| Background: |
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. Russian
troops remain garrisoned at four military bases and as
peacekeepers in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia (but are scheduled to withdraw from two of the bases
by July 2001). Despite a badly degraded transportation
network - brought on by ethnic conflict, criminal
activities, and fuel shortages - the country continues to
move toward a market economy and greater integration with
Western institutions. |
| Location: |
Southwestern
Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
42 00 N, 43 30 E |
| Map
references: |
Commonwealth of
Independent States |
| Area: |
total:
69,700 sq km
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 |
| 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 Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek)
5,048 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:
9%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 28% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
4,000 sq km (1993
est.) |
| 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 |
| Population: |
4,989,285 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
19.59% (male 498,575; female 478,663)
15-64 years: 67.91% (male 1,632,338; female
1,755,910)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 241,824; female
381,975) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
-0.59% (2001
est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
11.18
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
14.58
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-2.48 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
52.37
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 64.57 years
male: 61.04 years
female: 68.28 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.45 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.01%
(1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 500
(1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
less than 100
(1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Georgian 70.1%,
Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz
1.8%, other 5% |
| Religions: |
Georgian Orthodox
65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic
8%, unknown 6% |
| 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: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1989 est.) |
| 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 |
| Administrative
divisions: |
53 rayons (raionebi,
singular - raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular -
k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki,
singular - avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia or
Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis,
Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi),
Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis,
Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis,
Chiat'ura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros,
Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis,
Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis,
Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis,
Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis,
Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*,
Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis,
T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is,
Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*,
Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis
note: administrative divisions have the same
names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the
administrative center name following in parentheses) |
| Independence: |
9 April 1991
(from Soviet Union) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day,
26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date of
independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of
independence from the Soviet Union |
| Constitution: |
adopted 17
October 1995 |
| Legal
system: |
based on civil
law system |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10
March 1992; Council has since been disbanded; previously
elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president
since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Eduard
Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of
the Government Council 10 March 1992; Council has since been
disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11
October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote
for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 2000 (next
to be held NA 2005)
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected
president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80% |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or
Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 October and 14 November
1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party -
CUG 41.85%, AGUR 25.65%, IWSG 7.8%, all other parties
received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR
58, IWSG 15, Abkhaz deputies 12, independents 17, other 3 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court
(judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's
recommendation); Constitutional Court |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Citizen's Union
of Georgia or CUG [Eduard SHEVARDNADZE]; Georgian United
Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman];
Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE];
National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA];
Socialist Party or SPG [Temur GAMTSEMLIDZE]; Union for
"Revival" Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; United
Republican Party or URP [Nodar NATADZE, chairman] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Georgian refugees
from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament);
separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia;
supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA
remain a source of opposition |
| International
organization participation: |
BSEC, CCC, CE,
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ
embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68
FAX: [995] (32) 933-759 |
| Flag
description: |
maroon field with
small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle
divided horizontally with black on top, white below |
| Economy
- overview: |
Georgia's economy
has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism;
cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of
manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial
sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and
textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs,
including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable
internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe
damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife,
Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made
substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP growth
and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy continues to
experience large budget deficits due to a failure to collect
tax revenues. Georgia also still suffers from energy
shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998,
and deliveries are steadily improving. The country is
pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development
of an international transportation corridor through the key
Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The growing trade
deficit, continuing problems with tax evasion and
corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term
economic picture. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $22.8 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
1.9% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $4,600 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
32%
industry: 23%
services: 45% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
60% (1999 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
4.1% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
3.08 million
(1997) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
industry 20%,
agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
14.9% (1999 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$437 million
expenditures: $626 million, including capital
expenditures of $60 million (1999) |
| Industries: |
steel, aircraft,
machine tools, electric locomotives, trucks, tractors,
textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
-0.3% (1998 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
7.975 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
20.38%
hydro: 79.62%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
7.117 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
850 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
550 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
citrus, grapes,
tea, vegetables, potatoes; livestock |
| Exports: |
$372 million
(2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
citrus fruits,
tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of
machinery and metals; chemicals; fuel reexports; textiles |
| Exports
- partners: |
Russia 19%,
Turkey 16%, Azerbaijan 8%, Armenia 6% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$898 million
(2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
fuel, grain and
other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment |
| Imports
- partners: |
EU 22%, Russia
19%, Turkey 12%, US 12% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$1.9 billion
(2000) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$212.7 million
(1995) |
| Exchange
rates: |
lari per US
dollar - 1.9798 (December 2000), 1.9762 (2000), 2.0245
(1999), 1.3898 (1998), 1.2975 (1997), 1.2628 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
620,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
30,000 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: NA
domestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have
cellular telephone networks; 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: Georgia and Russia are working
on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia);
present 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) |
| Radios: |
3.02 million
(1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
12 (plus
repeaters) (1998) |
| Televisions: |
2.57 million
(1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.ge |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
6 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
20,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993) |
| Highways: |
total:
33,900 km
paved: 29,500 km (these roads are said to be
hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally
paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other
coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather)
unpaved: 4,400 km (these roads are made of
unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet
weather) (1990) |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 370 km;
refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Bat'umi, P'ot'i,
Sokhumi |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 131,316 GRT/190,289
DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 25, chemical
tanker 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off
1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2000 est.) |
| Transportation
- note: |
transportation
network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict,
criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks
maintenance and repair |
| Military
branches: |
Ground Forces,
Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, National Guard,
Security Forces (internal and border troops) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 1,296,199 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 1,024,574 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
41,561 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$23 million
(FY00) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.59% (FY00) |
| Military
- note: |
a CIS
peacekeeping force consisting 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 |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
| Illicit
drugs: |
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 |
|
