2007 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)

autonomous republics

Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)

cities

Chiat'ura, Gori, K'ut'aisi, P'ot'i, Rust'avi, Tbilisi, Tqibuli, Tsqaltubo, Zugdidi

note

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

regions

Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.3% (male 428,056/female 380,193) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,482,908/female 1,602,064) 65 years and over: 16.5% (male 308,905/female 459,347) (2006 est.)

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 eleven 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

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 A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-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. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national 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. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by two civil conflicts in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the control of the central government and are ruled by de facto, unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-led peacekeeping operations continue in both regions. The Georgian Government put forward a new peace initiative for the peaceful resolution of the status of South Ossetia in 2005. Geography Georgia

The islands, which have large bird and seal populations, 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. 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

10.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

geographic coordinates

41 43 N, 44 49 E

name

T'bilisi

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 24 August 1995

Country name

abbreviation

SGSSI

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

Death rate

9.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Disputes - international

Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economy - overview

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

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

Executive branch

chief of state

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

for the power ministries

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

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

Flag description

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

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 20th century, live on South Georgia People South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Government type

republic

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.)

Independence

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Infant mortality rate

female

15.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

20.06 deaths/1,000 live births

total

17.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Internet country code

.gs

Internet hosts

271 (2006) Transportation South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Irrigated land

4,690 sq km (2003)

0 sq km

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

11.51%

arable land

0%

other

84.7% (2005)

other

100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2005)

permanent crops

3.79%

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.87 years (2006 est.)

male

72.8 years

total population

76.09 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (2004 est.) Government Georgia

male

100%

total population

100%

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

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

40.1 years (2006 est.)

male

35.3 years

total

37.7 years

Military - note

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

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 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

-4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

4,661,473 (July 2006 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 2006 est.) Government South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Population growth rate

-0.34% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Grytviken Military South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Radio broadcast stations

0 (2003)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.15 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

NA

international

coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Television broadcast stations

0 (2003)

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

1.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Airports

23 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4

total

19

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Budget

expenditures

$1.879 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$1.726 billion

Currency (code)

lari (GEL)

Currency code

GEL

Current account balance

$-735 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$2.04 billion (2004)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John F. TEFFT

embassy

11 George Balanchine St., T'bilisi 0131

mailing address

7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060

telephone

[995] (32) 27-70-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE

telephone

[1] (202) 387-2390

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 continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $150 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; 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. It has sizeable but underdeveloped hydropower capacity. 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 2000, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. Georgia had suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, the new government is making progress and has reformed the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on corruption. In addition, the reinvigorated privatization process has met with success, supplementing government expenditures on infrastructure, defense, and poverty reduction. Despite customs and financial (tax) enforcement improvements, smuggling is a drain on the economy. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages due to aging and badly maintained infrastructure, as well as poor management. Due to concerted reform efforts, collection rates have improved considerably to roughly 60%, both in T'bilisi and throughout the regions. Continued reform in the management of state-owned power entities is essential to successful privatization and onward sustainability in this sector. 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. Nevertheless, high energy prices have compounded the pressure on the country's inefficient energy sector. Restructuring the sector and finding energy supply alternatives to Russia remain major challenges.

Electricity - consumption

8.528 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

200 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

2.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

6.804 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

19.7%

hydro

80.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

lari per US dollar - 1.79 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003), 2.1957 (2002)

Exports

$1.761 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Russia 18.1%, Turkey 14.3%, Azerbaijan 9.8%, Turkmenistan 8.9%, Bulgaria 5%, Armenia 4.7%, Ukraine 4.4%, Canada 4.2% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 393-4537

[995] (32) 53-23-10

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

17.7%

industry

27.5%

services

54.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.272 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.79 billion (2006 est.)

Heliports

3 (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

27.9% (1996)

lowest 10%

2.3%

IDPs

220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

Imports

$3.32 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 15.4%, Turkey 11.4%, Azerbaijan 9.4%, Ukraine 8.8%, Germany 8.3%, US 6% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2000)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.ge

Internet hosts

10,752 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

175,600 (2005) Transportation Georgia

Investment (gross fixed)

30% of GDP (2006 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

2.04 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

40%

industry

20%

services

40% (1999 est.)

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-Democratic Front 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 135, Rightist Opposition 15

elections

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

1,105,910 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,038,736

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

903,791 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

827,281

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

38,238 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

38,857

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 27, cargo 176, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

188 (Albania 1, Azerbaijan 2, Belgium 1, China 2, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 8, Germany 1, Greece 8, Indonesia 1, South Korea 1, Lebanon 7, Monaco 13, Romania 11, Russia 28, Slovakia 1, Slovenia 1, Syria 43, Turkey 30, UAE 1, UK 4, Ukraine 22) (2006)

total

222 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,059,386 GRT/1,538,746 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, Navy (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$23 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.59% (FY00)

Military service age and obligation

18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Natural gas - consumption

1.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports

NA cu m

Natural gas - imports

1.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production

20 million cu m (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

1,981 bbl/day (2004)

Pipelines

gas 1,349 km; oil 1,010 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Georgia's Way Party [Salome ZOURABICHVILI]; 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 Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; 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

Population below poverty line

54% (2001 est.)

Ports and terminals

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) (2005)

total

1,612 km

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$492 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

7,973 km

total

20,247 km

unpaved

12,274 km (2004)

Telephone system

domestic

local - T'bilisi, K'ut'aisi, and Batumi 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

683,200 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.459 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Televisions

2.57 million (1997)

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

12.6% (2004 est.)