a people inhabiting the regions along the Caspian Sea in the Azerbaijan SSR and the southern part of the Dagestan ASSR. They also live in Iran. In the USSR they number 14,200 (1970 census). Their language is Tat. The Tats in the Azerbaijan SSR are bilingual—their second language is Azerbaijani—and their culture and daily life differ very little from those of the Azerbaijanis. Those who hold religious beliefs profess the Shiite Muslim, Monophysite Christian, or Jewish faith. The traditional occupations are land cultivation and fruit growing. Artistic handicrafts, such as carpet weaving and the making of copperware, are developed. A significant number of Tats work in industry.