The great majority of the Abkhazian are farmers and animal herders. Tobacco is their major crop, but tea, fruits, and vegetables are also grown. Cattle breeding is another important aspect of the Abkhazian economy. Because of their livelihood, nine out of ten Abkhazian live in rural areas. Their houses are built of brick or concrete and have either one or two stories.
Most homes have verandas and balconies, where families enjoy spending time in good weather.
Most Abkhazian women marry in their early twenties, but men often wait until their thirties or even forties. In the past, marriages were arranged, but today men and women are free to select their own mates. Occasionally, a young woman will agree to a marriage, but her parents will not. If this occurs, the young man and his friends kidnap the young woman and take her to his house, where the marriage ceremony is performed. Whether or not the bride was abducted, her family does not attend the wedding.