According to statements by Azerbaijani ethnographers, the national culture of Islamic Tats, who are the people officially referred to as Tats, is almost identical to that of the Azerbaijani people. The only difference is the language. Agriculture has been the traditional livelihood of the Tats. Their mountainous region with its mild climate is excellently suited for land cultivation, particularly fruit and grape growing. Livestock breeding is of less importance.
Handicrafts are well developed.
Tati carpetweavers and coppersmiths were, and still are, renowned. The occupations of the Tats of the Apsheron Peninsula developed in a somewhat different direction. As early as the 19th century, there existed a notable oil industry that employed, among others, many Tats. In socialist Azerbaijan, the life of the Tats was greatly altered by the introduction of the Soviet regime and collectivization. However, this did not essentially change the means of subsistence for the Tats since the farmers still made their living from fruits and wine.