Georgia

republicIndependence 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Georgia as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalT'bilisi

Position42 00 N, 43 30 E

Area69,700 sq km

LocationSouthwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey

Populationas each edition published it

5.16 million July 1997 est. · 5.57m in 1992

Population growth% a year

-1.09% 1997 est. · 0.85% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 34.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

64.96 years 1997 est. · 72.58 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.56 children per woman 1997 est. · 2.2 in 1992

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

50.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 34 in 1992

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,350 1996 est. · $1,390 in 1994

GDP real growth% a year

11% 1996 est. · -35% in 1993

Geography

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey | and Russia

17 fields

Land useshare of 69,700 sq km

arable land 9%permanent crops 4%permanent pastures 25%forests and woodland 34%other 28% (1993 est.)irrigated 4,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

69,700sq km

land : 69,700 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly smaller than South Carolina

Coastline

310km

Maritime claims: NA

Highest point

5,048m

Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek)lowest point: Black Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

1,461km

border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

Location

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

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;
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

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

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:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:: Desertification

People

15 fields

Population

5,160,042

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: -1.09% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

11.82Death

13.88Net migration

-8.83

Ethnic groups

Georgian 70.1%Armenian 8.1%Russian 6.3%Azeri 5.7%Ossetian 3%Abkhaz 1.8%other 5%

Religions

Christian Orthodox 75% (Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian Orthodox 10%)Muslim 11%Armenian Apostolic 8%unknown 6%

Literacy

99%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: 100%female: 98% (1989 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22% (male 581,370; female 558,390) 15-64 years : 66% (male 1,640,361; female 1,766,319)
65 years and over:: 12% (male 231,698; female 381,904) (July 1997 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:: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.91 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

50.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 64.96 years
male:: 61.59 years
female :: 68.49 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Georgian(s)
adjective:: Georgian

Languages

Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, other 7%

Government

Republic; President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded

21 fields

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

53 rayons (raionebi, singular - raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia (Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika)** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria (Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika)** (Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis, Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*, Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis; note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 May (1991)

Constitution

adopted 17 October 1995

Legal system

based on civil law system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state :: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; elected president 5 November 1995);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; elected president 5 November 1995);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet of Ministers
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001)
election results:: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%

Legislative branch

unicameral Supreme Council or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results :: percent of vote by party - CUG 24%, NDP 8%, All Georgia Revival Union 7%, all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Citizens Union of Georgia or CUG [Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Zurab ZHVANIA, general secretary];
National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTARIA];
United Republican Party, umbrella organization for parties including the GPF and the Charter 1991 Party [Notar NATADZE, chairman];
Georgian Popular Front or GPF [Nodar NATADZE, chairman];
Charter 1991 Party [Tedo PAATASHVILI];
Georgian Social Democratic Party or GSDP [Guram MUCHAIDZE, secretary general];
All Georgia Union for Revival [Alsan ABASHIDZE];
Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Irakli SHENGELAYA];
Democratic Georgia Union or DGU [Avtandil MARGIANI];
National Independence Party or NIP [Irakliy TSERETELI, chairman];
Georgian Monarchists' Party or GMP [Temur ZHORZHOLIANI];
Greens Party;
Agrarian Party of Georgia or APG [Roin LIPARTELIANI];
United Communist Party of Georgia or UCP [Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

supporters of ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) remain a source of opposition;
separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia

International organization participation

BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
chancery:: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:: [1] (202) 393-5959

FAX

[1] (202) 393-4537

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
embassy:: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address:: use embassy street address
telephone :: 995-32-989-967 or 995-32-933-803 (operator assisted)

FAX

tie-line FAX 997-0200; 933-759 or 938-951

Flag description

maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Economy

22 fields

Real growth rate

11%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 7.7% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

13.3%

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

21%

(1996 est.)

Labor force

2.2million

(1996)by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)

GDP - composition by sector(1993 est.)

agriculture 70.4%industry 10.2%services 19.4% (1993 est.)

Economy - overview

Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. 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 in 1995-96, pushing GDP growth and slashing inflation. Georgia had been suffering from acute energy shortages, although energy deliveries improved in 1996.

Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The decision in 1996 to construct an early Caspian oil pipeline through Georgia underscores the viability of such a corridor and may spur greater western investment in the economy. A growing trade deficit and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.1 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,350 (1996 est.)

Budget

revenues:: $NA
expenditures:: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries

steel, aircraft, machine tools, foundry equipment, electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors, process control equipment, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine

Electricity - capacity

4.56 million kW (1994)

Electricity - production

7.1 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - consumption per capita

1,095 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; small livestock sector

Exports

total value:: $356 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities:: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products;
diverse types of machinery;
ferrous and nonferrous metals;
textiles;
chemicals;
fuel re-exports
partners :: Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria (1996)

Imports

total value:: $647 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities:: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment
partners:: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan (1996); note - EU and US send humanitarian food shipments

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $28 million (1993) note : commitments, 1992-95, $1,200 million ($675 million disbursements)

Currency

lari introduced September 1995 replacing the coupon

Exchange rates

lari per US$1 (end of period) - 1.28 (December 1996), 1.24 (December 1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

672,000

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

poor service; 339,000 unsatisfied applications for telephones (December 1990 est.)

domestic:: NA
international:: landline to CIS members and Turkey;
satellite earth station - 1 Eutelsat;
leased connections with other countries via the Moscow international gateway switch;
international electronic mail and telex service available

Radio broadcast stations

2 national broadcast stations, 3 regional broadcast stations

Radios

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m : 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m : 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m : 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5

Networkskm

Highways

21,000Railways

1,583

Highways: paved: NA km · unpaved : NA km note: Georgia reports 19,635 km of "hard surfaced" roads which combine the lengths of paved and graveled roads; 1,365 km of unsurfaced or dirt roads are reported separately (1995 est.) · Railways: ; does not include industrial lines · broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)

Railways

total:: 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
broad gauge:: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)

Highways

total:: 21,000 km
paved:: NA km
unpaved :: NA km

note: Georgia reports 19,635 km of "hard surfaced" roads which combine the lengths of paved and graveled roads; 1,365 km of unsurfaced or dirt roads are reported separately (1995 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992)

Ports and harbors

Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi

Merchant marine

total:: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,202 GRT/292,021 DWT
ships by type :: bulk 4, cargo 3, oil tanker 8 (1996 est.)

Airports

28 (1994 est.)

Transportation - note

transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair

Military

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, | National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

7 fields

Military branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,288,694 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males : 1,020,609 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 40,799 (1997 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

38.2 trillion coupons (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results