Georgia
none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
republicIndependence 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Georgia as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 118 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. Russian troops remain garrisoned at four military bases and as peacekeepers in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (but are scheduled to withdraw from two of the bases by July 2001). Despite a badly degraded transportation network - brought on by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages - the country continues to move toward a market economy and greater integration with Western institutions.
Geography
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
17 fieldsLand boundaries
total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
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 Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 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: 9% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 34% other: 28% (1993 est.)
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
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 19.59% (male 498,575; female 478,663) 15-64 years: 67.91% (male 1,632,338; female 1,755,910) 65 years and over: 12.5% (male 241,824; female 381,975) (2001 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: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 64.57 years male: 61.04 years female: 68.28 years (2001 est.)
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% (1989 est.)
Government
Republic; President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992
20 fieldsLegislature, 235 seatsone dot, one seat
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
Administrative divisions
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 or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or 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)
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
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; president since 26 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; president since 26 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 9 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president;
- percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80%
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) elections: last held 31 October and 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - CUG 41.85%, AGUR 25.65%, IWSG 7.8%, all other parties received less than 7% each;
- seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 58, IWSG 15, Abkhaz deputies 12, independents 17, other 3
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 [Eduard SHEVARDNADZE];
- Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman];
- Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE];
- National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA];
- Socialist Party or SPG [Temur GAMTSEMLIDZE];
- Union for "Revival" Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE];
- United Republican Party or URP [Nodar NATADZE, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Georgian refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament);
- separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia;
- supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition
International organization participation
BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68
Flag description
maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
Economy
32 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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 since 1995, increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy continues to experience large budget deficits due to a failure to collect tax revenues.
Georgia also still suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are steadily improving. The country 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 growing trade deficit, continuing problems with tax evasion and corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture.
Budget
revenues: $437 million expenditures: $626 million, including capital expenditures of $60 million (1999)
Industries
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electric locomotives, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine
Exports - commodities
- citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products;
- diverse types of machinery and metals;
- chemicals;
- fuel reexports;
- textiles
Exchange rates
lari per US dollar - 1.9798 (December 2000), 1.9762 (2000), 2.0245 (1999), 1.3898 (1998), 1.2975 (1997), 1.2628 (1996)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone 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
Transportation
10 fieldsRailways
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: 33,900 km paved: 29,500 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather) unpaved: 4,400 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1990)
Merchant marine
total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 131,316 GRT/190,289 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2000 est.)
Transportation - note
transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair
Military
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
8 fieldsMilitary branches
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military - note
- a CIS peacekeeping force consisting 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
2 fieldsIllicit 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Georgia.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/georgia/2001.