Background: The region of present-day Georgia once contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis (known as Egrisi locally) and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D., and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Persian, Arab, and Turk domination was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short when the Mongols invaded in 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 in 1921 and regained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. In 2003, mounting public discontent over rampant corruption, ineffective government services, and a government attempt to manipulate parliamentary elections touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, who had been president since 1995. In the aftermath of this 'Rose Revolution,' new elections in 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI and his United National Movement (UNM) party into power. SAAKASHVILI made progress on market reforms and governance, but he faced accusations of abuse of office. Progress was further complicated when Russian support for the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia led to a five-day conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, which included Russia invading large portions of Georgian territory. Russia initially pledged to pull back from most Georgian territory but then unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Russian military forces have remained in those regions. Billionaire Bidzina IVANISHVILI's unexpected entry into politics in 2011 brought the divided opposition together under his Georgian Dream coalition, which won a majority of seats in the 2012 parliamentary elections and removed UNM from power. Conceding defeat, SAAKASHVILI named IVANISHVILI as prime minister and left the country after his presidential term ended in 2013. IVANISHVILI voluntarily resigned from office after the presidential succession, and in the years since, the prime minister position has seen frequent turnover. In 2021, SAAKASHVILI returned to Georgia, where he was immediately arrested to serve six years in prison on outstanding abuse-of-office convictions. Popular support for integration with the West is high in Georgia. Joining the EU and NATO are among the country's top foreign policy goals, and Georgia applied for EU membership in 2022, becoming a candidate country in December 2023. Georgia and the EU have a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, and since 2017, Georgian citizens have been able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa.

Area
Total: 69,700 km²
Land: 69,700 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: approximately 12,560 km², or about 18% of Georgia's area, is Russian-occupied; the seized area includes all of Abkhazia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region, Racha-Lechkhumi, Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina; slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,814 km
Border countries (4): (4) Armenia 219 km; Azerbaijan 428 km; Russia 894 km; Turkey 273 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; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Elevation
Highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,193 m
Lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 1,432 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 27.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 44.6% (2023 est.)
Other: 21.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 4,330 km² (2012)

Natural hazards: earthquakes

Geography
Note note 1: strategically located east of the Black Sea, Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
Note note 2: the world's four deepest caves are all in Georgia, including two that are the only known caves on earth deeper than 2,000 m: Krubera Cave at -2,197 m (-7,208 ft; reached in 2012) and Veryovkina Cave at -2,212 (-7,257 ft; reached in 2018)

Population
Total: 4,900,961 (2024 est.)
Male: 2,343,068
Female: 2,557,893
Distribution: settlement concentrated in the central valley, particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest
Growth rate: -0.5% (2024 est.)

Languages: Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1% (including Abkhaz, the official language in Abkhazia) (2014 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; მსოფლიო ფაქტების წიგნი, ძირითადი ინფორმაციის აუცილებელი წყარო. (Georgian); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Eastern Orthodox Christian (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic Christian 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Roman Catholic Christian, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant Christian, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 520,091/female 489,882)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 1,500,036/female 1,572,637)
65 years and over: 16.7% (2024 est.) (male 322,941/female 495,374)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 59.5 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 32.9 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 26.6 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 38.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 35.9 years
Female: 40.6 years

Population growth rate: -0.5% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 13.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: settlement concentrated in the central valley, particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest

Urbanization
Urban population: 60.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Note: data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Major urban areas
Population: 1.082 million TBILISI (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 20 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 23.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 19.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 68.7 years
Female: 77.2 years

Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 11.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 5% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 27.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.1% (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 11.5% (2024 est.); 11.6% (2023 est.); 11.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Tbilisi
Geographic coordinates: 41 41 N, 44 50 E
Time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name comes from the Georgian word tbili, meaning 'warm' and referring to the hot sulfur springs in the area

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), 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; note - the breakaway region of South Ossetia consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeti
City: Tbilisi
Autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)
Note 1: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses
Note 2: the United States recognizes the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as part of Georgia

Legal system: civil law system

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (since 29 December 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 8 February 2024)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
Election/appointment process: president elected by a 300-member College of Electors; prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president
Most recent election date: 14 December 2024
2024: Irakli KOBAKHIDZE approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 84-10
2018: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Irakli GARIBASHVILI approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 89-2
Expected date of next election: 2,029

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Sakartvelos Parlamenti)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 10/26/2024
Parties elected and seats per party: Georgian Dream (89); Coalition for Changes (19); Unity - National Movement (16); Strong Georgia – Lelo, For people, For Liberty! (14); For Georgia (12)
Percentage of women in chamber: 16.8%
Expected date of next election: October 2,028

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 (also known as Bolnisi cross), which has equal-length arms that are slightly wider at the end than in the center

National anthem
Title: 'Tavisupleba' (Liberty)
Lyrics/music: Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)
History: adopted 2004, after the Rose Revolution; based on music from the operas 'Abesalom da Eteri' and 'Daisi'

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 9.4% (2024 est.); 7.8% (2023 est.); 11% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 9.4% (2024 est.); 7.8% (2023 est.); 11% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 71.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 48.4% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -56% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 19.1% (2024 est.)
Services: 62.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 1.833 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 11.5% (2024 est.); 11.6% (2023 est.); 11.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 11.5% (2024 est.); 11.6% (2023 est.); 11.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $8.686 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $9.307 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 23.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $16.321 billion (2024 est.); $15.173 billion (2023 est.); $13.24 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, copper ore, electricity, garments, wine (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $18.915 billion (2024 est.); $17.816 billion (2023 est.); $15.665 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, natural gas, garments (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 4.526 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 12.569 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 4.913 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 4.234 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.148 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 75.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 148,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 384,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 80 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 223,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 900.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 35 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 10.77 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.775 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.764 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 8.495 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 10.7 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 812,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 4.469 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 5.419 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 56.076 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 278,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 5.91 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.1 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 21 (2025)

Heliports: 4 (2025)

Railways
Total: 1,363 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 37 km (2014) 0.912-m gauge (37 km electrified)
Broad gauge: 1,326 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (1,251 km electrified)

Merchant marine
Total: 26 (2023)
By type: general cargo 3, other 23