2005 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) : regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli : cities: Chiat'ura, Gori, K'ut'aisi, P'ot'i, Rust'avi, T'bilisi, Tqibuli, Tsqaltubo, Zugdidi : autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi) note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 444,779/female 398,162) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,480,557/female 1,603,743) 65 years and over: 16% (male 300,859/female 449,301) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Airports

30 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Area

land

69,700 sq km

total

69,700 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Background

The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries AD and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th to the 13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. 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. Despite myriad problems, some progress on market reforms and democratization has been made since then. An attempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement Party. Geography Georgia

Birth rate

10.25 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$804.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$671.7 million

Capital

T'bilisi

Climate

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Coastline

310 km

Constitution

adopted 24 August 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

Currency (code)

lari (GEL)

Currency code

GEL

Current account balance

$-632.9 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.09 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$1.8 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard M. MILES

embassy

#25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 0105

FAX

[995] (32) 933-759

mailing address

7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060

telephone

[995] (32) 989-967/68

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

Suite 602, 1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE

FAX

[1] (202) 393-4537

telephone

[1] (202) 387-4537

Disputes - international

Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a peacekeeping force in Georgia since 1993; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia; boundary with Armenia remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian government; Azerbaijan and Georgia cannot resolve the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

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 has suffered from limited resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia's new government is making progress in reforming the tax code, enforcing taxes, and cracking down on corruption. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi electricity distribution network in 1998, but payment collection rates remain low, both in T'bilisi and throughout the regions. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and trade. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline have brought much-needed investment and job opportunities.

Electricity - consumption

6.811 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

300 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

850 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

6.732 billion kWh (2002)

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

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

Ethnic groups

Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census)

Exchange rates

lari per US dollar - 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003), 2.1957 (2002), 2.073 (2001), 1.9762 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

chief of state

President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

election results

Mikheil SAAKASHVILI elected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 96.3%, Temur SHASHIASHVILI 1.9%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 January 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)

for the power ministries

state security (includes interior) and defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of government

government for the power ministries

state security (includes interior) and defense

head of government

President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); Prime Minister Zurab NOGHAIDELI (since 17 February 2005); note - the president is the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$909.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Turkey 18.3%, Turkmenistan 17.8%, Russia 16.2%, Armenia 8.4%, UK 4.9% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Georgia

Flag description

white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century Economy Georgia

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20.5%

industry

22.6%

services

56.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.45 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

42 00 N, 43 30 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

Heliports

2 (2004 est.)

Highways

paved

18,914 km

total

20,229 km

unpaved

1,315 km (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)

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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$1.806 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 14%, Turkey 11%, UK 9.3%, Azerbaijan 8.5%, Germany 8.2%, Ukraine 7.7%, US 6% (2004)

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

16.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

20.71 deaths/1,000 live births

total

18.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.ge

Internet hosts

5,160 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

150,500 (2003) Transportation Georgia

Investment (gross fixed)

18.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts

Labor force

2.1 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1999 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

11.44%

other

84.7% (2001)

permanent crops

3.86%

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by party lists); members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democrats 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National Movement-Democrats 135, Rightist Opposition 15

elections

last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held spring 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.67 years (2005 est.)

male

72.59 years

total population

75.88 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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,038,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 827,281 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

38,857 (2005 est.)

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

NA

Median age

female

39.7 years (2005 est.)

male

34.93 years

total

37.36 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 22, cargo 133, container 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

105 (Albania 1, Azerbaijan 2, Cyprus 2, Egypt 3, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 4, Israel 1, Lebanon 3, Romania 6, Russia 8, Syria 27, Turkey 14, Ukraine 30, UAE 2)

registered in other countries

1 (2005)

total

175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 855,908 GRT/1,288,812 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

Military branches

Ground Forces (includes National Guard), Air and Air Defense Forces, Maritime Defense Force, Interior Forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$23 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.59% (FY00)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

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

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

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

Net migration rate

-4.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 1,697 km; oil 1,027 km; refined products 232 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI] bloc composed of National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats; National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; Rightist Opposition [David GAMKRELIDZE] bloc composed of Industrialists and New Right Party; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

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

4,677,401 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

54% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.35% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bat'umi, P'ot'i

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

3.02 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)

narrow gauge

37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2004)

total

1,612 km (1,612 km electrified)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

260,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2004)

Religions

Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, Muslim 9.9%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$231.4 million (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.16 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

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

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 995; 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

Telephones - main lines in use

650,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

522,300 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

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

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2005 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.)