The municipality had a population of 54,200 according to the Soviet 1989 census.

The 1926 Soviet official census recorded the urban population as 5,373,553 and the rural population as 23,669,381 - a total of 29,042,934.

The archives of the Soviet census in 1926 counted them as 393,924 persons.

In 1989 (according to Soviet 1989 census) the number was 1,669.

According to the last 1989 Soviet census, there were 49,156 people in the rayon.

According to the last Soviet census of 1989, population was 28,110.

This increased the area to 126,300 square kilometres and the 1926 Soviet census that was held at the same time reported a population of 4,982,623.

That figure is derived, in part, from the number who described themselves as Jewish in the last Soviet census.

According to the last Soviet census (in 1989), Tskhinvali had a population of 42,934.

The last Soviet census in 1989 found only 2,700 Jews living in the area.