Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Gaza Strip
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status
subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent
status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed
settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1.017 million (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)) (2007)
page last updated on November 3, 2009
======================================================================
@Georgia (Middle East)
Introduction ::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.
Geography ::Georgia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 69,700 sq km
country comparison to the world: 120
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: 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
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources:
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:
arable land: 11.51%
permanent crops: 3.79%
other: 84.7% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,690 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
63.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%)
per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes
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
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much
of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
People ::Georgia
Population:
4,615,807 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 395,929/female 345,071)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 1,503,360/female 1,616,234)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 302,103/female 453,110) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.6 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 41 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.325% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Birth rate:
10.66 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Death rate:
9.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Net migration rate:
-4.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Urbanization:
urban population: 53% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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 (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.22 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 121
male: 18.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.72 years
country comparison to the world: 62
male: 73.41 years
female: 80.45 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.44 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Nationality:
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:
Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5%
(2002 census)
Religions:
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%,
Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages:
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
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: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 145
Government ::Georgia
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)
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:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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 Nikoloz GILAURI (since 6 February 2009); 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:
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; 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 - United National
Movement 59.2%, National Council-New Rights 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]; Democratic
Movement United Georgia [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 (bloc forming joint
opposition) [Levan GACHECHILADZE]; National Democratic Party or NDP
[Bachuki KARDAVA]; United 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:
separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
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, 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, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Batu KUTELIA
chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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:
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:
Georgia's economy sustained GDP growth of close to 10% in 2006 and
12% in 2007, based on strong inflows of foreign investment and
robust government spending. However, growth slowed to less than 3%
in 2008 and is expected to slow further in 2009. 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 of the past by renovating
hydropower plants and by bringing in newly available supplies from
Azerbaijan. It also has an increased ability to pay for more
expensive gas imports 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 has made great
progress and has reformed the tax code, improved tax administration,
increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on corruption since
coming to power in 2004. Government revenues have increased nearly
four fold since 2003. Due to improvements in customs and tax
enforcement, smuggling is a declining problem. 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, but the economy faces a more difficult investment
climate both domestically and internationally.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$21.56 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$21.12 billion (2007 est.)
$18.81 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.86 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
12.3% (2007 est.)
9.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,700 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$4,500 (2007 est.)
$4,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 27.9%
services: 59.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.317 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13.6% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Population below poverty line:
31% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.8 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 58
37.1 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Budget:
revenues: $4.596 billion
expenditures: $5.345 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
9.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8% (25 December 2008)
NA% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy rate of
the Georgian National Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.24% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 15
20.41% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$972.4 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
$1.154 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.606 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
$1.379 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.754 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 85
$3.374 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 99
$1.389 billion (31 December 2007)
$668.3 million (31 December 2006)
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:
-1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - production:
8.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Electricity - consumption:
6.902 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - exports:
628 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
430 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
977.4 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - exports:
1,486 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - imports:
16,590 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Oil - proved reserves:
35 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - production:
8 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - consumption:
1.73 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - imports:
1.72 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - proved reserves:
8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Current account balance:
-$2.915 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
-$2.119 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.428 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$2.088 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
Exports - partners:
Turkey 16.9%, Azerbaijan 12.4%, Ukraine 8.5%, Canada 8.4%, Bulgaria
8.2%, Armenia 7.7%, US 7.1%, UK 4.2% (2008)
Imports:
$6.261 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$4.984 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods,
pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
Turkey 14.9%, Ukraine 10.4%, Azerbaijan 9.6%, Germany 7.9%, Russia
6.8%, US 5.7%, China 4.7%, UAE 4.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.48 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$1.361 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$7.711 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
$5.343 billion (31 December 2007)
Exchange rates:
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.47 (2008 est.), 1.7 (2007), 1.78
(2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004)
Communications ::Georgia
Telephones - main lines in use:
618,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.755 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
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 now cover the entire country;
mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 75 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Internet country code:
.ge
Internet hosts:
104,243 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
Internet users:
1.024 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 85
Transportation ::Georgia
Airports:
22 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Heliports:
3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,591 km; oil 1,253 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 1,612 km
country comparison to the world: 80
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 20,329 km
country comparison to the world: 109
paved: 7,854 km (includes 13 km of expressways)
unpaved: 12,475 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 191
country comparison to the world: 35
by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 148, carrier 2, chemical tanker 1,
container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 4,
refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 153 (China 10, Cyprus 1, Egypt 12, Germany 2, Greece
5, Hong Kong 2, Israel 2, Lebanon 4, Monaco 4, Nigeria 1, Romania
16, Russia 12, Syria 49, Turkey 14, Ukraine 18, UAE 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bat'umi, P'ot'i
Transportation - note:
large parts of transportation network are in poor condition because
of lack of maintenance and repair
Military ::Georgia
Military branches:
Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces
note: naval forces have been incorporated into the coast guard (2009)
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)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,113,251
females age 16-49: 1,168,021 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 908,282
females age 16-49: 959,290 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 32,355
female: 30,809 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.59% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Military - note:
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:
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: