1,500,000 in all countries possibly or more (1992). 140,000 in Turkey including 100,000 in 182 villages in Tunceli Province, 40,000 in 13 or more villages in Erzincan Province (1972). Tunceli Province, Tunceli Merkez, Hozat, Nazmiye, Pülümür, and Ovacik subprovinces; Erzincan Province, Erzincan and Cayirli subprovinces; 8 or more villages in Elazig Province, Elazig Merkez and Karakochan subprovinces; 3 villages in Bingöl Province, Kigi and Karliova subprovinces; 46 villages in Mush Province, Varto Subprovince; 15 or more villages in Sivas Province, Zara, Imranli, Kangal, and Divrigi subprovinces; 11 or more villages in Erzerum Province, Hinis and Tekman subprovinces; and in many major cities of Turkey. Also in most major cities in Germany; Paris, France; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; London, England; Stockholm, Sweden; Switzerland; Austria; and Denmark. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Zaza-Gorani. 

Dialects: TUNCELI, VARTO. Closest to Dimli, 70% lexical similarity. The people are called 'Kirmandz'. Also sometimes called 'Dimli' or 'Dimili'. Speakers are of all ages; most between 20 and 50. In Turkey Kirmanjki is used for conversations with family, friends, and neighbors; Turkish is used for religious ceremonies and for official purposes. Most men know some Turkish, and some know some Kurmanji. Women over 50 in outlying villages in Tunceli Province and children under 7 are monolingual. Some Kurmanji know Kirmanjki as second language. Abroad they use Kirmanjki for 

close relationships; Turkish for religious ceremonies, wedding celebrations, and conversations with some people. All who live abroad learn the national languages to some degree; older speakers to a lesser degree, and use them for communication with nationals. School-age children to those 30 years old can read Turkish, perhaps 100 can read Kirmanjki. 4 poetry books, 4 magazines. Typology: SOV; pre- and postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives' relatives after noun heads; numerals before noun heads; question word replaces content word in content questions; 2 prefixes, 2 suffixes, word order distinguishes subject, object, indirect object; noun affixes indicate case; verb affixes indicate person, number, gender; ergativity; passives; causatives; comparatives; V, VC, VCC, CV, CVC, CVCC; non-tonal. Deciduous forest. Mountain mesa, slope, valley. Pastoralists (transhumance), peasant agriculturalists. 

Altitude: 1,000 to 3,000 meters. Alevi Muslim.