Circassians, modern - Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE
[Article]
Jaimoukha, Amjad M.
Leiden
Brill
(1,758 words)
The Circassians (self-designation, Adiga) and with the kindred Abkhaz-Abaza and Ubykh are the autochthonous nations of the Northwest Caucasus. The worldwide Circassian population is estimated at two to six millions. According to the 2010 Russian census, the number of Circassians in the Russian Federation is 730,000, the majority of whom live in three republics, in each of which they have a different designation: "Kabardians" in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (490,000; 57% of the republic's population; this is the only republic in which Circassians form a