two major ethnic communities, the Kabardins (Circassians), who speak a North-West Caucasian language, and the Balkars who speak a Turkic language. According to the 2021 Census, Kabardins make up 57.1% of the republic's population, followed by Russians (19.8%) and Balkars (13.7%). Other groups include Cherkess (3.0%), Turks (1.9%), Ossetians (0.8%), Romani (0.5%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population. Religion According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people, 70.8% of the population of Kabardino-Balkaria adheres to Islam, 11.6% to the Russian Orthodox Church, 1.8% to Adyghe (Kabardian) folk religion and other indigenous faiths, 3.8% are unaffiliated generic Christians. In addition, 12% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 5.6% is Atheist or follows other religions including Jehovah's Witnesses. See also Caucasian Avars Bulgars List of the Chairmen of the Parliament of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Minor hydro-electric plants of Kabardino-Balkaria Mount Imeon Notes References Sources External links Official website of the Head of the Republic Pictures of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic BBC News. Kabardino-Balkaria Profile North Caucasus States and territories established in 1936 1936 establishments in the Soviet Union Russian-speaking countries and territories Regions of Europe with multiple official languages North Caucasian Federal District