Georgia has a population of around 3.7 million, though this figure has fallen considerably since independence — emigration, particularly to Russia, the EU, and the US, has been significant. About a third of the population lives in Tbilisi.
Around 84 percent of Georgians are Georgian Orthodox Christian. The Georgian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest in the world, tracing its founding to the 4th century. It remains a powerful cultural institution. A sizeable Muslim minority — roughly 10 percent — lives mainly in Adjara (the region around Batumi) and the Pankisi Gorge. There are also Armenian Apostolic and Catholic minorities.
Ethnic Georgians make up around 86 percent of the population. Significant minorities include Armenians (concentrated in the Javakheti region of the south), Azeris (in the southeast), Ossetians, and Abkhaz. Historically, there were also substantial Russian and Jewish communities; many have emigrated.
Georgian identity is intertwined with the Georgian language — one of the world's oldest written languages, with a unique script — and with the tradition of the supra, the elaborate feast. A supra is not just a meal but a social ritual: dozens of dishes arrive in waves, wine flows freely, and the tamada (toastmaster) leads a series of toasts to God, the homeland, the guests, the dead, and peace. Being invited to a Georgian supra is one of the great pleasures of travelling here.
Georgians are known for their hospitality, which is genuine rather than performative. A stranger asking for help on the street will often be walked to their destination. An invitation to eat or drink is not easily declined. This warmth does not mean that all social norms have disappeared — dress modestly in churches (both men and women), and be respectful of the strong religious sentiment that runs through daily life.