The ethnic composition of Elizavetpol governorate according to the 1897 all-Russian census

A significant part of the Elizavetpol Governorate included the provinces of Syunik, Artsakh, Utik of Greater Armenia, and adjacent territories. Armenians were among the oldest indigenous nations here and were second in number after the Yerevan Governorate, comprising about 34% of the population. The Udis were also among the ancient inhabitants.

According to the 1897 All-Russian Census, the permanent population in the eight districts of the governorate was 885,379, with 878,415 people present. The population consistently grew and was mainly supplemented by the Turko-Tatar population. Between 1886-1897, the governorate's population increased by 150,163 people or 20%. The largest districts by population were Elizavetpol, Shushi, and Zangezur, while Nukhi, Shushi, and Aresh districts had the highest population density. Only 10.16% of the population was urban. Males predominated in the population, accounting for 54.64% or 480,012 people.

The population of the governorate was multiethnic. According to the 1897 census data, 47 ethnic groups lived in the governorate. The largest groups were: Tatars: 534,086 people, (60.80%) Armenians: 292,188 people (33.26%), Russians: 17,875 people (2%), Germans: 3,194 people (0.36%), Kurds: 3,042 people (0.35%), Yezidis: 13,503, Jews: 2,031, Assyrians: 16. There were also Udis and others. The Turko-Tatars had penetrated the region since the late Middle Ages. The Russian population was predominantly composed of sectarians. Their settlement was conditioned by the Russian Empire's requirements for the development of occupied regions and strategic needs.

The number of Armenian population in the districts of Elizavetpol Governorate, according to the 1897 census data

N	districts	Number of population/people/	Number of Armenians /people/	Percentage ratio
1	Elizavetpol	162788	43040	26,4 %
2	Aresh	67277	13822	20,5 %
3	Jebrayil	66360	15746	23,7 %
4	Jevanshir	72719	19551	26,8 %
5	Zangezur	137871	63622	46,1 %
6	Kazakh	112074	43555	38,8 %
7	Nukhi	120555	18899	15,6 %
8	Shushi	138771	73953	53,2 %
	Total	878415	292188	33,26 %

The number of Armenian population in the centers of the districts of Elizavetpol Governorate, according to the 1897 census data

N	Centers /cities/	Number of population /people/	Number of Armenians /people/	Percentage ratio
1	Elizavetpol	33625	12055	35,8 %
2	Aghdash	528	116	21,9 %
3	Jebrayil	520	228	43,8 %
4	Tartar	752	120	15,9 %
5	Goris	1450	1082	74,6 %
6	Kazakh	1769	802	45,3 %
7	Nukhi	24734	4186	16,9 %
8	Shushi	25881	14420	55,7 %
	Total	89259	33009	36,9 %

Thus, the presented census data demonstrate that Armenians constituted an absolute majority in the Armenian regions of the governorate.

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