Georgia

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Georgia once contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. Many powers have since dominated the country, including the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Georgia was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1921 and regained its independence after the Soviet collapse in 1991. Georgia achieved EU candidate status in December 2023.

Geography

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

Climate
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

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

People and Society

Population
total: 4,900,961 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 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.)

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.)

Population growth rate
-0.5% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
semi-presidential republic

Capital
name: Tbilisi

Executive branch
chief of state: President Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (since 29 December 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 8 February 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Tamar TALIASHVILI (since 24 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. DUNNIGAN (since 12 October 2023)

Economy

Economic overview
upper-middle income, fast-growing South Caucasus economy; regionally focused exporter of cars, metal ores, and energy; financial and migrant inflows resulting from Ukraine conflict; EU accession talks suspended over disputed election and foreign influence law; low inflation but persistent high unemployment

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$91.849 billion (2024 est.)
$83.935 billion (2023 est.)
$77.838 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$25,000 (2024 est.)
$22,600 (2023 est.)
$21,000 (2022 est.)

Exports
$16.321 billion (2024 est.)
$15.173 billion (2023 est.)
$13.24 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
Azerbaijan 13%, Turkey 11%, Armenia 11%, Russia 10%, Kyrgyzstan 8% (2023)

Exports - commodities
cars, copper ore, electricity, garments, wine (2023)

Imports
$18.915 billion (2024 est.)
$17.816 billion (2023 est.)
$15.665 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
Turkey 16%, USA 13%, Russia 11%, China 8%, Germany 6% (2023)

Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, natural gas, garments (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.844, ranking it 57th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 81st out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.696. (more information)