Background: 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 United National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence but this progress has been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After a series of Russian and separatist provocations in summer 2008 Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August led to a Russian military response that not only occupied the breakaway areas but large portions of Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.

Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N 43 30 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 69,700 km²
Rank: 121
Land: 69,700 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries
Total: 1461 km
Border countries: (4) Armenia 164 km; Azerbaijan 322 km; Russia 723 km; Turkey 252 km

Coastline: 310 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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
Extremes highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

Natural resources: timber 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: 11.51%
Permanent crops: 3.79%
Other: 84.7% (2005)

Irrigated land: 4,330 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 63.3 km³ (1997)

Natural hazards: earthquakes

Geography
Note: strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them

Population: 4,585,874 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 122
Growth rate: -0.326% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 216
Below poverty line: 31% (2006)

Nationality
Noun: Georgian
Adjective: Georgian

Ethnic groups: Georgian 83.8% Azeri 6.5% Armenian 5.7% Russian 1.5% other 2.5% (2002 census)

Languages: Georgian (official) 71% Russian 9% Armenian 7% Azeri 6% other 7%
Note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Religions: Orthodox Christian (official) 83.9% Muslim 9.9% Armenian-Gregorian 3.9% Catholic 0.8% other 0.8% none 0.7% (2002 census)

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.6%
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 1,511,844/female 1,620,727)
65 years and over: 16% (male 293,143/female 442,687) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 39.1 years
Male: 36.6 years
Female: 41.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.326% (2011 est.)
Rank: 216

Birth rate: 10.73 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 178

Death rate: 9.92 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 56

Net migration rate: -4.06 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 189

Urbanization
Urban population: 53% of total population
Rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.113 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 15.17 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 118
Male: 17.1 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 13.02 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.12 years
Rank: 64
Male: 73.8 years
Female: 80.82 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 190

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 4.538 physicians/1000 population (2007)
Rank: 7

Hospital bed density: 3.32 beds/1000 population (2007)
Rank: 65

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 126
People living with hivaids: 3,500 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 126
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 137

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.3% (2005)
Rank: 107

Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 128

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 13 years (2009)

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

Government type: republic

Capital
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: 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: 9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under BAGRAT III)

National holiday: 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: adopted 24 August 1995

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI ; the president is the chief of state and serves as head of government for the power ministries of internal affairs and defense
Head of government: Prime Minister Nikoloz GILAURI (since 6 February 2009); the prime minister is head of government for all the ministries of government except the power ministries of internal affairs and defense
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 January 2008 (next to be held in January 2013)
Election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5% Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7% Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1% other 13.7%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme Council or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (150 seats; 75 members elected by proportional representation 75 from single-seat constituencies; members to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 21 May 2008 (next to be held in the spring of 2012)
Election results: percent of vote by party - United National Movement 59.2% National Council-New Rights (a Joint Opposition nine-party bloc) 17.7% Christian Democratic Movement 8.8% Labor Party 7.4% Republican Party 3.8%; seats by party - United National Movement 120 National Council-New Rights 16 Christian Democratic Movement 6 Labor Party 6 Republican Party 2

Judicial branch: 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: Christian Democratic Movement [Giorgi TARGAMADZE]; Conservative Party [Kakha KUKAVA]; Democratic Movement United Georgia [Nino BURJANADZE]; For Fair Georgia [Zurab NOGAIDELI]; Georgian Party [Sozar SUBARI]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Forum [Kakhaber SHARTAVA]; New Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Our Georgia-Free Democrats (OGFD) [Irakli ALASANIA]; People's Party [Koba DAVITASHVILI; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; United National Movement or UNM [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]

International organization participation: ADB BSEC CE EAPC EBRD FAO G-11 GCTU GUAM IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Temuri YAKOBASHVILI
In the us chancery: 2,209 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 387-2,390
In the us fax: [1] (202) 393-4,537
In the us consulate general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John BASS
From the us embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street T'bilisi 0131
From the us mailing address: 7,060 T'bilisi Place Washington DC 20,521-7,060
From the us telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
From the us fax: [995] (32) 53-23-10

Flag description: white rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; although adopted as the official Georgian flag in 2004 the five-cross flag design appears to date back to the 14th century

National symbols: Saint George; lion

National anthem
Name: 'Tavisupleba'
Lyricsmusic: Dawit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)
Note: adopted 2004; after the Rose Revolution a new anthem with music based on the operas 'Abesalom da Eteri' and 'Daisi' was adopted

Economy overview: Georgia's economy sustained GDP growth of more than 10% in 2006-07 based on strong inflows of foreign investment and robust government spending. However GDP growth slowed in 2008 following the August 2008 conflict with Russia and turned negative in 2009 as foreign direct investment and workers' remittances declined in the wake of the global financial crisis but rebounded in 2010. 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 aircraft and chemicals. Areas of recent improvement include growth in the construction banking services and mining sectors but reduced availability of external investment and the slowing regional economy are emerging risks. The country imports nearly all its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable hydropower capacity a growing component of its energy supplies. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages and gas supply interruptions of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by increasingly relying on natural gas imports from Azerbaijan instead of from Russia. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline and the Kars-Akhalkalaki Railroad are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas oil and other goods. Georgia has historically suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however the government since coming to power in 2004 has simplified the tax code improved tax administration increased tax enforcement and cracked down on petty corruption. However the economic downturn of 2008-09 eroded the tax base and led to a decline in the budget surplus and an increase in public borrowing needs. The country is pinning its hopes for renewed growth on a determined effort to continue to liberalize the economy by reducing regulation taxes and corruption in order to attract foreign investment but the economy faces a more difficult investment climate both domestically and internationally.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 121
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 46

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 149
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 10.4%
Industry: 28.7%
Services: 60.9% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: citrus grapes tea hazelnuts vegetables; livestock

Industries: steel aircraft machine tools electrical appliances mining (manganese and copper) chemicals wood products wine

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2010 est.)
Rank: 100

Labor force: 1.918 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 122
By occupation agriculture: 55.6%
By occupation industry: 8.9%
By occupation services: 35.5% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate: 13.6% (2006 est.)
Rank: 153

Population below poverty line: 31% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2%
Highest 10: 31.3% (2008)

Distribution of family income gini index: 37.1 (1996)
Rank: 59

Budget
Revenues: $3.291 billion
Expenditures: $4.063 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -6.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 172

Taxes and other revenues: 28.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 105

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1.7% (2009 est.)
Rank: 179

Central bank discount rate:
Note: this is the Refinancing Rate the key monetary policy rate of the Georgian National Bank

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 25.521% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 10

Stock of narrow money: $1.112 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 138

Stock of broad money: $2.755 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 132

Stock of domestic credit: $3.536 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 116

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 106

Current account balance: -$1.319 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 144

Exports: $1.894 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 125
Commodities: scrap metal wine mineral water ores vehicles fruits and nuts
Partners: Turkey 14.1% Azerbaijan 11.2% Bulgaria 10% US 9.8% UK 9% Canada 6.7% Ukraine 6.1% (2010)

Imports: $4.293 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 112
Commodities: fuels vehicles machinery and parts grain and other foods pharmaceuticals
Partners: Turkey 15% Ukraine 9.2% Azerbaijan 8.5% Russia 6.5% Germany 6.1% US 5.9% China 5.4% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 113

Debt external: $3.381 billion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 92

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 8.292 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 96
Consumption: 7.08 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 100
Exports: 675 million kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 117 million kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 10 million m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 90
Consumption: 1.71 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 81
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 102
Imports: 1.7 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 48
Proven reserves: 8.495 billion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 81

Telephones
Main lines in use: 597,000 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 91
Mobile cellular: 3.193 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 118

Telephone system
General assessment: fixed-line telecommunications network has only limited coverage outside Tbilisi; long list of people waiting for fixed line connections; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country
Domestic: cellular telephone networks cover the entire country; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 60 per 100 people; urban fixed-line 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

Broadcast media: 1 state-owned public television station in Tbilisi and 8 privately-owned TV stations; state-run public broadcaster operates 2 networks; dozens of cable TV operators and several major commercial TV stations are operating; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 2 networks; several dozen private stations broadcast (2008)

Internet
Country code: .ge
Hosts: 110,680 (2010)
Hosts rank: 76
Users: 1.3 million (2009)
Users rank: 90

Military expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 78

Military service age and obligation: 18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Airports: 22 (2010)
Rank: 134
With paved runways total: 18
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Heliports: 3 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 1596 km; oil 1258 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 1612 km
Rank: 78
Broad gauge: 1575 km 1.520-m gauge (1575 electrified)
Narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2009)

Roadways
Total: 20,329 km
Rank: 109
Paved: 19,123 km (includes 13 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 1206 km (2007)

Merchant marine
Total: 193
Rank: 34
By type: bulk carrier 18 cargo 151 carrier 1 chemical tanker 3 container 2 liquefied gas 1 passenger/cargo 3 petroleum tanker 3 refrigerated cargo 2 roll on/roll off 7 vehicle carrier 2
Foreign owned: 132 (China 11 Denmark 1 Egypt 11 Germany 4 Greece 3 Hong Kong 4 Israel 1 Italy 2 Latvia 1 Lebanon 1 Pakistan 1 Romania 7 Russia 7 Syria 35 Turkey 22 UAE 1 UK 4 Ukraine 15 US 1)
Registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Bat'umi P'ot'i

Disputes international: Russia's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with Georgia; Georgia continues to restrain the return of Meshkhetian Turks dispersed by Stalin; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian government; local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous undemarcated Armenian Azerbaijani and Georgian borders

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 1100 (Russia)
Idps: 220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2007)

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