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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Georgia
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Georgia Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by two civil conflicts in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the control of the central government and are ruled by de facto, unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-led peacekeeping operations continue in both regions.
   Geography    Georgia Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
310 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
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
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 11.51%
permanent crops: 3.79%
other: 84.7% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
4,690 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
63.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%)
Per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
   People    Georgia Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,646,003 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 413,506/female 364,407)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 1,489,081/female 1,605,021)
65 years and over: 16.7% (male 311,098/female 462,890) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 38 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 40.4 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.329% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.54 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.37 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-4.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.135 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.928 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.672 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 17.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 76.3 years
male: 73 years
female: 80.07 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.42 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 est.)
   Government    Georgia Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: T'bilisi
geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 47 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (k'alak'i), 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
city: Tbilisi
autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)
note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
adopted 24 August 1995
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Acting President Nino BURJANADZE (since 25 November 2007); note - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI, resigned the presidency on 25 November 2007 in order to become a candidate in early presidential elections held 5 January 2008; the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense
head of government: Acting President Nino BURJANADZE (since 25 November 2007)); Prime Minister Lado GURGENIDZE (since 19 November 2007); note - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI, resigned the presidency on 25 November 2007 in order to become a candidate in early presidential elections held 5 January 2008; the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 January 2008 (next to be held January 2013)
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI elected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 52%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghlesi Sabcho (235 seats; 150 members elected by proportional representation, 75 from single-seat constituencies, and 10 represent displaced persons from Abkhazia; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held in fall 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, other parties 24.8%; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 135, Rightist Opposition 15
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's or chairman of the Supreme Court's recommendation); Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Georgia's Way Party [Salome ZOURABICHVILI]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI] (bloc composed of National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats); National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; Rightist Opposition [David GAMKRELIDZE] (bloc composed of Industrialists and New Right Party); Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT (observer), BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE
chancery: 1101 15th Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131
mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century
   Economy    Georgia Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; 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. It has sizeable but underdeveloped hydropower capacity. 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 2000, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. Georgia's GDP growth neared 10% in 2006 and 2007 despite restrictions on commerce with Russia. Areas of recent improvement include increased foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services, and mining sectors. In addition, the reinvigorated privatization process has met with success. However, a widening trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Georgia has suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, the new government is making progress and has reformed the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on corruption. Due to concerted reform efforts, collection rates have improved considerably to roughly 60%, both in T'bilisi and throughout the regions. Despite improvements in customs and financial (tax) enforcement, smuggling remains a drain on the economy. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages due to aging and badly maintained infrastructure, as well as poor management. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and trade. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline have brought much-needed investment and job opportunities. Nevertheless, high energy prices have compounded the pressure on the country's inefficient energy sector. Restructuring the sector and finding energy supply alternatives to Russia remain major challenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$19.65 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$5.963 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4,200 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 12.3%
industry: 29.7%
services: 58% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.04 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
54.5% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
40.4 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
31.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $2.805 billion
expenditures: $3.006 billion (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.142 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.354 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
122 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
1.468 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,979 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,400 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,530 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
35 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.39 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.415 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.4 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.147 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$1.582 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.908 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Turkey 12.7%, Azerbaijan 9.4%, Russia 7.7%, Armenia 7.5%, Turkmenistan 7.3%, Bulgaria 6.4%, US 6%, Ukraine 5.8%, Canada 5%, Germany 4.6% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.725 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Russia 15.2%, Turkey 14.2%, Germany 9.5%, Ukraine 8.7%, Azerbaijan 8.7% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $309.8 million (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.592 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.04 billion (2004)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$354.6 million (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
lari (GEL)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
lari per US dollar - 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Georgia Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
553,100 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.704 million (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: fixed-line telecommunications network has only limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership
domestic: local - T'bilisi, K'ut'aisi, and Batumi 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; the Georgia-Russia fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to Russia; international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ge
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30,193 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
332,000 (2006)
   Transportation    Georgia Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
3 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 1,349 km; oil 1,010 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,612 km
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 20,247 km
paved: 7,973 km
unpaved: 12,274 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 209 ships (1000 GRT or over) 958,504 GRT/1,408,540 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 159, carrier 2, chemical tanker 1, container 5, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 180 (Albania 2, Azerbaijan 1, China 4, Cyprus 1, Egypt 14, Germany 2, Greece 7, Lebanon 3, Monaco 10, Romania 15, Russia 17, Slovenia 2, Syria 54, Turkey 23, Ukraine 24, UAE 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Bat'umi, P'ot'i
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing
transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair
   Military    Georgia Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces (includes National Guard), Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 1,038,736
females age 18-49: 1,105,910 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 827,281
females age 18-49: 903,791 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 38,857
females age 18-49: 38,238 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.59% (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Transnational Issues    Georgia Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a peacekeeping force in Georgia since 1993; 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 and Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
IDPs: 220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2006)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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