Georgia

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet country code

.ge

Internet users

25,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

3.02 million (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

Telephones - main lines in use

620,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

185,500 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Televisions

2.57 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; livestock

Budget

revenues: $499 million expenditures: $554 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Currency

lari (GEL)

Currency code

GEL

Debt - external

$1.7 billion (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA $150 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals. 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, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. However, the Georgian government suffers from limited resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi distribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, making the venture unprofitable. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and trade. The start of construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bring much-needed investment and job opportunities in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

7.886 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

200 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

1.2 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

7.404 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 21% hydro: 79% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

lari per US dollar - 2.1888 (January 2002), 2.0730 (2001), 1.9762 (2000), 2.0245 (1999), 1.3898 (1998), 1.2975 (1997)

Exports

$515 million (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine

Exports - partners

Russia 23.0%, Turkey 21.5%, Azerbaijan 3.3%, US 3.0%, Germany 2.5% (2001)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $15 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 20% industry: 25% services: 55% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 28% (1996)

Imports

$750 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

Turkey 15.3%, Russia 13.3%, Azerbaijan 10.7%, Germany 10.1%, US 4.1% (2001)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2000)

Industries

steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese), chemicals, wood products, wine

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force

2.1 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 20%, agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

54% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

17% (2001 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Coastline

310 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

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

Geographic coordinates

42 00 N, 43 30 E

Geography - note

strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them

Irrigated land

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

Land use

arable land: 11.21% permanent crops: 4.09% other: 84.7% (1998 est.)

Location

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

NA

Natural hazards

earthquakes

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

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

Administrative divisions

9 regions, (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Chiat'ura*, Gori*, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, K'ut'aisi*, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, P'ot'i*, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Rust'avi*, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli, T'bilisi*, Tqibuli*, Tsqaltubo*, Zugdidi* note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

Capital

Tbilisi

Constitution

adopted 17 October 1995

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic local long form: none

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILES embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68 FAX: [995] (32) 933-759

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390

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 election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80% elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)

Flag description

maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Government type

republic

Independence

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court

Legal system

based on civil law system

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) 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 (government-in-exile) deputies 12, independents 17, other 3 elections: last held 31 October and 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)

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

Political parties and leaders

Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG [Zarab ZHVANIA]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Salva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; New National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Rightists [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; "Revival" Union Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Georgian independent deputies 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny the government effective control over the entirety of the state's internationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, progress on market reforms and democratization support the country's goal of greater integration with Western political, economic, and security institutions.

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

Military branches

Ground Forces (includes National Guard), combined Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces, Republic Security and Police Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$23 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.59% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,300,259 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,027,407 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 41,561 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 481,669; female 462,966) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 1,631,351; female 1,752,230) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 246,663; female 386,072) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

11.48 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

14.61 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 500 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

51.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.67 years female: 68.32 years (2002 est.) male: 61.19 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 100% female: 98% (1989 est.)

Nationality

noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian

Net migration rate

-2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

4,960,951 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.55% (2002 est.)

Religions

Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%

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: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.48 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

Chechen and other insurgents transit Pankisi Gorge to infiltrate Akhmeti region; boundary with Russia has been largely delimited, but not demarcated; several small, strategic segments remain in dispute

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

Airports

31 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 4

Highways

total: 33,900 km paved: 29,500 km (includes some all-weather gravel-surfaced roads) unpaved: 4,400 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1990)

Merchant marine

total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 210,620 GRT/288,565 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 46, container 5, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belize 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 4, Gibraltar 1, Greece 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malta 1, Panama 9, Romania 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 5, Turkey 2, Ukraine 7, United Arab Emirates 11, United Kingdom 1, United States 1 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992)

Ports and harbors

Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi

Railways

total: 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 1,546 km 1.520-m gauge narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (2000 est.)

Transportation - note

transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair

Waterways

none