Ossetians in Turkey are a national minority. They emigrated from North Ossetia since the second half of the 19th century, end of Caucasian War. Today, the majority of them live in Ankara and Istanbul. There are 24 Ossetian villages in central and eastern Anatolia. The Ossetians in Turkey are divided into three major groups, depending on their history of immigration and ensuing events:
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It is estimated that the Ossetian population in Turkey is 20,000[2][3]—100,000 people.[4]
Though the vast majority of Ossetians living in North Ossetia-Alania (Russia) and South Ossetia are mostly Christians, Turkish Ossetians are predominantly Muslims (they are Muhajirs).