Introduction
Background
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. 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.
Geography
Area
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Climate
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
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
People and Society
Population
4,936,390 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 est.)
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.)
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.)
Population growth rate
-0.57% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Tbilisi
Executive branch
chief of state: President Salome ZOURABICHVILI (since 16 December 2018)
head of government: Prime Minister Irakli GARIBASHVILI (since 22 February 2021)
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)
Economy
Economic overview
COVID-19 crippled tourism, transportation, and construction sectors; rising unemployment, public debts and poverty; foreign investment and domestic bond issuance
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$57.434 billion (2021 est.)
$51.993 billion (2020 est.)
$55.762 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$15,500 (2021 est.)
$14,000 (2020 est.)
$15,000 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, grapes, maize, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, tomatoes, tangerines/mandarins, barley, apples
Industries
steel, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese, copper, gold), chemicals, wood products, wine
Remittances
14.19% of GDP (2021 est.)
13.32% of GDP (2020 est.)
12.93% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$8.086 billion (2021 est.)
$5.927 billion (2020 est.)
$9.546 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
Russia 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, Armenia 9%, Bulgaria 8%, China 6%, Turkey 6%, Ukraine 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities
copper, iron alloys, cars, wine, refined petroleum, nitrogen fertilizers, liquors (2021)
Imports
$11.151 billion (2021 est.)
$8.967 billion (2020 est.)
$11.162 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
Turkey 17%, China 11%, Russia 9%, Azerbaijan 6%, United States 6%, Germany 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, copper, packaged medicines, natural gas (2019)
Exchange rates
laris (GEL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
3.222 (2021 est.)
3.109 (2020 est.)
2.818 (2019 est.)
2.534 (2018 est.)
2.51 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, December 06, 2023
