Georgia

Georgia, known locally as Sak’art’velo, is a nation strategically situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, bordered by Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Black Sea. Famed for its ancient Christian heritage, Caucasian mountain landscapes, and strategic trade position, Georgia blends deep historical traditions with a modern pursuit of democratic and economic reform.

Historical Background and Political Evolution

The lands of modern Georgia encompass the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia, early participants in regional trade and cultural exchange. Georgia adopted Christianity in the 4th century A.D., becoming one of the world’s earliest Christian nations. The Golden Age (11th–13th centuries) under King David IV “the Builder” and Queen Tamar saw the consolidation of the Georgian monarchy, flourishing art, architecture, and scholarship.
However, Mongol invasions (13th century), followed by alternating Ottoman and Persian domination, fragmented the kingdom. By the 19th century, Georgia had been absorbed into the Russian Empire, a status that lasted until the early 20th century. After a brief period of independence (1918–1921) as the Democratic Republic of Georgia, Soviet troops invaded and incorporated the country into the USSR.
Georgia regained independence in 1991, following the Soviet collapse. The post-independence years were marked by civil strife, separatist conflicts, and the struggle to build democratic institutions.
The Rose Revolution (2003) transformed Georgia’s political landscape. Popular protests against corruption forced President Eduard Shevardnadze to resign, ushering in Mikheil Saakashvili and his reformist United National Movement (UNM). Saakashvili pursued aggressive anti-corruption measures, economic liberalisation, and closer Western integration but faced criticism for centralising power.
In 2008, conflict with Russia over the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia erupted into a brief war. Russia subsequently recognised both regions’ “independence” and maintains military forces there.
The Georgian Dream (GD) coalition, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2011, defeated the UNM in the 2012 parliamentary elections and has since dominated Georgian politics. In 2024, Irakli Kobakhidze became Prime Minister, while Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected President, reflecting the continuity of GD governance.

Geography and Natural Features

• Area: 69,700 sq km (slightly smaller than South Carolina, USA)
• Coordinates: Between 41°–44° N latitude and 40°–47° E longitude
• Coastline: 310 km on the Black Sea
• Borders: Russia (894 km), Azerbaijan (428 km), Armenia (219 km), Turkey (252 km)

Topography: The country is predominantly mountainous, with the Greater Caucasus Mountains to the north and the Lesser Caucasus to the south. The Kolkhida Lowland and Mtkvari River Basin serve as Georgia’s agricultural heartlands. Mount Shkhara (5,193 m) is the nation’s highest point.
Climate: Varies from humid subtropical along the Black Sea to continental and alpine in the interior and highlands.
Natural resources: Timber, manganese, iron ore, copper, hydropower, fertile soils for viticulture, citrus, and tea.Land use:

• Forest: 40.6%
• Agricultural: 34.3%

Demography and Society

Population (2024 est.): 4.9 millionUrban population: 60.7%Median age: 38.3 yearsCapital: Tbilisi (pop. 1.08 million)
Ethnic composition:

• Georgians: 86.8%
• Azeris: 6.3%
• Armenians: 4.5%
• Russians, Ossetians, Greeks, others: 2.4%

Languages: Georgian (official, spoken by 88% of population); Azeri, Armenian, and Russian are locally significant.Religions: Eastern Orthodox Christian 83%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic 2.9%, others 3.4%.
Social indicators:

• Life expectancy: 72.8 years
• Literacy: 99.6%
• Fertility rate: 1.95 children per woman
• Population growth rate: –0.5% (outward migration trend)
• Health expenditure: 7.4% of GDP
• Physicians: 5.64 per 1,000 people

Georgia maintains one of the highest literacy and healthcare access levels in the post-Soviet space.

Government and Administration

System: Semi-presidential republic (1995 Constitution)Head of State: President Mikheil Kavelashvili (since Dec 2024)Head of Government: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze (since Feb 2024)Legislature: Unicameral Parliament (150 members, elected every four years by proportional representation)Judiciary: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and regional courts under a civil law system
Administrative divisions:

• 9 regions
• 2 autonomous republics (Abkhazia, Ajaria)
• 1 capital district (Tbilisi)

Territorial integrity: Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain under Russian military occupation, though Georgia retains internationally recognised sovereignty over these territories.
National symbols:

• Flag: White with five red crosses
• Emblem: Saint George and the lion
• Anthem: Tavisupleba (“Liberty”)
• National day: Independence Day, 26 May

Economic Profile

Georgia is an upper-middle-income and rapidly growing market economy, strategically positioned on the East–West transport corridor linking Europe and Asia.
Key indicators (2024 est.):

• GDP (PPP): $91.8 billion
• GDP per capita (PPP): $25,000
• Real GDP growth: 9.4%
• Inflation: 1.1%
• Public debt: 43.4% of GDP
• Poverty rate: 11.8%
• Unemployment: 11.5% (youth: 29.9%)
• Remittances: 11.8% of GDP

Sectoral composition:

• Agriculture: 5.4%
• Industry: 19.1%
• Services: 62.8%

Key industries: Mining (manganese, copper, gold), steel, chemicals, textiles, wood products, and wine production—a historic export since antiquity.
Trade (2024):

• Main exports: Copper ore, vehicles, wine, ferroalloys, electricity, garments
• Main export partners: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan
• Main imports: Machinery, petroleum, chemicals, vehicles, and food products
• Main import partners: Turkey, USA, Russia, China, Germany

Georgia benefits from the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU, boosting exports and foreign investment.

Energy and Infrastructure

Installed capacity: 4,526,000 kWEnergy mix:

• Hydropower: 75.5%
• Fossil fuels: 23.9%
• Wind and solar: 0.6%

Electricity access: 100% nationwideNatural gas reserves: 8.5 billion cubic metres (imports primarily from Azerbaijan)
Transport:

• Railways: 1,363 km
• Roads: ~20,000 km
• Airports: 21 (major: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi)
• Ports: Batumi, Poti, and Supsa serve as vital hubs for Caspian oil and trade routes.

Georgia’s infrastructure and logistics corridors form a key part of the Middle Corridor linking Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

Defence and Security

The Georgian Defence Forces (GDF) consist of roughly 37,000 active personnel, divided into Ground, Air, Special Operations, and National Guard units.

• Defence spending: 1.7% of GDP
• Service: Compulsory for men (ages 18–27); voluntary for women

Strategic alignment: Georgia cooperates closely with NATO under the Partnership for Peace and Enhanced Opportunities Program, with aspirations for future membership. Georgian troops have participated in UN, EU, and NATO peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and the Central African Republic.
Security policy focuses on deterring Russian aggression and maintaining territorial integrity.

Environment and Climate

Georgia’s ecosystems encompass subtropical coasts, mountain forests, and alpine meadows. The country faces challenges from deforestation, air pollution, and waste management but remains committed to environmental protection.
It is party to major treaties including the Paris Climate Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
UNESCO World Heritage Site:

• Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands — one of the world’s oldest temperate rainforests.

International Relations and Diplomacy

Georgia plays an active role in global diplomacy, participating in the UN, WTO, Council of Europe, OSCE, and IMF. Its foreign policy focuses on Euro-Atlantic integration and strategic partnership with the United States.