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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ge

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

5,160 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

150,500 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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: country code - 995; 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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

650,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

522,300 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $603.5 million expenditures: $700.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

lari (GEL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

GEL

Current account balance [time series]

$-365 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.8 billion (2002)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37.1 (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

ODA $150 million (2000 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

7.611 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

850 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.27 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

lari per US dollar - 2.1457 (2003), 2.1957 (2002), 2.073 (2001), 1.9762 (2000), 2.0245 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$615 million (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 17.7%, Turkey 17.3%, Turkmenistan 12.2%, Armenia 8.6%, Switzerland 6.9%, Ukraine 6.3%, UK 5.9% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $12.18 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 20.5% industry: 22.6% services: 56.9% (2003 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2003 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5.5% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)

Imports [time series]

$1.25 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 14%, UK 12.9%, Turkey 9.9%, Azerbaijan 8.3%, US 8%, Germany 7.3%, Ukraine 7%, France 4.9% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (2000)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.8% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

18% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

2.1 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1999 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

54% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$190.7 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

17% (2001 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate [time series]

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Coastline [time series]

310 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

42 00 N, 43 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 11.44% permanent crops: 3.86% other: 84.7% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

No data available

Natural hazards [time series]

earthquakes

Natural resources [time series]

forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities (k'alak'ebi, singular - 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 : cities: Chiat'ura, Gori, K'ut'aisi, P'ot'i, Rust'avi, T'bilisi, Tqibuli, Tsqaltubo, Zugdidi : autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi) note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

Capital [time series]

T'bilisi

Constitution [time series]

adopted 17 October 1995

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard M. MILES embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 0105 mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68 FAX: [995] (32) 933-759

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE chancery: Suite 602, 1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 387-4537 FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); Prime Minister Zurab ZHVANIA (since 9 February 2004); note - the president is the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 January 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI elected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 96.3%, Temur SHASHIASHVILI 1.9%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by party lists); members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held spring 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democrats 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National Movement-Democrats 135, Rightist Opposition 15

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI] bloc composed of National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats; National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; Rightist Opposition [Davit GAMKRELIDZE] bloc composed of Industrialists and New Right Party; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 AD and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th to the 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. Despite myriad problems, some progress on market reforms and democratization has been made since then. An attempt by the government to manipulate 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 National Movement Party.

Military

Military - note [time series]

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

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Forces (including National Guard), Air and Air Defense Forces, Maritime Defense Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$23 million (FY00)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.59% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,156,302 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 906,400 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 39,570 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18.7% (male 461,967; female 416,898) 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,480,217; female 1,607,509) 65 years and over: 15.5% (male 290,534; female 436,767) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.1 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.98 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

3,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 19.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.62 years male: 72.35 years female: 79.44 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 100% female: 98% (1999 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 37 years male: 34.5 years female: 39.2 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian

Net migration rate [time series]

-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

4,693,892 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.36% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.16 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.4 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

about a third of the boundary with Russia remains undelimited, and none of it demarcated, with several small, strategic segments remaining in dispute; OSCE observers monitor 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; boundary with Armenia remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian government; Azerbaijan protests Georgian construction at the Red Bridge crossing and several other small segments of boundary, which remain unresolved until delimitation

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 260,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

31 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 20,363 km paved: 19,038 km unpaved: 1,325 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 144 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 855,908 GRT/1,288,812 DWT by type: bulk 20, cargo 95, chemical tanker 1, container 11, liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: Albania 2, Belize 2, British Virgin Islands 2, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 5, Ecuador 1, Egypt 3, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 13, Israel 1, Italy 1, Latvia 4, Lebanon 3, Liberia 2, Madagascar 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Panama 8, Romania 6, Russia 10, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Syria 31, Turkey 10, Ukraine 16, registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,697 km; oil 1,027 km; refined products 232 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi

Railways [time series]

total: 1,612 km (1,612 km electrified) broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified) narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2003)

Transportation - note [time series]

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