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![]() Distribution of the Svan language in relation to other Kartvelian (South Caucasian) languages. | |
Total population | |
---|---|
c. 14,000[1]–80,000[2] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Georgia | 14,000[1]–30,000[2] |
Languages | |
Svan, Georgian | |
Religion | |
Predominantly † Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Georgian Orthodox Church) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Georgians, the Laz and Mingrelians |
The Svans (Svan: შვანარ, Shvanar; Georgian: სვანი, Svani) are an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians (Kartvelians)[3][4][5][6][7] living mostly in Svaneti, a region in northwest Georgia. They speak the Svan language and are mostly bilingual also in Georgian. Both these languages belong to the Kartvelian (South Caucasian) language family. In the pre-1930 Soviet census, the Svans were categorized as a separate ethnic group (natsionalnost).[8] The self-designation of the Svan is Mushüan, which is probably reflected in the ethnonym Misimian of the Classical authors.[9]