World Atlas: Georgia

Information about Georgia

Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Georgia. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Georgia. But let's start with the flag of Georgia here:

Georgia - Overview:

What you should know about Georgia? Let's start with this: 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 in 1921 and regained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Mounting public discontent over rampant corruption and ineffective government services, followed by an attempt by the incumbent Georgian Government to manipulate parliamentary elections in November 2003, touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze, president since 1995. In the aftermath of that popular movement, which became known as the "Rose Revolution," new elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil Saakashvili into power along with his United National Movement (UNM) 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 separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Periodic flare-ups in tension and violence culminated in a five-day conflict in August 2008 between Russia and Georgia, including the invasion of large portions of undisputed Georgian territory. Russian troops pledged to pull back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Russian military forces remain in those regions. Billionaire philanthropist Bidzina Ivanishvili's unexpected entry into politics in October 2011 brought the divided opposition together under his Georgian Dream coalition, which won a majority of seats in the October 2012 parliamentary elections and removed UNM from power. Conceding defeat, Saakashvili named Ivanishvili as prime minister and allowed Georgian Dream to create a new government. Giorgi Margvelashvili was inaugurated as president on 17 November 2013, ending a tense year of power-sharing between Saakashvili and Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili voluntarily resigned from office after the presidential succession, and Georgia's legislature on 20 November 2013 confirmed Irakli Garibashvili as his replacement. Garibashvili was replaced by Giorgi Kvirikashvili in December 2015. Kvirikashvili remained Prime Minister following Georgian Dream’s success in the October 2016 parliamentary elections, where the party won a constitutional majority. These changes in leadership represent unique examples of a former Soviet state that emerged to conduct democratic and peaceful government transitions of power. Popular and government support for integration with the West is high in Georgia. Joining the EU and NATO are among the country's top foreign policy goals.

Geography of Georgia

Where on the globe is Georgia? The location of this country is Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe; note - Georgia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both. Total area of Georgia is 69,700 sq km, of which 69,700 sq km is land. So this is not a large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: 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; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland. The lowest point of Georgia is Black Sea 0 m, the highest point Mt'a Shkhara 5,193 m. And the climate is warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast.

Inhabitants of Georgia

Let's take a look how many people live in Georgia. The number is: 4,926,330 (July 2017 est.). So this is not very populous country. Who lives here? Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 est.). What are the languages in Georgia? Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1%. And the religions: Orthodox (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 est.). How old are the people in average? 38.1 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 76.4 years. Where the people live in Georgia? Here: settlement coincides closely to the central valley, with emphasis on the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest. The major urban areas of Georgia are: Tbilisi (capital) 1.147 million (2015).

Government and Economy of Georgia

The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi and the government type semi-presidential republic. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika). Regarding the economy of Georgia, important industrial products are steel, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese, copper, gold), chemicals, wood products, wine. Important agricultural products are citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock. The most important export commodities are vehicles, ferro-alloys, fertilizers, nuts, scrap metal, gold, copper ores and the most important export partners are Russia 9.8%, Turkey 8.2%, China 8.1%, Bulgaria 7.3%, Azerbaijan 7.3%, Armenia 7.2%, Germany 4.1% (2016). The most important import commodities are fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals and the most important import partners are Canada 18.6%, Turkey 14%, Russia 7%, Ireland 6.5%, China 5.7%, Azerbaijan 5.1%, Germany 4.4%, Ukraine 4.3% (2016). How rich is Georgia and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $10,600 (2017 est.). This is quite good. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 9.2% (2010 est.).

Map of Georgia