c. 6 million
The Georgians (Georgian: ქართველი ერი or ქართველები , Kartveli Eri or Kartvelebi) are among one of the oldest nations and ethnic groups in the world, originating in the Caucasus. The history of Georgia was marked by the national struggle for self-preservation from numerous invasions by foreign powers for 4,000 years and most of the battles ended with the Georgian victory. Notably, greeting in Georgian language is Gamarjoba, which translates as Be Victorious, or Hail to the Victory.

Origins

Main article: History of Georgia (country) Short History
Georgians have been said to be irreverent, good humored, and generally high spirited. A good demonstration of the Georgian character can be seen by a guest in a Georgian home, where you'll be treated like a monarch, and entertained with food and drink until you can take no more. Georgians are proud of their culture, language, history, and traditions.
Georgians are highly gifted in the world of arts, which include: music, cinema, theatre, painting, literature, poetry, and other artistic endeavors. An example of this can be seen throughout Georgian history, with large number of world-renowned poets, musicians, painters, and novelists. Georgians like to identify with their own regions, but they all share a common sense of strong national unity.

Georgian character
The total population of Georgians in the world is estimated to be around 6,000,000.

Around 4 million Georgians live in Georgia (where they comprise 83% of the population),
In Turkey, Georgians form the majority in parts of Artvin Province east of the Çoruh River in Shavsheti (შავშეთი) region (Upper Machakheli in the north of Borçka district, Imerkhevi in the north of Şavşat district, and Murgul district) and in individual villages along the Çoruh valley of Livana (ლივანა) vicinity in the territory of the ancient Georgian regions of Tao-Klarjeti (Klarjeti (კლარჯეთი) is presently a village renamed officially as Bereket in Ardanuç district), southwards to the district of Yusufeli (Kiskim) in Amier-Tao (ამიერტაო) subregion. They also live as Chveneburi (ჩვენებური) muhajirs in various provinces. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the prime minister of Turkey, pronounced his Georgian origins during a visit to Georgia in 2004. Georgia holds no claims against Azerbaijan over these territories as of present.
200,000 in other countries such as (USA, Germany, the Netherlands, France, etc.).
There are some in Argentina, in the provinces of Mendoza and Rio Negro. In Rio Negro, Georgian people and their descendants are at the hippietown of El Bolson and in the valleys zone (Colonia Rusa in the Alto Valle). Population and geographical spread
The largest ethnic group within the broader Georgian ethnicity is comprised of the ქართველები (transliterated Kartveli, plural: Kartvelebi), which comprises the majority of the population of Georgia. The other major subdivisions within the Georgian ethnicity include: the Mingrelians (მეგრელი), who live predominantly in northwestern Georgia (Samegrelo); the Laz (ლაზი), who live predominantly in southwestern Georgia (Ajara) and in the northeastern Turkey (in the Rize and Artvin regions); and the Svans (სვანი) of the Svaneti region of Georgia. These four ethnic groups within the greater Georgian ethnicity are differentiated by language. The Kartveli speak Kartuli (what the English speaking world calls Georgian), the Mingrelians speak Megrelian, the Laz speak Laz, and the Svans speak Svan. These four related languages comprise the entirety of the Kartvelian language group. The majority of Mingrelians and Svans are bilingual in their native language and in Kartuli, while the majority of the Laz are bilingual in their native language and either Kartuli or Turkish.
Within the group called Kartveli, Georgians further distinguish themselves into regional ethnographic subgroups:
These subgroups, however, exist for historical and geographical reasons; each would consider itself to be Kartveli, the ethnic group which gives the country, Sakartvelo, its name, and would speak the same language.

The Imeretians (იმერელი)
The Gurians (გურული)
The Ajarians (აჭარელი)
The Meskhetians (მესხი)
The Lechkhumeli (ლეჩხუმელი)
The Rachveli (რაჭველი)
The Kartlians (ქართლელი)
The Kakhetians (კახელი)
The Khevsureti (ხევსური)
The Tushi (თუში)
The Pshaveli (ფშაველები)
The Mokhevians (მოხევე)
The Ingilo (ინგილო)
The Fereydanians (ფერეიდნელი) Ethnographic subdivisions
See List of Georgians for a more complete listing, including notable people with Georgian heritage.

Notable Georgians (selection)

Parnavaz I of Iberia (3rd century BC), king
Vakhtang Gorgasali the king of Georgia in the 5th century, founder of capital city-Tbilisi
Mirian of Iberia (4rd century), king
Bagrat of Georgia (9th century), king of unified Georgian Kingdom
Giorgi I (1014-1027), king
Giorgi II king in 1027-1072
David the Builder (1073-1125), The greatest King of Georgia
Tamar of Georgia (1160-1213), Queen Tamar of the Georgian golden age
Demetre II Tavdadebuli, king in 1270-1289
Giorgi V the Beautifule, (14-15th century)
Vakhtang VI King, (17th century)
Erekle II king, (18th century) Literature & the arts

Alexander Chavchavadze
Grigol Orbeliani
Kote Abkhazi (1867-1923)
Geno Adamia (1936-1993)
Dimitri Amilakhvari (1906-1942), hero of French Resistance during the WW2.
Petre Bagration (1765-1812), general (Russia)
Kakutsa (Khaikhosro) Cholokashvili (1888-1930)
Leo Kereselidze (1878-1942)
Giorgi Kvinitadze (1874-1970)
Shalva Maglakelidze (1893-1970)
Giorgi Mazniashvili (1872-1937)
Konstantine Leselidze (general),
Giorgi Kharkarashvili
John Shalikashvili (Poland, 1936- ), general, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (USA) Military

George Balanchin (Balanchivadze)
Meliton Balanchivadze
Zakharia Paliashvili
Vano Sarajishvili
Revaz Lagidze
Gia Kancheli
Giorgi Cabadze
Nani Bregvadze
Vakhtang Kikabidze
Otar Taktakishvili
Gogi Dolidze
George Balanchine
Paata Burchuladze
Zurab Sotkilava* * Eter Skonia-Lamorisi
Makvala Kasrashvili
Valery Meladze
Nino Surguladze
Alexsandre Korsantia
Dini Virsaladze
Liana Isakadze
Tamar Gverdciteli
Temur Kvitelashvili
Brandon Stone
Katie Melua
Nino KAtamadze
Sopho Khalvashi Music

David(Dodo)Abashidze
Veriko Anjaparidze
Spartak Bagashvili
Ushangi Chkheidze
Erosi Manjgaladze
Sesilia Takaishvili
Nato Vachnadze
Sergo Zakariadze
Vasil Godzaishvili
Akaki Kvantaliani
Sandro Djorjoliani
Sofiko Chiaureli
Kote Maxaradze
Tengiz Archvadze
Ramaz Chxikvadze
Zurab kKifshidze
Levan Uchaneishvili
Merab Ninidze
Rezo Chxikvishvili
Kakhi Kavsadze
Temur Babluani
Medea Chaxava
Medea Jafaridze
Otar Megvinetuxucesi
Guram Sagaradze
Janri Lolashvili
Murman jinoria
Givi Berikashvili
Gogi Qavtaradze
Nuca Kuxianidze
Lika Qavjaradze
Lia Eliava
Otar Koberidze
Leila Abashidze
Giorgi Shengelaia Actors

Peter the Iberian (411-491), bishop & philosopher
Euthymius of Athos 9th century renowned Georgian philosopher and scholar
Antim Iverianul (Antimoz Iverieli) (1650-1716), Metropolitan of Romania
St Grigol Peradze
Ilia II (1932- ), Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia since 1977 Philosophy & religion

Mikhail Saakashvili (1967-), President of Georgia from 2004
Eduard Shevardnadze (1928- ), former Soviet Foreign Minister, former President 1993-2004
Zviad Gamsakhurdia (1939-1993), the First President, 1991-1993
Merab Kostava (1939-1989), National Hero
Ioseb Dzhugashvili, better known as Joseph Stalin, (1878-1953), leader of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1953
Ilia Chavchavadze, the Revolutions of 1848
Evgen Gvaladze (1900-1937), one of the leaders of the national-liberation movement in 1921-1937 Politics

Shota Arveladze (1973- ), footballer, AZ Alkmaar and Georgia national team
Maia Chiburdanidze (1961- ), Women's World Champion in chess (1978-1991)
Nona Gaprindashvili (1941- ), Women's World Champion in chess (1962-1978)
Kakha Kaladze (1978- ), footballer, AC Milan
Zaza Pachulia (1984 - ), professional basketball player, Atlanta Hawks, NBA
Elene Gedevanishvili (1990-), figure skater Gallery of Georgian people