a strong sense of national identity that has helped to preserve a national Georgian identity, despite repeated periods of foreign occupation and attempted [[cultural assimilation]].

Georgia has a long history of religious harmony within its borders despite the historical conflicts with the surrounding nations. Different religious minorities have lived in Georgia for thousands of years and religious discrimination is virtually unknown in the country.<ref>Spilling, Michael. Georgia (Cultures of the world). 1997</ref> Jewish communities exist throughout the country, with major concentrations in the two largest cities, Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Azerbaijani groups have practiced [[Islam in Georgia (country)|Islam in Georgia]] for centuries, as have Adjarians and some of the [[Abkhazians]] concentrated in their respective autonomous republics. The Armenian Apostolic Church, whose doctrine differs in some ways from that of Georgian Orthodoxy, has autocephalous status. Georgia has a long history of religious harmony within its borders despite the historical conflicts with the surrounding nations. Different religious minorities have lived in Georgia for thousands of years, and [[religious discrimination]] is virtually unknown in the country.<ref>Spilling, Michael. Georgia (Cultures of the world). 1997</ref>{{full citation needed|date=April 2026}} [[Georgian Jews|Jewish communities]] exist throughout the country, with major concentrations in the two largest cities, Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Azerbaijani groups have practiced [[Islam in Georgia (country)|Islam in Georgia]] for centuries, as have Adjarians and some of the [[Abkhazians]] concentrated in their respective [[Administrative divisions of Georgia (country)|autonomous republics]].

==Religious demography== ==Religious demography==