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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003 was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003. This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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| Introduction | Georgia | Top of Page
Background: | 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 President Eduard SHEVARDNADZE.
| Geography | Georgia | Top of Page
Location: | Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates: | 42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references: | Asia
Area: | total: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 69,700 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: | total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
Coastline: | 310 km
Maritime claims: | NA
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; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources: | 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: | arable land: 11.21% permanent crops: 4.09% other: 84.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | 4,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | earthquakes
Environment - current issues: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 4,934,413 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 18.6% (male 466,743; female 449,440) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,628,757; female 1,744,922) 65 years and over: 13% (male 252,031; female 392,520) (2003 est.)
Median age: | total: 34.8 years male: 32.6 years female: 37 years (2002)
Population growth rate: | -0.52% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: | 11.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: | 14.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: | -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 51.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 56.83 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 64.76 years male: 61.33 years female: 68.36 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups: | Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religions: | Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Languages: | Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 100% female: 98% (1999 est.)
| Government | Georgia | Top of Page
Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic local long form: none
Government type: | republic
Capital: | T'bilisi
Administrative divisions: | 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
Independence: | 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: | 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
Constitution: | adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system: | based on civil law system
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: President Nino BURJANADZE (acting president since 23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumed the presidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nino BURJANADZE (acting president since 23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumed the presidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80%; note - following the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Nino BURJANADZE became acting president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held 4 January 2004 to replace Eduard SHEVARDNADZE)
Legislative branch: | unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) election results: percent of vote by party (from earlier 1999 elections) - CUG 41.7%, AGUR 25.2%, IWSG 7.1%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 64, IWSG 15, Labor 2, Abkhaz (government-in-exile) deputies 12, independents 12 elections: last held 2 November 2003 but results were invalidated (next to be held spring 2004)
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: | 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | 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
International organization participation: | BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | 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
Diplomatic representation from the US: | 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
Flag description: | maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
| Economy | Georgia | Top of Page
Economy - overview: | 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.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $16.05 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 5.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 20% industry: 25% services: 55% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 37.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 5.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force: | 2.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | industry 20%, agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 17% (2001 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $499 million expenditures: $554 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries: | steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate: | 3% (2000)
Electricity - production: | 7.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 19.7% hydro: 80.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: | 7.611 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: | 850 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production: | 2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA (2001)
Oil - imports: | NA (2001)
Natural gas - production: | 60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: | citrus, grapes, tea, hazlenuts, vegetables; livestock
Exports: | $515 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: | scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine
Exports - partners: | Turkey 23%, Italy 12.1%, Russia 11.4%, Greece 8.5%, Netherlands 7.5%, Spain 5.9%, Turkmenistan 4.7%, Ukraine 4.3% (2002)
Imports: | $750 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities: | fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: | Turkey 15.6%, Azerbaijan 11.2%, US 9.9%, Russia 9.1%, Germany 7.2%, Italy 5.1%, Bulgaria 4.9%, Romania 4.3%, France 4.2%, Ukraine 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external: | $1.7 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient: | ODA $150 million (2000 est.)
Currency: | lari (GEL)
Currency code: | GEL
Exchange rates: | lari per US dollar - 2.2 (2002), 2.07 (2001), 1.98 (2000), 2.02 (1999), 1.39 (1998)
Fiscal year: | calendar year
| Communications | Georgia | Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use: | 620,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 185,500 (2000)
Telephone system: | 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: 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
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: | 12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Internet country code: | .ge
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 6 (2000)
Internet users: | 25,000 (2002)
| Transportation | Georgia | Top of Page
Railways: | total: 1,612 km broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (2002)
Highways: | total: 20,362 km paved: 19,038 km unpaved: 1,325 km (2000)
Waterways: | none
Pipelines: | gas 1,495 km; oil 1,029 km; refined products 232 km (2003)
Ports and harbors: | Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
Merchant marine: | total: 116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 483,028 GRT/713,461 DWT ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 72, chemical tanker 1, container 11, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belize 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 4, Gibraltar 1, Greece 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malta 1, Panama 9, Romania 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 5, Turkey 2, Ukraine 7, UAE 11, UK 1, US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: | 40 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 7 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 5
Transportation - note: | 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: | Ground Forces (includes National Guard), combined Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces, Republic Security and Police Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age: | 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 1,302,815 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 1,028,913 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 43,359 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $23 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 0.59% (FY00)
Military - note: | 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: | boundary with Russia has been largely delimited, but not demarcated with several small, strategic segments remaining in dispute and OSCE observers monitoring 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; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy, closer ties with Armenia
Illicit drugs: | 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 18 December, 2003