2020 Edition

Background

The region of present-day Georgia once contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis (known as Egrisi locally) and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D., and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Persian, Arab, and Turk domination was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short when the Mongols invaded in 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. In 2003, mounting public discontent over rampant corruption, ineffective government services, and a government attempt to manipulate parliamentary elections touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, who had been president since 1995. In the aftermath of this "Rose Revolution," new elections in 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI and his United National Movement (UNM) party into power. SAAKASHVILI made progress on market reforms and governance, but he faced accusations of abuse of office. Progress was further complicated when Russian support for the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia led to a five-day conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, which included Russia invading large portions of Georgian territory. Russia initially pledged to pull back from most Georgian territory but then unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Russian military forces have remained in those regions. Billionaire Bidzina IVANISHVILI's unexpected entry into politics in 2011 brought the divided opposition together under his Georgian Dream coalition, which won a majority of seats in the 2012 parliamentary elections and removed UNM from power. Conceding defeat, SAAKASHVILI named IVANISHVILI as prime minister and left the country after his presidential term ended in 2013. IVANISHVILI voluntarily resigned from office after the presidential succession, and in the years since, the prime minister position has seen frequent turnover. In 2021, SAAKASHVILI returned to Georgia, where he was immediately arrested to serve six years in prison on outstanding abuse-of-office convictions. Popular support for integration with the West is high in Georgia. Joining the EU and NATO are among the country's top foreign policy goals, and Georgia applied for EU membership in 2022, becoming a candidate country in December 2023. Georgia and the EU have a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, and since 2017, Georgian citizens have been able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa.

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

highest point

Mt'a Shkhara 5,193 m

lowest point

Black Sea 0 m

mean elevation

1,432 m

Geographic coordinates

42 00 N, 43 30 E

Geography - note

note 1: strategically located east of the Black Sea, Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them note 2: the world's four deepest caves are all in Georgia, including two that are the only known caves on earth deeper than 2,000 m: Krubera Cave at -2,197 m (-7,208 ft; reached in 2012) and Veryovkina Cave at -2,212 (-7,257 ft; reached in 2018)

Irrigated land

4,330 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,814 km

Land use

agricultural land

34.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 27.9% (2023 est.)

forest

44.6% (2023 est.)

other

21.2% (2023 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; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both

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

Population distribution

settlement concentrated in the central valley, particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest

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

Age structure

0-14 years

20.6% (male 520,091/female 489,882)

15-64 years

62.7% (male 1,500,036/female 1,572,637)

65 years and over

16.7% (2024 est.) (male 322,941/female 495,374)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

3.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

0.5% (2018)

women married by age 15

0.3% (2018)

women married by age 18

13.9% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.1% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.3% (2018 est.)

Death rate

12.89 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

26.6 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

3.8 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

59.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

32.9 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 88.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 95% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 11.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.2% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.94 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.4% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

23.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

20.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1% (including Abkhaz, the official language in Abkhazia) (2014 est.)

major-language sample(s)

მსოფლიო ფაქტების წიგნი, ძირითადი ინფორმაციის აუცილებელი წყარო. (Georgian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.2 years

male

68.7 years

total population

72.8 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

99.6% (2024 est.)

male

99.8% (2024 est.)

total population

99.7% (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.082 million TBILISI (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

20 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

40.6 years

male

35.9 years

total

38.6 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.9 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Georgian

noun

Georgian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.7% (2016)

Physician density

5.64 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

2,557,893

male

2,343,068

total

4,900,961 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.45% (2025 est.)

Religions

Eastern Orthodox Christian (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic Christian 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Roman Catholic Christian, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant Christian, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 72.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 87.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 27.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2023 est.)

male

16 years (2023 est.)

total

16 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.65 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

7.5% (2025 est.)

male

53.9% (2025 est.)

total

28.7% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

60.7% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), 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; 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 city: Tbilisi autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)

Capital

etymology

the name comes from the Georgian word tbili, meaning "warm" and referring to the hot sulfur springs in the area

geographic coordinates

41 41 N, 44 50 E

name

Tbilisi

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Georgia

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed as a draft law supported by more than one half of the Parliament membership or by petition of at least 200,000 voters; passage requires support by at least three fourths of the Parliament membership in two successive sessions three months apart and the signature and promulgation by the president of Georgia

history

previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Georgia

etymology

the Western name probably derives from the name of the local people, the Gurz, whose name origin is uncertain; the native name "Sak'art'velo" means "Land of the Kartvelians" and refers to the core central Georgian region of Kartli

former

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Republic of Georgia

local short form

Sak'art'velo

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alan S. PURCELL (since 16 July 2025)

email address and website

askconsultbilisi@state.gov https://ge.usembassy.gov/

embassy

29 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue, Didi Dighomi, Tbilisi, 0131

FAX

[995] (32) 253-23-10

mailing address

7060 Tbilisi 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 Tamar TALIASHVILI (since 24 July 2025)

consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

email address and website

embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.ge https://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/

FAX

[1] (202) 387-0864

telephone

[1] (202) 387-2390

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

chief of state

President Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (since 29 December 2024)

election results

2024: Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (Georgian Dream Party) was formally inaugurated on 29 December 2024 2024: Irakli KOBAKHIDZE approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 84-10 2018: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Irakli GARIBASHVILI approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 89-2

election/appointment process

president elected by a 300-member College of Electors; prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president

expected date of next election

2029

head of government

Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 8 February 2024)

most recent election date

14 December 2024

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 (also known as Bolnisi cross), which has equal-length arms that are slightly wider at the end than in the center history: sometimes referred to as the Five-Cross Flag, the design is based on a 14th-century banner of the Kingdom of Georgia

Government type

semi-presidential 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

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges 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 High Council of Justice (a 14-member body consisting of the Supreme Court chairperson, common court judges, and appointees of the president of Georgia) and appointed by Parliament; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed 3 each by the president, by Parliament, and by the Supreme Court judges; judges appointed for 10-year terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

October 2028

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Sakartvelos Parlamenti)

most recent election date

10/26/2024

number of seats

150 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Georgian Dream (89); Coalition for Changes (19); Unity - National Movement (16); Strong Georgia – Lelo, For people, For Liberty! (14); For Georgia (12)

percentage of women in chamber

16.8%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 2004, after the Rose Revolution; based on music from the operas "Abesalom da Eteri" and "Daisi"

lyrics/music

Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)

title

"Tavisupleba" (Liberty)

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Gelati Monastery (c); Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (c); Upper Svaneti (c); Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (n)

total World Heritage Sites

4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 May (1918)

National symbol(s)

Saint George, lion

Political parties

Ahali Citizens Conservative Party Droa European Georgia - Movement for Liberty For Georgia For the People Freedom Square Georgian Dream Girchi - More Freedom Law and Justice Lelo for Georgia National Democratic Party People's Power Progress and Freedom Republican Party State for the People Strategy Aghmashenebeli United National Movement or UNM

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, grapes, potatoes, maize, wheat, tangerines/mandarins, tomatoes, barley, apples, eggs (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

39% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$9.307 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$8.686 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$1.105 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.709 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$1.491 billion (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$9.085 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

upper-middle income, fast-growing South Caucasus economy; regionally focused exporter of cars, metal ores, and energy; financial and migrant inflows resulting from Ukraine conflict; EU accession talks suspended over disputed election and foreign influence law; low inflation but persistent high unemployment

Exchange rates

Currency

laris (GEL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

3.109 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.222 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

2.916 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

2.628 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

2.721 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$13.24 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$15.173 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$16.321 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

cars, copper ore, electricity, garments, wine (2023)

Exports - partners

Azerbaijan 13%, Turkey 11%, Armenia 11%, Russia 10%, Kyrgyzstan 8% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

48.4% (2024 est.)

government consumption

13.4% (2024 est.)

household consumption

71.3% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-56% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

5.4% (2024 est.)

industry

19.1% (2024 est.)

services

62.8% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$33.776 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

34.8 (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.9% (2023 est.)

lowest 10%

2.7% (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$15.665 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$17.816 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$18.915 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, natural gas, garments (2023)

Imports - partners

Turkey 16%, USA 13%, Russia 11%, China 8%, Germany 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

5.4% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.9% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.833 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

11.8% (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

43.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$77.838 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$83.935 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$91.849 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

11% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

7.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

9.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$21,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$22,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$25,000 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

15.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

13.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

11.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$4.886 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$5.002 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$4.447 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

11.7% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

11.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

11.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

32.4% (2024 est.)

male

28.4% (2024 est.)

total

29.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

384,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

80 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

223,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

production

148,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

900.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

12.569 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

4.913 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

4.234 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

4.526 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.148 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

75.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

56.076 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

2.775 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

2.764 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

10.77 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

8.495 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

35 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

300 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

29 (2023 est.)

total

1.1 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) includes Channel 1, Channel 2, and Adjara TV; independent commercial TV broadcasters include Imedi, Rustavi 2, Pirveli TV, Maestro, Kavkasia, Georgian Dream Studios (GDS), Obiektivi, Mtavari Arkhi, and TOK TV (Russian language); Tabula and Post TV are web-based TV outlets; Georgian Orthodox Church operates a satellite-based television station called Unanimity; 26 regional TV broadcasters; TV shifted to digital in 2015; several dozen private radio stations; GPB operates 2 radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.ge

Internet users

percent of population

82% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

278,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

156 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

5.91 million (2023 est.)

Airports

21 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

4L

Heliports

4 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 3, other 23

total

26 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Batumi, Sokhumi, Supsa Marine Terminal

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

2

small

1

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

2

Railways

broad gauge

1,326 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (1,251 km electrified)

narrow gauge

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

total

1,363 km (2014)

Military - note

the Defense Forces of Georgia (DFG) are responsible for protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country; the DFG also provides units for multinational military operations abroad and supports the Border Police in border protection and civil authorities in counter-terrorist operations, if requested; it is focused primarily on Russia, which maintains military bases and troops in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia; a five-day conflict with Russian forces in 2008 resulted in the defeat and expulsion of Georgian forces from the breakaway regions  Georgia is not a member of NATO but has had a relationship with the Alliance since 1992 and declared its aspiration to join in 2002; the military is working to make itself more compatible with NATO and has participated in multinational exercises and security operations abroad with NATO, such as Afghanistan, where it was one of the top non-NATO contributors, and Kosovo; the DFG has also contributed troops to EU and UN missions (2025)

Military and security forces

Georgian Defense Forces (GDF; aka Defense Forces of Georgia, DFG): Ground Forces, Air Force, Special Operations Forces, National Guard Ministry of Internal Affairs: Police, Border Police of Georgia, Coast Guard of Georgia (includes naval forces, which were merged with the Coast Guard in 2009) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Georgia Defense Forces are authorized up to 37,000 personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the majority of the military's inventory consists of Soviet-era weapons and equipment, some of which has been upgraded; it has smaller quantities of mostly secondhand material from such countries as Israel, Poland, Türkiye, and the US, as well as some domestically produced equipment; Georgia has a small defense industry which produces such items as small arms and light armored vehicles (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription was abolished in 2016, but reinstated in 2017 for men 18-27 years of age; conscript service obligation is up to 11 months depending on the assigned ministry, job specialty, and if the service is carried out in a combat unit (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

347,754 (2024 est.)

refugees

31,791 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

488 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

812,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

5.419 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

4.469 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

10.7 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy water pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals; land and forest degradation; biodiversity loss; waste management

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

18.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

63.33 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

433.96 million cubic meters (2022)

industrial

354.46 million cubic meters (2022)

municipal

504.96 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

800,000 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

19.6% (2022 est.)