2008 Edition

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 Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August 2008 led to a Russian military response that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large portions of Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.

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.

Area

total: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km

total: 3,903 sq km land: 3,903 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of 11 islands

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

slightly larger than Rhode Island

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%) per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)

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

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

Irrigated land

4,690 sq km (2003)

0 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

0 km

Land use

arable land: 11.51% permanent crops: 3.79% other: 84.7% (2005)

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2005)

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

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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

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 renewable water resources

63.3 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 402,961/female 352,735) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,496,802/female 1,610,725) 65 years and over: 16.6% (male 307,795/female 459,823) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

10.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.51 years male: 73.21 years female: 80.26 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2004 est.)

Median age

total: 38.3 years male: 35.8 years female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian

Net migration rate

-4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

4,630,841 (July 2008 est.)

no indigenous inhabitants note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March 2001 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

Population growth rate

-0.325% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (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 city: Tbilisi autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi) note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

Capital

name: T'bilisi geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 47 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 24 August 1995

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none abbreviation: SGSSI

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131 mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); Prime Minister Grigol MGALOBLISHVILI (since 1 November 2008); the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of

FAX

[1] (202) 393-4537

[995] (32) 53-23-10

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

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)

Government type

republic

Independence

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), ADB, 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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme Council or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (235 seats; 150 members elected by proportional representation, 75 from single-seat constituencies, and 10 represent displaced persons from Abkhazia; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 21 May 2008 (next to be held in spring 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 59.2%, National Council-New Rights 17.7%, other parties 23.1%; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 120, National Council-New Rights 16

National holiday

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

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 Council-New Rights (a bloc uniting a nine-party alliance with New Rights); 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]; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Budget

revenues: $3.68 billion expenditures: $3.08 billion (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

20.41% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

lari (GEL)

Currency code

GEL

Current account balance

-$2.044 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$4.5 billion (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.4 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $309.8 million (2005 est.)

Economy - overview

Georgia's economy has sustained robust GDP growth of close to 10% in 2006 and 12% in 2007, based on strong inflows of foreign investment and robust government spending. However, a widening trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Areas of recent improvement include increasing foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services and mining sectors. 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, aircraft and chemicals. The country imports nearly all its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable hydropower capacity, a growing component of its energy supplies. Despite the severe damage the economy suffered due to civil strife in the 1990s, 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's GDP growth neared 10% in 2006 and 2007 despite restrictions on commerce with Russia. Areas of recent improvement include increased foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services, and mining sectors. In addition, the reinvigorated privatization process has met with success. However, a widening trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Georgia has 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. Government revenues have increased nearly four fold since 2003. Due to improvements in customs and financial (tax) enforcement, smuggling is a declining problem. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by bringing newly available natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan. It also has an increased ability to pay for more expensive gas imports from Russia. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on a determined effort to reduce regulation, taxes and corruption in order to attract foreign investment. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki Railroad are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas, oil and other goods.

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.

Electricity - consumption

6.694 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

635 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

532 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

7.116 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 19.7% hydro: 80.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003)

Exports

$2.104 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts

Exports - partners

Turkey 13%, US 11.2%, Azerbaijan 6.3%, UK 5.4%, Bulgaria 5.1%, Ukraine 5%, Armenia 4.8%, Turkmenistan 4.5%, Canada 4.2% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 28.7% services: 58.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

12% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.29 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.6 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 27% (2005)

Imports

$4.977 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

Turkey 14%, Russia 12.3%, Ukraine 8.5%, Azerbaijan 7.3%, Germany 6.8%, US 5%, Bulgaria 4.6% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

13.4% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

29.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

2.02 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 55.6% industry: 8.9% services: 35.5% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.39 billion (2007)

Natural gas - consumption

1.49 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

10 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

12,980 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

2,492 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

15,820 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

979.1 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

35 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

31% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.361 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.374 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$1.154 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$1.379 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

13.6% (2006 est.)

Internet country code

.ge

.gs

Internet hosts

27,905 (2008)

196 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

360,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

0 (2003)

Radios

3.02 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: fixed-line telecommunications network has only limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country domestic: cellular telephone networks now cover the entire country; 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 international: country code - 995; the Georgia-Russia fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to Russia; international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Telephones - main lines in use

544,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.4 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

0 (2003)

Televisions

2.57 million (1997)

Airports

23 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 19 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 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports

3 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 191 by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 148, carrier 2, chemical tanker 1, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 2 foreign-owned: 153 (China 10, Cyprus 1, Egypt 12, Germany 2, Greece 5, Hong Kong 2, Israel 2, Lebanon 4, Monaco 4, Nigeria 1, Romania 16, Russia 12, Syria 49, Turkey 14, Ukraine 18, UAE 1) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 1,591 km; oil 1,253 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Bat'umi, P'ot'i

Grytviken

Railways

total: 1,612 km broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified) narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total: 20,329 km paved: 7,854 km (includes 13 km of expressways) unpaved: 12,475 km (2006)

Transportation - note

large parts of transportation network are in poor condition because of lack of maintenance and repair

Georgian Armed Forces

Land Forces, Navy (includes coast guard), Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,113,251 females age 16-49: 1,168,021 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 910,720 females age 16-49: 967,566 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 35,917 female: 34,566 (2008 est.)

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

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military expenditures

0.59% of GDP (2005 est.)

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)

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

Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

IDPs

220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2007)

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, 2008

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 1,100 (Russia)