2012 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 in 1921 and regained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Mounting public discontent over rampant corruption and ineffective government services, followed by 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. In the aftermath of that popular movement, which became known as the "Rose Revolution," new elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his United National Movement (UNM) 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 separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Periodic flare-ups in tension and violence culminated in a five-day conflict in August 2008 between Russia and Georgia, including the invasion of large portions of undisputed Georgian territory. Russian troops pledged to pull back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Russian military forces remain in those regions. Billionaire philanthropist Bidzina IVANISHVILI's unexpected entry into politics in October 2011 brought the divided opposition together under his Georgian Dream coalition, which won a majority of seats in the October 2012 legislative election and removed UNM from power. A new constitution shifting many powers from the president to the prime minister and parliament, including the power to name the prime minister and government ministers, does not go into effect until after a new president is elected in the fall of 2013. Conceding defeat, SAAKASHVILI named IVANISHVILI as prime minister and allowed Georgian Dream to create a new government. Tensions remain high as IVANISHVILI and SAAKASHVILI and their supporters struggle to co-exist until the end of the president's term.

Area

69,700 sq km 69,700 sq km 0 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

Black Sea 0 m Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

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

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected 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)

3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%) 808 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

808 cu m/yr (2000)

total

3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%)

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

Irrigated land

4,330 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

1,461 km Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

border countries

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

total

1,461 km

Land use

11.51% 3.79% 84.7% (2005)

arable land

11.51%

other

84.7% (2005)

permanent crops

3.79%

Location

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe; note - Georgia views itself as part of Europe

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes

Natural resources

timber, 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

Total renewable water resources

63.3 cu km (1997)

Age structure

15.5% (male 378,551/ female 329,790) 68.4% (male 1,511,564/ female 1,616,959) 16.1% (male 292,344/ female 441,726) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

15.5% (male 378,551/ female 329,790)

15-64 years

68.4% (male 1,511,564/ female 1,616,959)

65 years and over

16.1% (male 292,344/ female 441,726) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

10.75 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.3% (2005)

Death rate

10.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

11.3% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,500 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.32 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

14.68 deaths/1,000 live births 16.58 deaths/1,000 live births 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

14.68 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

77.32 years 73.99 years 81 years (2012 est.)

female

81 years (2012 est.)

total population

77.32 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99.7% 99.8% 99.7% (2010 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2010 est.)

male

99.8%

total population

99.7%

Major cities - population

TBILISI (capital) 1.115 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

67 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

39.3 years 36.8 years 41.8 years (2012 est.)

female

41.8 years (2012 est.)

male

36.8 years

total

39.3 years

Nationality

Georgian(s) Georgian

adjective

Georgian

noun

Georgian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

4.538 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

4,570,934 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.327% (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96% of population rural: 93% of population total: 95% of population urban: 4% of population rural: 7% of population total: 5% of population

rural

7% of population

total

5% of population

urban

4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 13 years 13 years (2009)

female

13 years (2009)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.11 male(s)/female 1.15 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

at birth

1.11 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.15 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

35.5% 32.4% 40.7% (2008)

female

40.7% (2008)

total

35.5%

Urbanization

53% of total population (2010) -0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

53% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika) Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli Tbilisi Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi) the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

autonomous republics

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

city

Tbilisi

regions

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

Capital

Tbilisi 41 41 N, 44 50 E UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

41 41 N, 44 50 E

name

Tbilisi

time difference

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

Constitution

adopted 24 August 1995

Country name

none Georgia none Sak'art'velo Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Georgia

former

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

none

local short form

Sak'art'velo

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Richard NORLAND 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 [995] (32) 27-70-00 [995] (32) 53-23-10

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard NORLAND

embassy

11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131

FAX

[995] (32) 53-23-10

mailing address

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

telephone

[995] (32) 27-70-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Temuri YAKOBASHVILI 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 387-2390 [1] (202) 393-4537 New York

chancery

2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Temuri YAKOBASHVILI

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 393-4537

telephone

[1] (202) 387-2390

Executive branch

President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); the president is the chief of state and serves as head of government for the power ministries of internal affairs and defense Prime Minister Bidzina IVANISHVILI (since 25 October 2012); the prime minister is head of government for all the ministries of government except the power ministries of internal affairs and defense Cabinet of Ministers president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 January 2008 (next to be held in October 2013) Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%, Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%, other 13.7%

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

chief of state

President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); the president is the chief of state and serves as head of government for the power ministries of internal affairs and defense

election results

Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%, Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%, other 13.7%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 January 2008 (next to be held in October 2013)

head of government

Prime Minister Bidzina IVANISHVILI (since 25 October 2012); the prime minister is head of government for all the ministries of government except the power ministries of internal affairs and defense

Flag description

white rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; although adopted as the official Georgian flag in 2004, the five-cross flag design appears to date back to the 14th century

Government type

republic

Independence

9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)

9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date

A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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

civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme Council or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (150 seats; 77 members elected by proportional representation, 73 elected in single-member constituencies; members to serve four-year terms) last held on 1 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016) percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 55%, United National Movement 40.3%, other 4.7%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 85, United National Movement 65

election results

percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 55%, United National Movement 40.3%, other 4.7%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 85, United National Movement 65

elections

last held on 1 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

National anthem

"Tavisupleba" (Liberty) Dawit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE) adopted 2004; after the Rose Revolution, a new anthem with music based on the operas "Abesalom da Eteri" and "Daisi" was adopted

lyrics/music

Dawit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)

name

"Tavisupleba" (Liberty)

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

National symbol(s)

Saint George; lion

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Movement [Giorgi TARGAMADZE]; Conservative Party [Kakha KUKAVA]; Democratic Movement United Georgia [Nino BURJANADZE]; For Fair Georgia [Zurab NOGAIDELI]; Georgian Dream (a six-party coalition composed of Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia, Republican Party, Our Georgia-Free Democrats, National Forum, Conservative Party, and Industry Will Save Georgia); Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia [Bidzina IVANISHVILI]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Forum [Kakhaber SHARTAVA]; New Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Our Georgia-Free Democrats (OGFD) [Irakli ALASANIA]; People's Party [Koba DAVITASHVILI; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; United National Movement or UNM [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

separatists in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Budget

$4.388 billion $3.605 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$3.605 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$4.388 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 January 2012) 8% (25 December 2008) this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy rate of the National Bank of Georgia

Commercial bank prime lending rate

21.1% (31 December 2012 est.) 25.87% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.669 billion (2012 est.) -$1.799 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$8.2 billion (31 December 2012) $11.08 billion (31 December 2011)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.8 (2009) 37.1 (1996)

Economy - overview

Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese, copper, and gold; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country imports nearly all its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable hydropower capacity that now provides most of its energy needs. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages and gas supply interruptions of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by increasingly relying on natural gas imports from Azerbaijan instead of from Russia. Construction of 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. Georgia's economy sustained GDP growth of more than 10% in 2006-07, based on strong inflows of foreign investment and robust government spending. However, GDP growth slowed following the August 2008 conflict with Russia, and sunk to negative 4 percent in 2009 as foreign direct investment and workers' remittances declined in the wake of the global financial crisis. The economy rebounded in 2010-12, with growth rates above 6% per year, but FDI inflows, the engine of Georgian economic growth prior to the 2008 conflict, have not recovered fully. Unemployment has also remained high at above 16%. Georgia has historically suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, the government, since coming to power in 2004, has simplified the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on petty corruption, leading to higher revenues. The country is pinning its hopes for renewed growth on a determined effort to continue to liberalize the economy by reducing regulation, taxes, and corruption in order to attract foreign investment, with a focus on hydropower, agriculture, tourism, and textiles production. Since 2004, the government has taken a series of actions against endemic corruption, including reform of the traffic police and implementation of a fair examination system for entering the university system. The government has received high marks from the World Bank for its anti-corruption efforts.

Exchange rates

laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.66 (2012 est.) 1.6865 (2011 est.) 1.7823 (2010 est.) 1.6705 (2009 est.) 1.47 (2008 est.)

Exports

$3.324 billion (2012 est.) $3.326 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

vehicles, ferro-alloys, fertilizers, nuts, scrap metal, gold, copper ores

Exports - partners

Azerbaijan 17.3%, Turkey 10.4%, Armenia 9.9%, Kazakhstan 7.3%, Ukraine 6.2%, US 5.5%, Canada 5.1%, Bulgaria 4.7% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

8.3% 23.7% 68% (2012 est.)

agriculture

8.3%

industry

23.7%

services

68% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,900 (2012 est.) $5,600 (2011 est.) $5,300 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2012 est.) 6.8% (2011 est.) 6.3% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.8 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$26.4 billion (2012 est.) $24.9 billion (2011 est.) $23.32 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2% 31.3% (2008)

highest 10%

31.3% (2008)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$6.623 billion (2012 est.) $6.683 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Turkey 17.8%, Ukraine 10%, Azerbaijan 8.3%, China 7.6%, Germany 6.8%, Russia 5.6% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

11.8% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2012 est.) 9% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

1.945 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

55.6% 8.9% 35.5% (2006 est.)

agriculture

55.6%

industry

8.9%

services

35.5% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$795.7 million (31 December 2011) $1.06 billion (31 December 2010) $733.3 million (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

9.7% (2010)

Public debt

27.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 29.1% of GDP (2011 est.) data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities; Georgia does not maintain intra-governmental debt or social funds

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.586 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.818 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.249 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $3.497 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$741.6 million (31 December 2011 est.) $660.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$9.305 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $8.172 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.344 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.973 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.636 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.737 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

27.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

16.3% (2010 est.) 16.9% (2009 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.302 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

820 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

35 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

9.256 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

931 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

37.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

62.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

471 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.538 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

10.1 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.65 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.64 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

10 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

17,280 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

18,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

858 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned public TV station in Tbilisi and 8 privately-owned TV stations; state-run public broadcaster operates 2 networks; dozens of cable TV operators and several major commercial TV stations are operating; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 2 networks; several dozen private radio stations (2008)

Internet country code

.ge

Internet hosts

357,864 (2012)

Internet users

1.3 million (2009)

Telephone system

fixed-line telecommunications network has limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country cellular telephone networks cover the entire country; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi 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

domestic

cellular telephone networks cover the entire country; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi

general assessment

fixed-line telecommunications network has limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country

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

Telephones - main lines in use

1.345 million (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.43 million (2011)

Airports

22 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

7

914 to 1,523 m

5

over 3,047 m

1

total

18

under 914 m

2 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

4

under 914 m

1 (2012)

Heliports

2 (2012)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 13, cargo 114, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 2 95 (Bulgaria 1, China 10, Egypt 7, Hong Kong 3, Israel 1, Italy 2, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Romania 7, Russia 6, Syria 24, Turkey 14, UAE 2, UK 5, Ukraine 10, US 1) 1 (unknown 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

95 (Bulgaria 1, China 10, Egypt 7, Hong Kong 3, Israel 1, Italy 2, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Romania 7, Russia 6, Syria 24, Turkey 14, UAE 2, UK 5, Ukraine 10, US 1)

registered in other countries

1 (unknown 1) (2010)

total

142

Pipelines

gas 1,596 km; oil 1,258 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bat'umi, P'ot'i

Railways

1,612 km 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified) 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2008)

narrow gauge

37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2008)

total

1,612 km

Roadways

20,329 km 19,123 km (includes 13 km of expressways) 1,206 km (2006)

total

20,329 km

unpaved

1,206 km (2006)

Transportation - note

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

Manpower available for military service

1,080,840 1,122,031 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,122,031 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,080,840

Manpower fit for military service

893,003 931,683 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

931,683 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

893,003

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

29,723 27,242 (2010 est.)

female

27,242 (2010 est.)

male

29,723

Military branches

Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces (include Air and Air Defense Forces); separatist Abkhazia Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Forces; separatist South Ossetia Armed Forces Georgian naval forces have been incorporated into the coast guard, which is not part of the Defense Ministry (2011)

Georgian Armed Forces

Land Forces (include Air and Air Defense Forces); separatist Abkhazia Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Forces; separatist South Ossetia Armed Forces

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2010 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's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with Georgia

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

261,400 - 274,000 (displaced in the 1990s and 2008 from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2011)

IDPs

261,400 - 274,000 (displaced in the 1990s and 2008 from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2011)