Introduction
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. Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI became president in November 2013, ending a tense year of power-sharing between SAAKASHVILI and IVANISHVILI and SAAKASHVILI then left the country. 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, replacing Giorgi GAKHARIA, who later in the year formed his own opposition party. 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 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.
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Geography
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
Geographic coordinates
42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than South Carolina; slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries
total: 1,814 km
border countries (4): Armenia 219 km; Azerbaijan 428 km; Russia 894 km; Turkey 273 km
Coastline
310 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
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
Elevation
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,193 m
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 1,432 m
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
Land use
agricultural land: 35.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 5.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 39.4% (2018 est.)
other: 25.1% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
4,330 sq km (2012)
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
Natural hazards
earthquakes
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)
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
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.)
major-language sample(s):
მსოფლიო ფაქტების წიგნი, ძირითადი ინფორმაციის აუცილებელი წყარო. (Georgian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Orthodox (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 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.
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 55.4
youth dependency ratio: 32.8
elderly dependency ratio: 22.6
potential support ratio: 4.4 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 38.6 years
male: 35.9 years
female: 41.4 years (2020 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
Urbanization
urban population: 60.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Major urban areas - population
1.082 million TBILISI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
25.9 years (2019 est.)
note: data does not cover Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Maternal mortality ratio
28 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114Infant mortality rate
total: 14.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.74 years
male: 73.72 years
female: 81.96 years (2023 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.85 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
40.6% (2018)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99.4% of population
rural: 94.3% of population
total: 97.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population
rural: 5.7% of population
total: 2.7% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
7.6% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 96.3% of population
rural: 72.7% of population
total: 86.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.7% of population
rural: 27.3% of population
total: 13.3% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 3.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
total: 31.7% (2020 est.)
male: 56.3% (2020 est.)
female: 7.1% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
67.1% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0.3%
women married by age 18: 13.9%
men married by age 18: 0.5% (2018 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2021)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 28.3%
male: 27.4%
female: 29.9% (2021 est.)
Environment
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
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 21.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 10.13 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 6.05 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Land use
agricultural land: 35.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 5.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 39.4% (2018 est.)
other: 25.1% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 60.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 800,000 tons (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 660 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
industrial: 330 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
agricultural: 590 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
63.3 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
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
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Tbilisi
geographic coordinates: 41 41 N, 44 50 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name in Georgian means "warm place," referring to the numerous sulfuric hot springs in the area
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 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
Independence
9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)
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
Constitution
history: previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995
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)
Legal system
civil law system
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Salome ZOURABICHVILI (since 16 December 2018)
head of government: Prime Minister Irakli GARIBASHVILI (since 22 February 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
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
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 89-2
2013: Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI elected president (Georgian Dream) 62.1%, David BAKRADZE (ENM) 21.7%, Nino BURJANADZE (DM-UG) 10.2%, other 6%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Parliament or Sakartvelos Parlamenti (150 seats statutory, 144 current; 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)
elections: last held on 31 October and 21 November 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)
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 18.8%
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
Political parties and leaders
Alliance of Patriots [Irma INASHVILI]
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 [Nikanor "Nika" MELIA]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador David ZALKALIANI (since 7 June 2022)
chancery: 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0864
email address and website:
embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.ge
https://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kelly C. DEGNAN (since 31 January 2020)
embassy: 11 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue, Didi Dighomi, Tbilisi, 0131
mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 227-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 253-23-10
email address and website:
askconsultbilisi@state.gov
https://ge.usembassy.gov/
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
National symbol(s)
Saint George, lion; national colors: red, white
National anthem
name: "Tavisupleba" (Liberty)
lyrics/music: Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)
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
total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Gelati Monastery (c); Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (c); Upper Svaneti (c); Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (n)
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.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
10.47% (2021 est.)
-6.76% (2020 est.)
4.98% (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$15,500 (2021 est.)
$14,000 (2020 est.)
$15,000 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$17.694 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9.57% (2021 est.)
5.2% (2020 est.)
4.85% (2019 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: BB (2019)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BB (2019)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 8.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 23.7% (2017 est.)
services: 67.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 62.8% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 17.1% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 2.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 50.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -62.2% (2017 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
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate
10.66% (2021 est.)
18.5% (2020 est.)
11.57% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 28.3%
male: 27.4%
female: 29.9% (2021 est.)
Population below poverty line
19.5% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
34.5 (2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110Average household expenditures
On food: 32.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 3.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 31.3% (2008)
Remittances
14.19% of GDP (2021 est.)
13.32% of GDP (2020 est.)
12.93% of GDP (2019 est.)
Budget
revenues: $4.352 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: $4.925 billion (2017 est.)
Public debt
65.88% of GDP (2020 est.)
45.15% of GDP (2019 est.)
38.89% of GDP (2018 est.)
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
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$1.937 billion (2021 est.)
-$1.981 billion (2020 est.)
-$1.025 billion (2019 est.)
Exports
$8.086 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$5.927 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$9.546 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners
Russia 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, Armenia 9%, Bulgaria 8%, China 6%, Turkey 6%, Ukraine 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities
copper, cars, iron alloys, wine, packaged medicines (2019)
Imports
$11.151 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$8.967 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$11.162 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
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)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$4.271 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$3.913 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$3.506 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
Debt - external
$18.149 billion (2019 est.)
$17.608 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates
laris (GEL) per US dollar -
3.222 (2021 est.)
3.109 (2020 est.)
2.818 (2019 est.)
2.534 (2018 est.)
2.51 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 4.579 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 12,062,080,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 256 million kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 1.712 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 918.2 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 25.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 73.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 99,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 362,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 277,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 201 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 32,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
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.)
Natural gas
production: 6.088 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
consumption: 2.54 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 2.535 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 8.495 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
10.299 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.063 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 4.245 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.992 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
63.286 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 337,923 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 5,163,558 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
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)
domestic: fixed-line subscriptions 9 per 100, mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 137 per 100 persons (2021)
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)
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 users
total: 3,628,500 (July 2022 est.)
percent of population: 91.2% (July 2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 986,809 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2021 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 516,034 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 750,000 (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Heliports
2 (2021)
Pipelines
1,596 km gas, 1,175 km oil (2013)
Railways
total: 1,363 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 37 km (2014) 0.912-m gauge (37 km electrified)
broad gauge: 1,326 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (1,251 km electrified)
Merchant marine
total: 25
by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 3, other 20 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Black Sea - Batumi, Poti
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Georgian Defense Forces: Land Forces (includes Aviation and Air Defense Forces), 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) (2022)
Military expenditures
1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2019)
1.9% of GDP (2018)
1.9% of GDP (2017)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 30,000 troops, including active National Guard forces (2022)
note: in December 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a resolution determining that the Georgian Defense Forces would have 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 Israel and the US (2022)
Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription was abolished in 2016, but reinstated in 2017 for men 18-27 years of age; conscript service obligation is 12 months (2023)
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 Corrections
note 2: as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel
Military - note
as of 2022, up to 10,000 Russian troops continued to occupy the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Russia's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with Georgia
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 25,101 (Ukraine) (as of 24 January 2023)
IDPs: 305,000 (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) (2021)
stateless persons: 530 (2022)
Illicit drugs
located on a major drug trafficking route where Southwest Asian opium, heroin and precursor chemicals are transported; marijuana trafficking increased