2023 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. SAAKASHVILI made progress on market reforms and good governance during his time in power but also faced accusations of abuse of office. Progress was also complicated by Russian assistance and support to the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia that led to periodic flare-ups in tension and violence and that culminated in a five-day conflict in August 2008 between Russia and Georgia, including the invasion of large portions of 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 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 before leaving the country after his presidential term ended in 2013. At the time, these changes in leadership represented unique examples of a former Soviet state that emerged to conduct democratic and peaceful government transitions of power. IVANISHVILI voluntarily resigned from office after the presidential succession, and in the following years, the prime minister position has seen frequent turnover. Most recently, Irakli GARIBASHVILI became prime minister in February 2021. In October 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 March 2022. The EU and Georgia signed an Association Agreement in June 2014 and it fully entered into force in July 2016. Georgia and the EU have a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and Georgian citizens since 2017 can travel to the Schengen area without a visa.

Area

land

69,700 sq km

note

note: approximately 12,560 sq km, or about 18% of Georgia's area, is Russian occupied; the seized area includes all of Abkhazia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which 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

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

35.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 5.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)

forest

39.4% (2018 est.)

other

25.1% (2018 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

18.41% (male 468,459/female 440,195)

15-64 years

63.65% (male 1,543,748/female 1,598,047)

65 years and over

17.95% (2023 est.) (male 348,822/female 537,119)

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

12.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

0.5% (2018 est.)

women married by age 15

0.3%

women married by age 18

13.9%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.1% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

40.6% (2018)

Current health expenditure

7.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

67.1% (2023 est.)

Death rate

13.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Demographic profile

Analyzing population trends in Georgia since independence in 1991 has proven difficult due to a lack of reliable demographic statistics.  Censuses were fairly accurately and regularly updated through a vital statistics system during Georgia’s period of Soviet rule, but from independence until about 2010, the system broke down as a result of institutional and economic change, social unrest, and large-scale outmigration.  The 2002 census is believed to have significantly overestimated the size of Georgia’s population, in part because respondents continued to include relatives living abroad as part of their household count.  The 2014 census indicates that Georgia’s population is decreasing and aging.  Census data shows that the median age increased from 34.5 years in 2002 to 37.7 years in 2014.  The working-age population (ages 15-65 years) was fairly high in 2002 and rose between 2005 and 2011. Nonetheless, Georgia did not reap economic benefits from this age structure, since the working-age population increase seems to have stimulated labor outmigration to Russia, Ukraine, and other neighboring countries. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgia has seen its economy grow to its highest level in years due to the influx of Russian businesses, information and communications technology specialists, and money transfers.  This growth may only be temporary and conditions could still easily change depending on future events.  Meanwhile, the Russian inflow is also a source of concern, as some Georgians fear it could prompt Putin to target their country next.  In addition, Ukrainian refugees use Georgia not just as a transit country but also as a destination.  Some 25,000 Ukrainians remain in the country as of November 2022; they pose an additional strain on resources in Georgia, which has a significant population of its own displaced citizens – from the 2008 Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia – who continue to need government support.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

22.6

potential support ratio

4.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

55.4

youth dependency ratio

32.8

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 94.3% of population

improved: total

total: 97.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.4% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 5.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.7% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.6% of population

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2021 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

0.95 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

female

20.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male

24.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

Languages

Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1%; note - Abkhaz is 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

76.6 years

male

68.3 years

total population

72.3 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.5% (2019)

male

99.7%

total population

99.6%

Major urban areas - population

1.082 million TBILISI (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

28 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

40.4 years

male

35.6 years

total

38 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.9 years (2019 est.)

note

note: data does not cover Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Nationality

adjective

Georgian

noun

Georgian(s)

Net migration rate

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.7% (2016)

Physicians density

5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

4,936,390 (2023 est.)

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

Population growth rate

-0.57% (2023 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: 72.7% of population

improved: total

total: 86.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 96.3% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 27.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 13.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.7% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2021)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 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 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

7.1% (2020 est.)

male

56.3% (2020 est.)

total

31.7% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.96 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

60.7% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

29.9%

male

27.4%

total

28.3% (2021 est.)

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)

note

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

Capital

etymology

the name in Georgian means "warm place," referring to the numerous sulfuric hot 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

amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2020 (legislative electoral system revised)

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 may derive from the Persian designation "gurgan" meaning "Land of the Wolves"; 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

none

local short form

Sak'art'velo

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robin DUNNIGAN (since 12 October 2023)

email address and website

askconsultbilisi@state.govhttps://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 David ZALKALIANI (since 7 June 2022)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.gehttps://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/

FAX

[1] (202) 387-0864

telephone

[1] (202) 387-2390

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

chief of state

President Salome ZOURABICHVILI (since 16 December 2018)

election results

2018: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Irakli GARIBASHVILI approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 89-22013: Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI elected president (Georgian Dream) 62.1%, David BAKRADZE (ENM) 21.7%, Nino BURJANADZE (DM-UG) 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 28 November 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president note - 2017 constitutional amendments made the 2018 election the last where the president was directly elected; future presidents will be elected by a 300-member College of Electors; in light of these changes, ZOURABICHVILI was allowed a six-year term

head of government

Prime Minister Irakli GARIBASHVILI (since 22 February 2021)

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

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

description

unicameral Parliament or Sakartvelos Parlamenti (150 seats statutory, 140 (as of May 2023); 120 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote and 30 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by at least 50% majority vote, with a runoff if needed; no party earning less than 40% of total votes may claim a majority; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 48.2%, UNM 27.2%, European Georgia 3.8%, Lelo 3.2%, Strategy 3.2%, Alliance of Patriots 3.1%, Girchi 2.9%, Citizens 1.3%, Labor 1%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 90, UNM 36, European Georgia 5, Lelo 4, Strategy 4, Alliance of Patriots 4, Girchi 4, Citizens 2, Labor 1; composition (as of October 2021) - men 117, women 27, percent of women 19.3%

elections

last held on 31 October and 21 November 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)

name

"Tavisupleba" (Liberty)

note

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

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); 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 [Davit TARKHAN-MOURAVI]Citizens Party [Aleko ELISASHVILI]Democratic Movement-United Georgia or DM-UC [Nino BURJANADZE] European Georgia-Movement for Liberty [Giga BOKERIA]European Socialists [Fridon INJIA]For Georgia [Giorgi GAKHARIA]Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia [Irakli KOBAKHIDZE]Girchi-More Freedom [Zurab JAPARIDZE]Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]Lelo for Georgia [Mamuka KHAZARADZE]New Political Centre-Girchi [Iago KHVICHIA]Republican Party [Khatuna SAMNIDZE]Strategy Aghmashenebeli [Giorgi VASHADZE]United National Movement or UNM [Levan KHABEISHVILI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, grapes, maize, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, tomatoes, tangerines/mandarins, barley, apples

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

32.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$5.059 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$4.737 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BB (2019)

Moody's rating

Ba2 (2017)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BB (2019)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$1.025 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

-$1.981 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$1.937 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$17.608 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$18.149 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

COVID-19 crippled tourism, transportation, and construction sectors; rising unemployment, public debts and poverty; foreign investment and domestic bond issuance

Exchange rates

Currency

laris (GEL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

2.51 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

2.534 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

2.818 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3.109 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.222 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$9.546 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$5.927 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$8.086 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

copper, iron alloys, cars, wine, refined petroleum, nitrogen fertilizers, liquors (2021)

Exports - partners

Russia 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, Armenia 9%, Bulgaria 8%, China 6%, Turkey 6%, Ukraine 6% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

50.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption

17.1% (2017 est.)

household consumption

62.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-62.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

2.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

8.2% (2017 est.)

industry

23.7% (2017 est.)

services

67.9% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.694 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

34.5 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.3% (2008)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

Imports 2019

$11.162 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$8.967 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$11.151 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, copper, packaged medicines, natural gas (2019)

Imports - partners

Turkey 17%, China 11%, Russia 9%, Azerbaijan 6%, United States 6%, Germany 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2021 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

4.85% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

5.2% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

9.57% (2021 est.)

Labor force

1.724 million (2021 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

55.6%

industry

8.9%

services

35.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.5% (2019 est.)

Public debt

note

note: data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt or social funds

Public debt 2018

38.89% of GDP (2018 est.)

Public debt 2019

45.15% of GDP (2019 est.)

Public debt 2020

65.88% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$55.762 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$51.993 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$57.434 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

4.98% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-6.76% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

10.47% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$15,000 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$14,000 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$15,500 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$3.506 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$3.913 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$4.271 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.41% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

11.57% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

18.5% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

10.66% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

29.9%

male

27.4%

total

28.3% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

1.063 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

4.992 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

4.245 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

10.299 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

362,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

277,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

99,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

201 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

12,062,080,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

256 million kWh (2020 est.)

imports

1.712 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

4.579 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

918.2 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

25.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

73.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

63.286 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

2.54 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

2.535 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

production

6.088 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

proven reserves

8.495 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

100 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

35 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

32,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

300 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,052 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

28,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

247 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

25 (2021 est.)

total

986,809 (2021 est.)

Broadcast media

The Tbilisi-based Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) includes Channel 1, Channel 2, and the Batumi-based Adjara TV, and the State Budget funds all three; there are also a number of independent commercial television broadcasters, such as Imedi, Rustavi 2, Pirveli TV, Maestro, Kavkasia, Georgian Dream Studios (GDS), Obiektivi, Mtavari Arkhi, and a small Russian language operator TOK TV; Tabula and Post TV are web-based television outlets; all of these broadcasters and web-based television outlets, except GDS, carry the news; the Georgian Orthodox Church also operates a satellite-based television station called Unanimity; there are 26 regional television broadcasters across Georgia that are members of the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters and/or the Alliance of Georgian Broadcasters; the broadcaster organizations seek to strengthen the regional media's capacities and distribution of regional products: a nationwide digital switchover occurred in 2015; there are several dozen private radio stations; GPB operates 2 radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.ge

Internet users

percent of population

76% (2021 est.)

total

2.888 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line subscriptions 9 per 100, mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 137 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

the telecom sector has been attempting for many years to overcome the decades of under-investment in its fixed-line infrastructure during the Soviet era; concerted efforts to privatize state-owned enterprises and open up the telecom market have been mostly successful, with a large number of networks now competing in both the fixed-line and the mobile segments; more needs to be done, however, to give investors the confidence to enter a market that has barely moved in terms of revenue growth over the last decade, and where regulatory overreach has sometimes come perilously close to arresting further development; Georgia’s government moved fast following the collapse of the Soviet Union to liberalize the country’s telecom market; this resulted in a relatively high number of networks competing in the under-developed fixed-line segment as well as in the emerging mobile market; both segments remain dominated by just a few companies (2022)

international

country code - 995; landing points for the Georgia-Russia, Diamond Link Global, and Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Russia, Romania and Bulgaria; international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

337,923 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

137 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

5,163,558 (2021 est.)

Airports

22 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

18

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

4

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

4L

Heliports

2 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 3, other 21

total

24 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

750,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

516,034 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

12

number of registered air carriers

4 (2020)

Pipelines

1,596 km gas, 1,175 km oil (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Black Sea - Batumi, Poti

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)

Roadways

total

20,295 km (2018)

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 missionsthe DFG is divided into two regional commands (eastern and western); the Ground Forces make up the majority of the DFG, with four infantry and two artillery brigades; the Coast Guard/naval forces operate a mix of coastal patrol craft and patrol boats, while the Air Force has a handful of refurbished Soviet-era ground attack aircraft (2023)

Military and security forces

Defense Forces of Georgia (DFG; aka Georgian Defense Forces or GDF): Ground Forces, Air Force, National Guard, Special Operations Forces, National Guard; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Border Police, Coast Guard (includes Georgian naval forces, which were merged with the Coast Guard in 2009) (2023)

note

note: the Ministry of Internal Affairs also has forces for protecting strategic infrastructure and conducting special operations

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimates vary; approximately 30,000 troops, including active National Guard forces (2023)

note

note: in December 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a resolution determining that the Georgian Defense Forces would have a maximum peacetime strength of 37,000 troops

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the majority of the military's inventory consists of Soviet-era weapons and equipment, although in recent years it has received armaments from a number of European countries, as well as the US (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

1.9% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.8% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 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 12 months (2023)

note

note 1: approximately 6-7,000 individuals are called up annually for conscription for service; approximately 25% enter the Defense Forces, while the remainder serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs or as prison guards in the Ministry of Correctionsnote 2: as of 2022, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel

Disputes - international

Russia's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with Georgia; Russia maintains military bases and troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Illicit drugs

a transit country for opiates produced in Asia trafficked into Ukraine or Moldova via the Black Sea for other European destinations; not a major corridor for synthetic drug smuggling operations; domestic synthetic market for ecstasy/MDMA, amphetamines, and cannabis with ecstasy laced with fentanyl the drug of choice

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

308,000 (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) (2022)

refugees (country of origin)

27,000 (Ukraine) (as of 4 October 2023)

stateless persons

530 (2022)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

10.13 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

6.05 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

19.06 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Environment - current 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

Environment - international 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

Land use

agricultural land

35.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 5.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)

forest

39.4% (2018 est.)

other

25.1% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

63.33 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

710 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

340 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

610 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

60.7% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

800,000 tons (2015 est.)