Georgia - A Brief Profile

Overview

For Georgia the turbulent period of early independence after the break of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in civil war, displacement of almost 247,000 people from Abkhazia (1992-1993) and Tskhinvali Region (1989-1992) and two frozen conflicts.

Over the past decade, the country has been experiencing the challenges of depopulation and aging as a consequence of low birth rate and growing immigration due to rise in poverty and lack of opportunities in form of employment. Fertility rate fell below replacement level at 1.7 lifetime births per woman which has lead to a population that is ageing with nearly 13 percent being over the age of 65 .

HIV/AIDS is another grave concern in the country. Though currently the HIV/AIDS prevalence rates remain at low levels, the high risk environment including widespread injecting drug use and intensive population movement between neighbouring high prevalence countries cause Georgia to be at risk of a wide scale epidemic.

From early 2004 onwards, after the Government change following the Rose Revolution on November 2003, a new, young and dynamic Government, seized the momentum: it embarked on a very ambitious, fast, and complex reform process. Strategic objectives of the Government are: a free, democratic, equitable and prosperous State of Georgia. Georgia also intends to integrate into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. However, strong economic growth has so far not yet had the desired effect on employment and poverty. Unemployment reached 13.8% in 2005 and poverty incidence to 39.4% in 2005 .

In order to tackle further challenges including ageing and the decline in population, the Government needs to develop and implement effective policies, reform its statistical system and ensure the availability of reliable population data segregated by gender, age and geographic location.

Finally, Georgia which became the 179th member of the United Nations in 1992 still needs a substantial amount of external assistance to fulfil its international obligations and priorities stipulated in the national development frameworks. 

Population - the basics ¹

Total population : 4,315,200 ²

Young People (of age 15-24): 716,700

Women: 52.7% of the population

Life expectancy: for women - 74.7; for men - 69.1; average - 72

Population growth rate: (- 0.82%)

Fertility rate: 10.7 per 1,000 population

Proportion of people living below the poverty line: 55%

Proportion of people living in extreme poverty; 17%

Most recent census: 2002

Economy

After a severe economic crisis at the beginning of the 1990s, Georgia has made a significant economic recovery since 1995, with the support of the IMF and World Bank. There has been a growth in GDP and a drop in inflation.

Georgia's main economic activity is farming, with the production of citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts and grapes. In addition to wine production there is mineral mining and production of metals, machinery and chemicals.

Most forms of energy have to be imported but Georgia has also benefited from being a transit country for energy pipelines, notably the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which has brought investment and created jobs.

Administration

The capital of Georgia is Tblisi. There are nine regions or mkhare, nine cities and two autonomous republics

Georgia's head of state is the President, who is elected by popular vote for five years. The current President is Mikheil Saakashvili (since January 2004). As well as being head of state, the President also acts as head of government for the ministries which govern state security and defense.

The Prime Minister heads the remaining ministries. The current Prime Minister is Zurab Noghaideli.

Parliament is the one-chamber Supreme Council, which has 235 seats. MPs are elected by popular vote for four-year terms.

The last election was in March 2004. The next is due to be held in Spring 2008.

¹As of 2003
²Population de jure;

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