Georgia

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE

   Introduction    Georgia
Background:
Definition Field Listing 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 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. Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August 2008 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.
   Geography    Georgia
Location:
Definition Field Listing Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 310 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing arable land: 11.51%
permanent crops: 3.79%
other: 84.7% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing 4,690 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing 63.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%)
per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
   People    Georgia
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4,630,841 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 0-14 years: 16.3% (male 402,961/female 352,735)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,496,802/female 1,610,725)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 307,795/female 459,823) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing total: 38.3 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing -0.325% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 10.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order -4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 16.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: 76.51 years
male: 73.21 years
female: 80.26 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing 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):
Definition Field Listing total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3.1% of GDP (2006)
   Government    Georgia
Country name:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing adopted 24 August 1995
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); 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 Vladimir "Lado" GURGENIDZE (since 19 November 2007); the president is both 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 January 2008 (next to be held January 2013)
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%, Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme Council or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (235 seats; 150 members elected by proportional representation, 75 from single-seat constituencies, and 10 represent displaced persons from Abkhazia; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 May 2008 (next to be held in spring 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 59.2%, National Council-New Rights 17.7%, other parties 23.1%; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 120, National Council-New Rights 16
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Georgia's Way Party [Salome ZOURABICHVILI]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Council-New Rights (a bloc uniting a nine-party alliance with New Rights); 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 Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing other: Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing ACCT (observer), ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, 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:
Definition Field Listing chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE
chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131
mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing 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
   Economy    Georgia
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing Georgia's economy has sustained robust GDP growth of close to 10% in 2006 and 12% in 2007, based on strong inflows of foreign investment and robust government spending. However, a widening trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Areas of recent improvement include increasing foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services and mining sectors. 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. 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. Despite the severe damage the economy suffered due to civil strife in the 1990s, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 2000, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. Georgia's GDP growth neared 10% in 2006 and 2007 despite restrictions on commerce with Russia. Areas of recent improvement include increased foreign direct investment as well as growth in the construction, banking services, and mining sectors. In addition, the reinvigorated privatization process has met with success. However, a widening trade deficit and higher inflation are emerging risks to the economy. Georgia has suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, the new government is making progress and has reformed the tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on corruption. Government revenues have increased nearly four fold since 2003. Due to improvements in customs and financial (tax) enforcement, smuggling is a declining problem. Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by bringing newly available natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan. It also has an increased ability to pay for more expensive gas imports from Russia. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on a determined effort to reduce regulation, taxes and corruption in order to attract foreign investment. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $20.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing $10.29 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 12% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $4,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 13%
industry: 28.7%
services: 58.3% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.02 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 13.6% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing 31% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing 40.4 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 9.3% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 29.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $3.68 billion
expenditures: $3.08 billion (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
Definition Field Listing steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 13.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 8.338 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 8.146 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing 625 million kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing 433 million kWh (2007)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1,979 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 13,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2,400 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 13,530 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 35 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 14.39 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.264 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 8.147 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order -$2.044 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $2.104 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Turkey 12.8%, US 11.1%, Azerbaijan 8.1%, UK 5.3%, Bulgaria 5%, Ukraine 4.9%, Russia 4.8%, Armenia 4.7%, Turkmenistan 4.5% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $4.977 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Turkey 14%, Russia 13%, Ukraine 8.5%, Azerbaijan 7.4%, Germany 6.8%, US 5%, Bulgaria 4.6% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing ODA, $309.8 million (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $1.361 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $4.5 billion (2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $1.39 billion (2007)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing lari (GEL)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing lari per US dollar - 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing calendar year
   Communications    Georgia
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 544,000 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.4 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing general assessment: fixed-line telecommunications network has only limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country
domestic: cellular telephone networks now cover the entire country; 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; 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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing 12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .ge
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 30,193 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 360,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Georgia
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 23 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 19
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing 3 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing gas 1,591 km; oil 1,253 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 1,612 km
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 20,247 km
paved: 7,973 km
unpaved: 12,274 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 197 ships (1000 GRT or over) 875,914 GRT/1,272,586 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 152, carrier 2, chemical tanker 1, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 161 (China 7, Cyprus 1, Egypt 13, Germany 2, Greece 6, Hong Kong 2, Israel 1, Lebanon 4, Monaco 6, Romania 14, Russia 13, Slovenia 2, Syria 51, Turkey 19, UAE 1, Ukraine 19) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Bat'umi, P'ot'i
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing large parts of transportation network are in poor condition because of lack of maintenance and repair
   Military    Georgia
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing 18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 1,113,251
females age 16-49: 1,168,021 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 910,720
females age 16-49: 967,566 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing male: 35,917
female: 34,566 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0.59% of GDP (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing 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
   Transnational Issues    Georgia
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a peacekeeping force in Georgia since 1993; 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 and Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing refugees (country of origin): 1,100 (Russia)
IDPs: 220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing 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



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

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