* βeta
Georgia
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 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.
Location :
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic Coordinates Center :
42 00 N, 43 30 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 40.01 |
| North | 43.59 |
| East | 46.73 |
| South | 41.05 |
Map references :
Asia
Area :
| total | 69 700 | square km |
| land | 69 700 | square km |
| water | 0 | square km |
Land boundaries :
| total | 1 461 | km |
| Armenia (am) | 164 | km |
| Azerbaijan (az) | 322 | km |
| Russia (ru) | 723 | km |
| Turkey (tr) | 252 | km |
Coastline :
310.00 km
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 | 0 | metres |
| highest point | 5 201 | metres |
Natural resources :
| copper | forests |
| hydropower | iron ore |
| manganese deposits | minor coal and oil deposits |
| tea and citrus growth |
Land use :
| arable land | 11.51 | % |
| permanent crops | 3.79 | % |
| other | 84.70 | % |
Irrigated land :
4 690 square km
Total renewable water resources :
63 cubic km
Natural hazards :
| earthquakes |
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 :
| Air Pollution | Biodiversity |
| Climate Change | Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
| Desertification | Endangered Species |
| Hazardous Wastes | Law of the Sea |
| Ozone Layer Protection | Ship Pollution |
| Wetlands |
Population :
4 615 807
Indicators :
| Growth rate | -0.33 | % |
| Birth rate | 10.66 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.44 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 9.65 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | -4.26 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 16.10 | % |
| 15-64 years | 67.60 | % |
| 65 years and over | 16.40 | % |
Median age :
| total | 38.60 | years |
| male | 36.10 | years |
| female | 41.00 | years |
Sex ratio :
| at birth | 1.13 | male(s)/female |
| under 15 years | 1.15 | 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 |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 16.22 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 76.72 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 73.41 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 80.45 | years |
| HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.10 | % |
| HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 2 700 | |
| HIV-AIDS deaths | 200 |
Religions :
| Orthodox Christian | 83.90 | % |
| Muslim | 9.90 | % |
| Gregorian | 3.90 | % |
| Catholic | 0.80 | % |
| other | 0.80 | % |
| none | 0.70 | % |
Languages :
| Georgian | 71.00 | % |
| Russian | 9.00 | % |
| Armenian | 7.00 | % |
| Azeri | 6.00 | % |
Literacy :
| total population | 100.00 | % |
| male | 100.00 | % |
| female | 100.00 | % |
Country name :
| conventional short form | Georgia |
| local short form | Sak'art'velo |
| former | Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | GE |
| ISO Numeric | 268 |
| ISO3 | GEO |
| FIPS | GG |
| ccTLD | ge |
| English | Georgia |
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)|
Capital :
| name | T'bilisi |
| geographic coordinates | 41 43 N, 44 47 E |
| time difference | 4.00 |
International organization participation :
| ACCT (observer) | ADB |
| BSEC | CE |
| CIS | EAPC |
| EBRD | FAO |
| GCTU | GUAM |
| IAEA | IBRD |
| ICAO | ICC |
| ICCt | ICRM |
| IDA | IFAD |
| IFC | IFRCS |
| ILO | IMF |
| IMO | IOC |
| IOM | IPU |
| ISO (correspondent) | ITSO |
| ITU | ITUC |
| Interpol | MIGA |
| OAS (observer) | OIF (observer) |
| OPCW | OSCE |
| PFP | SECI (observer) |
| UN | UNCTAD |
| UNESCO | UNIDO |
| UNWTO | UPU |
| WCO | WFTU |
| WHO | WIPO |
| WMO | WTO |
Independence :
1991-04-09
National holiday :
| Independence Day | 1918-05-26 |
| Indepedence from Soviet Union | 1991-04-09 |
Executive branch :
| President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI |
Legislative branch :
| United National Movement | 59.20 | % |
| National Council-New Rights | 17.70 | % |
| Christian Democratic Movement | 8.80 | % |
| Labor Party | 7.40 | % |
| Republican Party | 3.80 | % |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 20 750 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 10 980 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | -4.90 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 4 500 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 12.10 | % |
| industry | 25.90 | % |
| services | 62.00 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 55.60 | % |
| industry | 8.90 | % |
| services | 35.50 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Labor force | 2 317 000 | people |
| Unemployment rate | 13.60 | % |
| Population below poverty line | 31.00 | % |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 40.80 | |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 1.00 | % |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 22.30 | % of GDP |
| Current account balance | - 1 661 000 000 | $ |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 1 080 000 000 | $ |
| Debt external | 7 711 000 000 | $ |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 1 389 000 000 | $ |
| Military expenditures | 0.59 | % of GDP |
Household income or consumption by percentage share :
| lowest 10% | 2.40 | % |
| highest 10% | 27.00 | % |
Budget :
| revenues | 3 756 000 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 4 726 000 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| citrus | grapes |
| hazelnuts | livestock |
| tea | vegetables |
Industries :
| aircraft | chemicals |
| copper | electrical appliances |
| machine tools | mining |
| steel | wine |
| wood products |
Energy :
| Electricity Production | 8 170 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Consumption | 6 902 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Exports | 628 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Imports | 430 000 000 | kWh |
| Oil Production | 977 | bbl/day |
| Oil Consumption | 14 000 | bbl/day |
| Oil Exports | 1 486 | bbl/day |
| Oil Imports | 16 590 | bbl/day |
| Oil Proved reserves | 35 000 000 | bbl |
| Natural gas Production | 8 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Consumption | 1 730 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Imports | 1 720 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Electricity Exports | 8 494 999 999 | cubic metres |
Value :
1 766 000 000 $
Partners :
| Turkey (tr) | 17.60 | % |
| Azerbaijan (az) | 13.70 | % |
| Ukraine (ua) | 9.00 | % |
| Canada (ca) | 8.80 | % |
| Armenia (am) | 8.20 | % |
| Bulgaria (bg) | 7.20 | % |
| United States (us) | 6.80 | % |
Commodities :
| fruits and nuts | mineral water |
| ores | scrap metal |
| vehicles | wine |
Value :
4 477 000 000 $
Partners :
| Turkey (tr) | 14.90 | % |
| Ukraine (ua) | 10.40 | % |
| Azerbaijan (az) | 9.60 | % |
| Germany (de) | 7.90 | % |
| Russia (ru) | 6.80 | % |
| United States (us) | 5.70 | % |
| China (cn) | 4.70 | % |
| UAE | 4.40 | % |
Commodities :
| fuels | grain pharmaceuticals |
| machinery and parts | vehicles |
Currency-code :
GEL
Currency-name :
lari
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 618 000 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 2 755 000 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 12 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 12 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | ge | |
| Internet Hosts | 104 243 | |
| Internet Users | 1 024 000 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 18 | |
| Heliports | 3 | |
| Pipelines - gas | 1 596 | km |
| Pipelines - oil | 1 258 | km |
| Roadways - total | 20 329 | km |
| Roadways - expressways | 13 | km |
| Roadways - paved | 7 854 | km |
| Roadways - unpaved | 12 475 | km |
| Railways | 1 612 | km |
Flag
| Photos provided by
are under the copyright of their owners
|