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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 3,788 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Russia
| 3,788 (2021)[1] |
| Languages | |
| Botlikh language | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Northeast Caucasian peoples | |
TheBotlikh people (also known asBótligh,Botlig,Botlog orBuikhatli) are anAndi–Dido people ofDagestan. Until the 1930s they were considered a distinct people. Since that time they have been classified asCaucasian Avars and have faced a campaign to have them assimilate into that population. The Botlikh are primarilySunni Muslims.[2][3] They adopted the religion by the 16th century due to the influence ofSufi missionaries.[4]
They numbered 3,354 people in 1926. They speak theBotlikh language, which belongs to theNortheast Caucasian language family. According to the2021 Russian census, 3,788 people in Russia declared themselves as Botlikhs (all of them in Dagestan), and 5,073 people declared speaking the Botlikh language. The number of speakers is higher, about 5,500, according to a survey by Koryakov in 2006.
The village ofBotlikh is just north of theAndi Koysu River. During theMurid War Russian forces gathered here for their final push against Shamil. During theDagestan uprising the Reds were defeated here several times.
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