2000 Edition

Background

Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Russian troops remain garrisoned at four military bases and as peacekeepers in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The country continues to move toward a market economy and greater integration with Western institutions.

Area

land

69,700 sq km

total

69,700 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Coastline

310 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m

lowest point

Black Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

42 00 N, 43 30 E

Irrigated land

4,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

total

1,461 km

Land use

arable land

9%

forests and woodland

34%

other

28% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

4%

permanent pastures

25%

Location

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Map references

Commonwealth of Independent States

Maritime claims

NA

Natural hazards

earthquakes

Natural resources

forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth

Terrain

largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Age structure

0-14 years: 20% (male 517,829; female 497,155) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,630,814; female 1,755,323) 65 years and over: 13% (male 238,090; female 380,327) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

10.87 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%

Infant mortality rate

52.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%

note

Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia)

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.23 years (2000 est.)

male

60.9 years

total population

64.48 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98% (1989 est.)

male

100%

total population

99%

Nationality

adjective

Georgian

noun

Georgian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

5,019,538 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.62% (2000 est.)

Religions

Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

53 rayons (raionebi, singular - raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis, Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*, Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis

note

administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital

T'bilisi

Constitution

adopted 17 October 1995

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Georgia

former

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

none

local short form

Sak'art'velo

Data code

GG

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ

embassy

#25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

(32) 989-967

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE

telephone

(202) 387-2390

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

chief of state

President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held 9 April 2000)

head of government

President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 393-4537

(32) 933-759

Flag description

maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Government type

republic

Independence

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

BSEC, CCC, CE, CE (guest), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - CUG 41.85%, AGUR 25.65%, IWSG 7.8%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 59, IWSG 15, Abkhaz deputies 12, independents 14, other 5

elections

last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 May (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG ; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG ; Greens Party [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG ; Labor Party ; National Democratic Party or NDP ; National Independent Party or NIP ; People's Party ; Socialist Party or SPG ; Union for "Revival" Party or AGUR ; Union of Traditionalists or UGT ; United Republican Party or URP [Nodar NATADZE, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Georgian refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament); separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$568 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)

revenues

$364 million

Currency

1 lari (GEL) = 100 tetri

Debt - external

$1.8 billion (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$212.7 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, made substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy continues to experience large budget deficits due to a failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia also still suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The growing trade deficit, continuing problems with tax evasion and corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture. However, revived investment could spur higher economic growth in 2000, perhaps up to 6%.

Electricity - consumption

6.123 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

700 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

350 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

6.96 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

14.66%

hydro

85.34%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

lari per US$1 (end of period) - 1.9503 (December 1999), 2.0245 (1999), 1.3898 (1998), 1.2975 (1997), 1.2628 (1996), 1.24 (December 1995)

Exports

$330 million (1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery and metals; chemicals; fuel reexports; textiles

Exports - partners

Russia 27%, Turkey 20%, Azerbaijan 10%, Armenia 8% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

32%

industry

23%

services

45% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$840 million (1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment

Imports - partners

EU 22%, Russia 15%, Turkey 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, US 7% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.3% (1998 est.)

Industries

steel, aircraft, machine tools, electric locomotives, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

19% (1999 est.)

Labor force

3.08 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation

industry and construction 20%, agriculture and forestry 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

60% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

14.5% (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

3.02 million (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks with about 10,000 customers total; urban areas 20 telephones/100 people; rural areas 4 telephones/100 people; intercity - a fiber-optic line connects T'bilisi to K'ut'aisi (Georgia's second largest city); nationwide pager service

international

Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service available

Telephones - main lines in use

554,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

150 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Televisions

2.57 million (1997)

Airports

28 (1994 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)

Highways

paved

19,354 km

total

20,700 km

unpaved

1,346 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 6 (1999 est.)

total

17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 103,080 GRT/158,803 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992)

Ports and harbors

Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi

Railways

broad gauge

1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)

total

1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines

Transportation - note

transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair

Military - note

a CIS peacekeeping force consisting of Russian troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia

Military branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$27 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,291,190 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,021,072 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

40,694 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia

GERMANY