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Background:
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 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 until
the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Ethnic separation in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian
military bases deny the government effective control over the
entirety of the state's internationally recognized territory.
Despite myriad problems, some progress on market reforms and
democratization has been made. An attempt by the government to
manipulate legislative elections in November 2003 touched off
widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard
SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. |
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Location:
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Southwestern
Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total:
69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller
than South Carolina |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km,
Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km |
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Coastline:
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310 km |
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Climate:
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warm and
pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast |
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Terrain:
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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; good soils in river valley flood plains,
foothills of Kolkhida Lowland |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m |
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Natural resources:
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forests,
hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal
and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for
important tea and citrus growth |
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Land use:
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arable land:
11.21%
permanent crops: 4.09%
other: 84.7% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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4,700 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution,
particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and
the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil
pollution from toxic chemicals |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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strategically
located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the
Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
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Population:
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4,693,892 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
18.7% (male 461,967; female 416,898)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,480,217; female 1,607,509)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 290,534; female 436,767)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 37
years
male: 34.5 years
female: 39.2 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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-0.36% (2004
est.) |
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Birth rate:
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10.1 births/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.98 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.16 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
19.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 75.62 years
male: 72.35 years
female: 79.44 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.4 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 900
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100
(2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Georgian 70.1%,
Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz
1.8%, other 5% |
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Religions:
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Georgian
Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian
Apostolic 8%, unknown 6% |
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Languages:
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Georgian 71%
(official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1999 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: none |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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T'bilisi |
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Administrative divisions:
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9 regions, (mkharebi,
singular - mkhare), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i),
and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular -
avtom respublika); Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri
Respublika** (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri
Respublika** (Bat'umi), Chiat'ura*, Gori*, Guria, Imereti,
Kakheti, K'ut'aisi*, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, P'ot'i*,
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Rust'avi*, Samegrelo and
Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli, T'bilisi*,
Tqibuli*, Tsqaltubo*, Zugdidi*
note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous
republics are shown in parentheses |
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Independence:
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9 April 1991
(from Soviet Union) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date of independence
from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of independence
from the Soviet Union |
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Constitution:
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adopted 17
October 1995 |
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Legal system:
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based on civil
law system |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government for the power ministries: state security,
interior, and defense
head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI
(since 25 January 2004); Prime Minister Zurab ZHVANIA (since 9
February 2004); note - the president is the chief of state and
head of government for the power ministries: state security,
interior, and defense; the prime minister is head of the
remaining ministries of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI elected
president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 96.3%, Temur
SHASHIASHVILI 1.9%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held 4 January 2004 (next to be
held NA 2009) |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or
Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by party lists);
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - National
Movement-Democrats 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other
parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National
Movement-Democrats 135, Rightist Opposition 15
elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held
spring 2008) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
(judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's
recommendation); Constitutional Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Citizen's Union
of Georgia or CUG [Avtandil JORBENADZE]; Georgian People's
Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG
[Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE];
Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor
Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP
[Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; New National Movement [Mikheil
SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican
Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; "Revival" Union Party
or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli
MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Georgian
independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile;
separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad
GAMSAKHURDYA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE
chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Richard M. MILES
embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC
20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68
FAX: [995] (32) 933-759 |
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Economy - overview:
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Georgia's main
economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural
products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and grapes;
mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small
industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic
beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country
imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas
and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is
hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered
due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and
World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 1995,
achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation.
However, the Georgian Government suffers from limited
resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues.
Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the
T'bilisi distribution network in 1998, but collection rates
are low, making the venture unprofitable. The country is
pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a
transit state for pipelines and trade. The start of
construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the
Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bring much-needed
investment and job opportunities. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $12.18 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.5% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $2,500 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
18.3%
industry: 19%
services: 62.7% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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54% (2001 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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2.1 million (2001
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry 20%,
agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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17% (2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$499 million
expenditures: $554 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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steel, aircraft,
machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and
copper), chemicals, wood products, wine |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3% (2000) |
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Electricity - production:
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7.27 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
19.7%
hydro: 80.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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7.611 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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850 million kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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2,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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31,500 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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60 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.16 billion cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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citrus, grapes,
tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock |
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Exports:
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$615 million
(2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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scrap metal,
machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine |
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Exports - partners:
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Turkey 21.7%,
Italy 11.4%, Russia 10.7%, Greece 8.1%, Netherlands 7.1%,
Spain 5.5%, Turkmenistan 4.5% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$1.25 billion
(2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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fuels, machinery
and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods,
pharmaceuticals |
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Imports - partners:
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Azerbaijan 11.7%,
Turkey 10.6%, US 10.4%, Russia 9.5%, Germany 7.4%, Ukraine 6%,
Italy 5.3%, Bulgaria 5.1%, France 4.4% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.8 billion
(2002) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA $150 million
(2000 est.) |
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Currency:
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lari (GEL) |
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Currency code:
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GEL |
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Exchange rates:
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lari per US
dollar - 2.15 (2003), 2.2 (2002), 2.07 (2001), 1.98 (2000),
2.02 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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648,500 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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503,600 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: NA
domestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular
telephone networks; urban telephone density is about 20 per
100 people; rural telephone density is about 4 per 100 people;
intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between
T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi; nationwide pager service is available
international: country code - 995; Georgia and Russia
are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi
(Russia); present international service is available by
microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch;
international electronic mail and telex service are available |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 7, FM 12,
shortwave 4 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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12 (plus
repeaters) (1998) |
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Internet country code:
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.ge |
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Internet hosts:
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3,032 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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73,500 (2002)
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Railways:
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total:
1,612 km
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
20,363 km
paved: 19,038 km
unpaved: 1,325 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Pipelines:
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gas 1,495 km; oil
1,029 km; refined products 232 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Bat'umi, P'ot'i,
Sokhumi |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 144
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 855,908 GRT/1,288,812 DWT
by type: bulk 20, cargo 95, chemical tanker 1,
container 11, liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large load
carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo
1, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned: Albania 2, Belize 2, British Virgin
Islands 2, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 5, Ecuador 1, Egypt 3, Estonia
1, Germany 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 13, Israel 1, Italy 1,
Latvia 4, Lebanon 3, Liberia 2, Madagascar 1, Malta 1,
Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Panama 8, Romania 6, Russia 10, Saint
Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Saudi
Arabia 1, Syria 31, Turkey 10, Ukraine 16,
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports:
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31 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 17
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 7 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports:
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2 (2003 est.) |
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Transportation - note:
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transportation
network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict,
criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks
maintenance and repair
|
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Military branches:
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Ground Forces
(including National Guard), Air and Air Defense Forces,
Maritime Defense Force |
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Military manpower - military age:
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18 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 1,156,302 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 906,400 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
39,570 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$23 million
(FY00) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.59% (FY00) |
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Military - note:
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a CIS
peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in the
Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military
observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed
in South Ossetia
|
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Disputes - international:
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about a third of
the boundary with Russia remains undelimited, and none of it
demarcated, with several small, strategic segments remaining
in dispute; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the
Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in
Abkhazia; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the former
Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia; boundary with Armenia
remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti
region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian
government; Azerbaijan protests Georgian construction at the
Red Bridge crossing and several other small segments of
boundary, which remain unresolved until delimitation |
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Illicit drugs:
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limited
cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic
consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via
Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia
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This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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