2015 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 parliamentary 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 parliamentary elections and removed UNM from power. Conceding defeat, SAAKASHVILI named IVANISHVILI as prime minister and allowed Georgian Dream to create a new government. Georgian Dream's Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI was inaugurated as president on 17 November 2013, ending a tense year of power-sharing between SAAKASHVILI and IVANISHVILI. IVANISHVILI voluntarily resigned from office after the presidential succession, and Georgia's legislature on 20 November 2013 confirmed Irakli GARIBASHVILI as his replacement. Georgia's recent elections represent unique examples of a former Soviet state that emerged to conduct democratic and peaceful government transitions of power. Popular and government support for integration with the West is high in Georgia. Joining the EU and NATO are among the country's top foreign policy goals.

Area

land

69,700 sq km

total

69,700 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina; slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Coastline

310 km

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

410.6 cu m/yr (2005)

total

1.81 cu km/yr (20%/22%/58%)

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

4,328 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Armenia 219 km, Azerbaijan 428 km, Russia 894 km, Turkey 273 km

total

1,814 km

Land use

arable land 5.8%; permanent crops 1.8%; permanent pasture 27.9%

agricultural land

35.5%

forest

39.4%

other

25.1% (2011 est.)

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

Asia

Maritime claims

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; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Total renewable water resources

63.33 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

17.73% (male 460,376/female 414,028)

15-24 years

13.35% (male 344,179/female 314,321)

25-54 years

40.93% (male 978,151/female 1,040,364)

55-64 years

12.45% (male 275,586/female 338,524)

65 years and over

15.53% (male 299,876/female 465,821) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

12.74 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

18% (2005 est.)

total number

121,659

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.1% (2009)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

53.4%

note

percent of women aged 15-44 (2010)

Death rate

10.82 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

20.4%

potential support ratio

4.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.7%

youth dependency ratio

25.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

9.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.27% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,400 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

13.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

18.31 deaths/1,000 live births

total

16.15 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

note

Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.36 years (2015 est.)

male

71.85 years

total population

75.95 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2015 est.)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Major urban areas - population

TBILISI (capital) 1.147 million (2015)

Median age

female

40.4 years (2014 est.)

male

34.9 years

total

37.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Georgian

noun

Georgian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.1% (2014)

Physicians density

4.27 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

4,931,226 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.08% (2015 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: 95.2% of population

rural: 75.9% of population

total: 86.3% of population

urban: 4.8% of population

rural: 24.1% of population

total: 13.7% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2013)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.11 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.09 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.94 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.81 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total

33.3% (2012 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

53.6% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), 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)

city

Tbilisi

note 1

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

note 2

the United States recognizes the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be part of Georgia

regions

Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli; note - the breakaway region of South Ossetia consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Capital

geographic coordinates

41 41 N, 44 50 E

name

Tbilisi

time difference

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

Constitution

previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995; amended several times, last in 2013 (2013)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard NORLAND (since 25 July 2012)

embassy

11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131

FAX

[995] (32) 253-23-10

mailing address

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

telephone

[995] (32) 227-70-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Archil GEGESHIDZE (since 12 April 2013)

consulate(s) general

New York (closed)

FAX

[1] (202) 387-0864

telephone

[1] (202) 387-2390

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

chief of state

President Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI (since 17 November 2013)

election results

Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI elected president; percent of vote - Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI (Georgian Dream) 62.1%, Davit BAKRADZE (UNM) 21.7%, Nino BURJANADZE 10.2%, other 6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 October 2013 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Irakli GARIBASHVILI (since 20 November 2013)

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; sometimes referred to as the Five-Cross Flag; although adopted as the official Georgian flag in 2004, the five-cross 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)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CPLP (associate), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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

note - the Abkhazian and Ajarian Autonomous republics each have a supreme court and a hierarchy of lower courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (organized into several specialized judicial chambers; number of judges determined by the president of Georgia); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Parliament; judges serve not less than 10-year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president following candidate selection by the Justice Council of Georgia, a 12-member consultative body of high-level judges, and presidential and parliamentary appointees; judges appointed for 10-year terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Sakartvelos Parlamenti (150 seats; 77 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote and 73 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream-led coalition 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

lyrics/music

Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)

name

"Tavisupleba" (Liberty)

note

adopted 2004; after the Rose Revolution, a new anthem with music based on the operas "Abesalom da Eteri" and "Daisi" was adopted

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; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Patriots [Irma INASHVILI]

Conservative Party [Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

European Democrats [Paata DAVITAIA]

Free Georgia [Kakha KUKAVA]

Georgian Dream (a five-party coalition composed of Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia, Republican Party, National Forum, Conservative Party, and Industry Will Save Georgia, plus two factions of independent majoritarians)

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 [Irakli GARIBASHVILI]

Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]

Georgian Troupe [Jondi BAGHTURIA]

Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Giorgi TOPADZE]

Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]

National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]

National Forum [Kakhaber SHARTAVA]

New Rights [Pikria CHIKHRADZE]

Our Georgia-Free Democrats (OGFD) [Irakli ALASANIA]

People's Party [Koba DAVITASHVILI

Republican Party [Khatuna SAMNIDZE]

Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]

United Democratic Movement [Nino BURJANADZE]

United National Movement or UNM [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other

separatists in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$5.048 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$4.594 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.75% (15 January 2013)

5.25% (31 December 2012)

note

this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy rate of the National Bank of Georgia

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

13.59% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.593 billion (2014 est.)

-$1.028 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$12.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.11 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46 (2011)

37.1 (1996)

Economy - overview

Georgia's main economic activities include cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese, copper, and gold; and producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals in small-scale industries. The country imports nearly all of 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 South Caucasus 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. The expansion of the South Caucasus pipeline, as part of the Shah Deniz II Southern Gas Corridor project, will result in a $2 billion foreign investment in Georgia, the largest ever in the country. Gas from Shah Deniz II is expected to begin flowing in 2019. 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% in 2009 as foreign direct investment and workers' remittances declined in the wake of the global financial crisis. The economy rebounded in 2010-13, but FDI inflows, the engine of Georgian economic growth prior to the 2008 conflict, have not recovered fully. Unemployment has also remained high. Georgia has historically suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, since 2004 the government 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. The government has received high marks from the World Bank for its anti-corruption efforts. Since 2012, the Georgian Dream-led government has continued the previous administration's low-regulation, low-tax, free market policies, while modestly increasing social spending, strengthening anti-trust policy, and amending the labor code to comply with International Labor Standards. The government published its 2020 Economic Development Strategy in early 2014 and former Prime Minister Bidzina IVANISHVILI launched the Georgian Co-Investment Fund, a $6 billion private equity fund that will invest in tourism, agriculture, logistics, energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing. In mid-2014, Georgia signed an association agreement with the European Union, paving the way to free trade and visa-free travel.

Exchange rates

laris (GEL) per US dollar -

1.763 (2014 est.)

1.6634 (2013 est.)

1.65 (2012 est.)

1.6865 (2011 est.)

1.7823 (2010 est.)

Exports

$4.493 billion (2014 est.)

$4.191 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Azerbaijan 24.3%, Armenia 9%, Turkey 7%, Ukraine 6.3%, Bulgaria 5.6%, US 5.1%, Russia 4.4%, Germany 4.1% (2013)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

46.3%

government consumption

17.5%

household consumption

72.3%

imports of goods and services

-62.1%

investment in fixed capital

22.4%

investment in inventories

3.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

9.1%

industry

21.8%

services

69.1% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,700 (2014 est.)

$7,300 (2013 est.)

$7,100 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.7% (2014 est.)

3.3% (2013 est.)

6.4% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.54 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$34.21 billion (2014 est.)

$32.66 billion (2013 est.)

$31.61 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

15.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

19.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

18.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.3% (2008)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$8.328 billion (2014 est.)

$7.697 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Turkey 16%, China 8.3%, Ukraine 7.7%, Azerbaijan 7.3%, Russia 6.7%, Germany 5.6%, Romania 4.5%, US 4.3%, Japan 4% (2013)

Industrial production growth rate

8.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2014 est.)

-0.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.959 million (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

55.6%

industry

8.9%

services

35.5% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$943.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$795.7 million (31 December 2011)

$1.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

9.2% (2010 est.)

Public debt

36.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

36.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

note

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

$3.283 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.823 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.72 billion (31 September 2012 est.)

$4.249 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.642 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.482 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$12.91 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$8.007 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.634 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.632 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.297 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

14.9% (2014 est.)

14.6% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.258 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

531 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

35 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

9.379 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

930 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

38.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

61.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

614 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.35 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

9.694 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.776 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.77 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

9.151 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

16,790 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

18,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

1 public broadcaster in Tbilisi, 1 state-owned broadcaster in Ajaria Autonomous Republic; 8 privately owned TV stations; state run public broadcaster operates 2 TV stations; dozens of cable TV operators, several major commercial TV stations, and several dozen private radio stations; state run public broadcaster operates 2 radio stations (2012)

Internet country code

.ge

Internet users

percent of population

50.6% (2014 est.)

total

2.5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Telephone system

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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.1 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

109 (2014 est.)

total

5.4 million

Television broadcast stations

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Airports

22 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

4

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

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

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 1,175 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Black Sea - Bat'umi, P'ot'i

Railways

broad gauge

1,326 km 1.520-m gauge (1,251 km electrified)

narrow gauge

37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 km electrified) (2014)

total

1,363 km

Roadways

paved

19,109 km (includes 69 km of expressways) (2010)

total

19,109 km

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,122,031 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,080,840

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

931,683 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

893,003

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

note

Georgian naval forces have been incorporated into the Coast Guard, which is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs rather than the Ministry of Defense (2015)

Military expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2013)

2.88% of GDP (2012)

3.25% of GDP (2011)

2.88% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months (2012)

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

IDPs

232,700 (displaced in the 1990s as a result of armed conflict in the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; displaced in 2008 by fighting between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia) (2014)

stateless persons

770 (2014)