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Guide
Introduction
| |
| 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 |
|
