2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 regions, (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Chiat'ura*, Gori*, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, K'ut'aisi*, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, P'ot'i*, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Rust'avi*, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli, T'bilisi*, Tqibuli*, Tsqaltubo*, Zugdidi*

note

the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.6% (male 466,743; female 449,440) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,628,757; female 1,744,922) 65 years and over: 13% (male 252,031; female 392,520) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, hazlenuts, vegetables; livestock

Airports

40 (2002)

none (2002) Military South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4

total

22

under 914 m

4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

under 914 m

7 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 5

Area

land

69,700 sq km

land

3,903 sq km

note

includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of some nine islands

total

69,700 sq km

total

3,903 sq km

water

0 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

slightly larger than Rhode Island

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. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny the government effective control over the entirety of the state's internationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, some progress on market reforms and democratization has been made. An attempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of President Eduard SHEVARDNADZE. Geography Georgia

The islands lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration since 1908, except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the rest of his crew, stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. The islands have large bird and seal populations, and, recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended the exclusive fishing zone from 12 NM to 200 NM around each island. Geography South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Birth rate

11.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$554 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$499 million

Capital

T'bilisi

Climate

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

Coastline

310 km

NA km

Constitution

adopted 17 October 1995

adopted 3 October 1985

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional long form

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

conventional short form

Georgia

conventional short form

none

former

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

none

local short form

Sak'art'velo

Currency

lari (GEL)

Currency code

GEL

Death rate

14.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$1.7 billion (2001)

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing Queen ELIZABETH II; Grytviken, formerly a whaling station on South Georgia, is a scientific base

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard M. MILES

embassy

#25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026

mailing address

7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060

telephone

[995] (32) 989-967/68

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE

Disputes - international

boundary with Russia has been largely delimited, but not demarcated with several small, strategic segments remaining in dispute and OSCE observers monitoring volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy, closer ties with Armenia

briefly occupied by military force in 1982 - claimed by Argentina in constitution but declares it will no longer seek settlement by force This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.1 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA $150 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals. 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, has made substantial economic gains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. However, the Georgian Government suffers from limited resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi distribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, making the venture unprofitable. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and trade. The start of construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bring much-needed investment and job opportunities.

Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting finfish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK, sale of fishing licenses, and harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels. Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly. Communications South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Electricity - consumption

7.611 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

850 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

7.27 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

19.7%

hydro

80.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

highest point

Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m

lowest point

Black Sea 0 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 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

NA

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

lari per US dollar - 2.2 (2002), 2.07 (2001), 1.98 (2000), 2.02 (1999), 1.39 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

chief of state

President Nino BURJANADZE (acting president since 23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumed the presidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80%; note - following the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Nino BURJANADZE became acting president

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held 4 January 2004 to replace Eduard SHEVARDNADZE)

head of government

President Nino BURJANADZE (acting president since 23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumed the presidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$515 million (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine

Exports - partners

Turkey 23%, Italy 12.1%, Russia 11.4%, Greece 8.5%, Netherlands 7.5%, Spain 5.9%, Turkmenistan 4.7%, Ukraine 4.3% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 393-6060

[995] (32) 933-759

telephone

[1] (202) 387-2390

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Georgia

Flag description

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

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion centered; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the shield, and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land) Economy South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

GDP

purchasing power parity - $16.05 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20%

industry

25%

services

55% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.4% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

42 00 N, 43 30 E

54 30 S, 37 00 W

Geography - note

strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them People Georgia

the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in the 21st century, live on South Georgia People South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

19,038 km

total

20,362 km

unpaved

1,325 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 900 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

27.9% (1996)

lowest 10%

2.3%

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$750 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

Turkey 15.6%, Azerbaijan 11.2%, US 9.9%, Russia 9.1%, Germany 7.2%, Italy 5.1%, Bulgaria 4.9%, Romania 4.3%, France 4.2%, Ukraine 4.1% (2002)

Independence

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2000)

Industries

steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine

Infant mortality rate

female

45.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

56.83 deaths/1,000 live births

total

51.24 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ge

.gs Transportation South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

25,000 (2002) Transportation Georgia

Irrigated land

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

2.1 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

0 km

border countries

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

total

1,461 km

Land use

arable land

11.21%

arable land

0%

other

84.7% (1998 est.)

other

100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (1998 est.)

permanent crops

4.09%

permanent crops

0%

Languages

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

note

Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Legal system

based on civil law system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; the senior magistrate from the Falkland Islands presides over the Magistrates Court

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 (from earlier 1999 elections) - CUG 41.7%, AGUR 25.2%, IWSG 7.1%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 64, IWSG 15, Labor 2, Abkhaz (government-in-exile) deputies 12, independents 12

elections

last held 2 November 2003 but results were invalidated (next to be held spring 2004)

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.36 years (2003 est.)

male

61.33 years

total population

64.76 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98% (1999 est.) Government Georgia

male

100%

total population

99%

Location

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

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Map references

Asia

Antarctic Region

Maritime claims

NA

exclusive fishing zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

37 years (2002)

male

32.6 years

total

34.8 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Belize 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 4, Gibraltar 1, Greece 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malta 1, Panama 9, Romania 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 5, Turkey 2, Ukraine 7, UAE 11, UK 1, US 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 16, cargo 72, chemical tanker 1, container 11, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1

total

116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 483,028 GRT/713,461 DWT

Military - note

a CIS peacekeeping force 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 Transnational Issues Georgia

defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Issues South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Military branches

Ground Forces (includes National Guard), combined Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces, Republic Security and Police Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$23 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.59% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,302,815 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,028,913 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

43,359 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Nationality

adjective

Georgian

noun

Georgian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

earthquakes

the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism

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

fish

Net migration rate

-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 1,495 km; oil 1,029 km; refined products 232 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG [Avtandil JORBENADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; New National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; "Revival" Union Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA

Population

4,934,413 (July 2003 est.)

no indigenous inhabitants

note

the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March 2001, to be replaced by a permanent group of scientists of the British Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited (July 2003 est.) Government South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Population below poverty line

54% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.52% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi

Grytviken

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

0 (2003)

Radios

3.02 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

1,575 km 1.520-m gauge

narrow gauge

37 km 0.912-m gauge (2002)

total

1,612 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks; urban telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; rural telephone density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi; nationwide pager service is available

domestic

NA

general assessment

NA

general assessment

NA

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 are available

international

coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Telephones - main lines in use

620,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

185,500 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

0 (2003)

Televisions

2.57 million (1997)

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

most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes

Total fertility rate

1.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transportation - note

transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair Military Georgia

Unemployment rate

17% (2001 est.)

Waterways

none

none