Moving to Georgia: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

3,997,000

Population Growth Rate

-0.33%

Urban Population

52.800000

Population in Major Urban Areas

TBILISI (capital) 1.121 million

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Age Structure

17.910000

Median Age

39.600000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

11

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

10.17

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.46

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

53.4%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

53.4%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

23.9

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.9

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.080000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-3.86

Ethnic Groups

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

Nationality Noun

Georgian(s)

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Literacy - total population

100%

Literacy - male

100%

Literacy - female

100%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

2%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

13.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

77.510000

Infant Mortality Rate

14.210000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

14.210000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

67

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

4.24

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

2.9

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

9.4%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.1%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

100.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

95.500000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

1.1%

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Economic Overview

Georgia's main economic activities include cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese, copper, and gold; and producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals in small-scale industries.

The country imports nearly all of its needed supplies of natural gas and oil products.

It has sizeable hydropower capacity that now provides most of its electricity needs.

Georgia has overcome the chronic energy shortages and gas supply interruptions of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by increasingly relying on natural gas imports from Azerbaijan instead of from Russia.

Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the South Caucasus gas pipeline, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and Asia and develop its role as a transit hub for gas, oil, and other goods.

Georgia's economy sustained GDP growth of more than 10% in 2006-07, based on strong inflows of foreign investment, remittances, and robust government spending.

However, GDP growth slowed following the August 2008 conflict with Russia, and sank to negative 4% in 2009 as foreign direct investment and workers' remittances declined in the wake of the global financial crisis.

The economy rebounded in the period 2010-17, but FDI inflows, the engine of Georgian economic growth prior to the 2008 conflict, have not recovered fully.

Unemployment remains persistently high.

The country is pinning its hopes for faster growth on a continued effort to build up infrastructure, enhance support for entrepreneurship, simplify regulations, and improve professional education, in order to attract foreign investment and boost employment, with a focus on transportation projects, tourism, hydropower, and agriculture.

Georgia had historically suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however, since 2004 the government has simplified the tax code, increased tax enforcement, and cracked down on petty corruption, leading to higher revenues.

The government has received high marks from the World Bank for improvements in business transparency.

Since 2012, the Georgian Dream-led government has continued the previous administration's low-regulation, low-tax, free market policies, while modestly increasing social spending and amending the labor code to comply with International Labor Standards.

In mid-2014, Georgia concluded an association agreement with the EU, paving the way to free trade and visa-free travel.

In 2017, Georgia signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China as part of Tbilisi’s efforts to diversify its economic ties.

Georgia is seeking to develop its Black Sea ports to further facilitate East-West trade.

Industries

Steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,500.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$52,330,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$9,500.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2%

GDP - official exchange rate

$13,750,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 70% Government
• consumption: 17.1% Investment in fixed
• capital: 26% Investment in
• inventories: 4% Exports of goods and
• services: 45% Imports of goods and
• services: -62.1%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

9.2%

GDP by Sector- Industry

22.1%

GDP by Sector- services

68.7%

Industrial Growth Rate

4%

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Inflation Rate

5.7%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

lari (GEL)

Currency Name and Code

Lari (GEL)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

20.7%

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Labor Force

1,918,000

Unemployment Rate

16.4%

Major Industries

Steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine

Agriculture Products

Citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Population Below Poverty Line

31%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

113,106

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

18%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

55.6%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

8.9%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

35.5%

Annual Budget

$3,172,000,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-2.7%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

30.3%

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Full Country Name

None

Country Name

Georgia

Local - Long

None

Local - Short

Sak'art'velo

Former Name

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Etymology- history of name

The Western name may derive from the Persian designation "gurgan" meaning "Land of the Wolves"; the native name "Sak'art'velo" means "Land of the Kartvelians" and refers to the core central Georgian region of Kartli

Independence

9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

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Government Type

Semi-presidential republic

Constitution

• History: Previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995
• Amendments: Proposed as a draft law supported by more than one-half of the Parliament membership or by petition of at least 200,000 voters; passage requires support by at least three-fourths of the Parliament membership in two successive sessions three months apart and the signature and promulgation by the president of Georgia; amended several times, last in 2020 (legislative electoral system revised)

Legal System:

Civil law system

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (since 29 December 2024)
• head of government: Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 8 February 2024)
• cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers election/appointment
• process: president elected by a 300-member College of Electors; prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president most recent election
• date: 14 December 2024
• election results: 2024: Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (Georgian Dream Party) was formally inaugurated on 29 December 2024 2024: Irakli KOBAKHIDZE approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 84-10 2018: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Irakli GARIBASHVILI approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 89-2 expected date of next
• election: 2029

Legislative Branch:

• Description: Unicameral Parliament or Sakartvelos Parlamenti (150 seats statutory, 140 as of May 2023); 120 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote and 30 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by at least 50% majority vote, with a runoff if needed; no party earning less than 40% of total votes may claim a majority; members serve 4-year terms)
• Elections: Last held on 31 October and 21 November 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)
• Election Results: Percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 48.2%, UNM 27.2%, European Georgia 3.8%, Lelo 3.2%, Strategy 3.2%, Alliance of Patriots 3.1%, Girchi 2.9%, Citizens 1.3%, Labor 1%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 90, UNM 36, European Georgia 5, Lelo 4, Strategy 4, Alliance of Patriots 4, Girchi 4, Citizens 2, Labor 1; composition as of October 2021 - men 117, women 27, percent of women 19.3%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the High Council of Justice (a 14-member body consisting of the Supreme Court chairperson, common court judges, and appointees of the president of Georgia) and appointed by Parliament; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed 3 each by the president, by Parliament, and by the Supreme Court judges; judges appointed for 10-year terms
• Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts

Regions or States:

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika) Regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli; note - the breakaway region of South Ossetia consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeti City: Tbilisi Autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi) Note 1: The administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses Note 2: The United States recognizes the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be part of Georgia

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Alliance of Patriots [Davit TARKHAN-MOURAVI]
• Citizens Party [Aleko ELISASHVILI]
• Democratic Movement-United Georgia or DM-UC [Nino BURJANADZE]
• European Georgia-Movement for Liberty [Giga BOKERIA]
• European Socialists [Fridon INJIA]
• For Georgia [Giorgi GAKHARIA]
• Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia [Irakli KOBAKHIDZE]
• Girchi-More Freedom [Zurab JAPARIDZE]
• Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]
• Lelo for Georgia [Mamuka KHAZARADZE]
• New Political Centre-Girchi [Iago KHVICHIA]
• Republican Party [Khatuna SAMNIDZE]
• Strategy Aghmashenebeli [Giorgi VASHADZE]
• United National Movement or UNM [Levan KHABEISHVILI]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: No Citizenship by descent
• only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Georgia Dual citizenship
• recognized: No Residency requirement for
• naturalization: 10 years

Capital Name

T'bilisi

Capital - geographic coordinate

41 41 N, 44 50 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ADB
• BSEC
• CD
• CE
• CPLP (associate)
• EAPC
• EBRD
• FAO
• G-11
• GCTU
• GUAM
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• OAS (observer)
• OIF (observer)
• OPCW
• OSCE
• PFP
• SELEC (observer)
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Robin L. DUNNIGAN (since 12 October 2023)
• Embassy: 29 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue, Didi Dighomi, Tbilisi, 0131
• Mailing Address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
• Telephone: [995] (32) 227-70-00
• FAX: [995] (32) 253-23-10
• Email: askconsultbilisi@state.gov
• Website: https://ge.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador David ZALKALIANI (since 7 June 2022)
• Chancery: 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
• FAX: [1] (202) 387-0864
• Email: embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.ge
• Website: https://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/
• Consulate(s) General: New York

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Geographic Location

Asia, intersection of Western Asia and Eastern Europe

Geographic Coordinates

42 00 N, 43 30 E

Total Area

26,911 Square Miles 69,700 Square Kilometers

Land Area

26,911 Square Miles 69,700 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

908 Miles 1,461 Kilometers

Border Countries

Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

Coastline

193 Miles 310 Kilometers

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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,

Highest Point

5,201 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

Lowest Point Location

Black Sea 0 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

Irrigated Land

1,671 Square Miles 4,328 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Protected by the Black Sea and Caucasus Mountains, Georgia's climate is relatively mild.

Seasonal temperatures range from winter daytime highs of 32°F-35°F to summer daytime highs of 86°F-93°F.

Except in the subtropical regions, humidity is relatively low in summer.

Spring daytime highs average in the high 60s to the mid 70s.

The weather allows for outside activity most of the year.

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,

Location

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe

note - Georgia views itself as part of Europe

Total Area

26,911 Square Miles 69,700 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

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

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Exports

$2,290,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$4,828,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

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

Major Imports

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

Top Export Partners

Turkey 21.7%, Italy 11.4%, Russia 10.7%, Greece 8.1%, Netherlands 7.1%, Spain 5.5%, Turkmenistan 4.5%

Top Import Partners

Azerbaijan 11.7%, Turkey 10.6%, US 10.4%, Russia 9.5%, Germany 7.4%, Ukraine 6%, Italy 5.3%, Bulgaria 5.1%, France 4.4%

Export Partners

Turkey 21.7%, Italy 11.4%, Russia 10.7%, Greece 8.1%, Netherlands 7.1%, Spain 5.5%, Turkmenistan 4.5%

Import Partners

Azerbaijan 11.7%, Turkey 10.6%, US 10.4%, Russia 9.5%, Germany 7.4%, Ukraine 6%, Italy 5.3%, Bulgaria 5.1%, France 4.4%

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Country Description

Georgia is a constitutional republic with a developing democracy and economy.

October 2012 parliamentary elections resulted in Georgia’s first democratic transfer of power.

Approximately 250,000 internally displaced persons from the conflicts in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions remain.

Tourist facilities outside of Tbilisi and Batumi are not highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available.

Safety & Security

he Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens against travel to the occupied regions of South Ossetia, in north-central Georgia, and Abkhazia, in northwest Georgia.

These regions are not under the control of the central government following civil wars in the early 1990s, and the conflict with Russia in August 2008.

Tensions remain high between the de facto authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the Georgian central government.

Russian troops and border guards continue to occupy both regions.

A number of attacks, criminal incidents, and kidnappings have occurred in and around the area over the past several years.

Unexploded ordinance poses a danger near the Administrative Boundary Lines of both territories, particularly near South Ossetia.

Entering the occupied regions without the proper documentation can lead to arrest, imprisonment, and/or fines by Russian, Georgian, or de facto officials.

If travel to the occupied territories cannot be avoided the U.S.

Embassy recommends travelers follow applicable Georgian laws.

Georgian law specifies that U.S. citizens may enter the two regions from the southern Georgian side, and not from the northern Russian border.

Any economic activity for which a relevant license, registration, or permission has not been obtained from the Georgian government; Import and/or export of military products, or products that have double designation; International air, maritime and railway travel, as well as international transportation of cargoby automobile; Use of national resources; Organization of cash transfer; or Financing or any type of support of activities listed in Paragraphs (a) – (e)...

Medical services in the occupied territories are extremely limited.

Hospitals do not accept credit cards or medical insurance, have little to no infectious disease control, and lack medicine.

There are no commercial airports in either region making air ambulance evacuations for medical emergencies impossible.

U.S.

Embassy personnel are restricted fromtravel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia, even in the case of emergencies involving U.S. citizens.For these reasons the U.S.

Government strongly advises U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to these regions.

All travelers to Georgia should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

U.S. citizensshould regularly monitor Emergency Messages on the U.S.

Embassy’s website for the latest information on the security situation throughout Georgia.

In the case of a crisis and/or natural disaster, U.S. citizens in Tbilisi may tune in to FM radio stations for any updated U.S.

Embassy emergency message for U.S. citizens.

Political demonstrations take place from time to time in Georgia, sometimes in front of the former Parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue.

While these demonstrations are generally peaceful, some confrontations between the government and protesters have occurred in years past.

U.

S. citizens should be aware that even peaceful demonstrations can escalate into violence with little or no notice.

Security Messages for U.S.

Citizens pertaining to Demonstration are posted on the U.S.

Embassy Tbilisi website.

Because of the possibility of violence, we urge U.S. citizens to avoid all demonstrations.

U.S. citizens should stay up to date with media coverage of local events, review their personal security practices, and be aware of their surroundings at all times.

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Crime

When traveling in Georgia, you should take the same precautions against becoming a victim of crime as you would in any large city.

U.S. citizens in particular are perceived as being wealthy, and therefore may be targeted for economic and property-based crimes.

Petty street crime, such as theft by pickpockets, has been reported throughout the country, particularly in crowded places such as tourist sites or on public transportation.

Firearms are readily available in Georgia and assailants may be armed with firearms or other weapons.

There are also disputes, sometimes in areas where U.S. citizens frequent, which include firearms and may endanger U.S. citizens.

Vary your times and routes, especially from places of residence to work locations.

Maintain a low profile – do not carry large amounts of cash or otherwise draw unnecessary attention to yourself.

Report any security-related incidents such as suspicious vehicles, individuals, or activities, to the Georgian authorities, and also inform the U.S.

Embassy as soon as possible.

Travel in pairs or groups, and stay on main streets and routes.

The U.S.

Embassy recommends that if you are traveling throughout the country you do so during daylight hours only and provide a travel itinerary and contact telephone numbers to someone before you go.

See below for more details on road safety in Georgia.

Personal vehicles and established (clearly marked) taxis and public transportation are generally safe for overland travel in Georgia.

However, crowded and “off the beaten path” conditions of some public transportation increase passengers’ vulnerability to robbery.

U.S. citizens have reported occurrences of sexual assault in Georgia, including date or acquaintance rape.

Women should avoid being alone in isolated areas with people whom they do not know well.

In many of the reported cases, alcohol was involved.

Avoid traveling alone in a private taxi or a “marshrutka” mini-bus, especially after dark.

Victims of sexual assault should first get to a safe location and then call the local police and the U.S.

Embassy.

Women victimized overseas may be entitled to receive compensation for counseling and/or other services, including relocation back to the United States.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Georgia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own, and criminal penalties vary from country to country.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Georgia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.

For example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children, using, or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Georgia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S.

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Medical Facilities

Western-standard medical care in Georgia is limited, but Georgian healthcare continues to improve.

There is a shortage of medical supplies and capabilities outside of Tbilisi and Batumi.

Elderly travelers and those with pre-existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities.

We strongly recommend that travelers who intend to visit Georgia for at least two weeks get the Hepatitis A vaccine and the pre-exposure rabies vaccine series.

Travelers are also encouraged to bring medicine to treat diarrhea, which regularly afflicts newcomers.

Georgian doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment before rendering medical services.

Travelers should take care that food is cooked thoroughly to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Georgia.

There are eight known poisonous snake species in Georgia.

The season when you are most likely to encounter snakes is between March and October.

Anti-venom is available for some species in a small number of facilities.

Treat all snakes as poisonous.

Traffic Safety

While in Georgia, you will encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

As in the United States, vehicular traffic in Georgia moves along the right side of roadways.

Speed limits range from 80 to 100 km/hr on highways, and from 30 to 60 km/hr on urban thoroughfares.

Motorists are not permitted to make right turns at red traffic lights.

Front-seat passengers are required by law to fasten their seat belts in moving vehicles.

Georgian law requires that children under four (4) years of age be restrained in child-safety seats, however these are not widely available or used.

Children under twelve (12) years of age may not legally ride in the front seat, but this law is not widely observed.

A driver with any blood-alcohol concentration exceeding 0.00% is considered to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

You should exercise extreme caution when driving in Georgia, as many local drivers do not operate their vehicles in accordance with established traffic laws.

Traffic signals and rules of the road are often completely ignored.

Motorists drive erratically, often recklessly, at excessive speeds, and many times under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Motorists frequently encounter oncoming high-speed traffic attempting to pass other vehicles at blind turns or over hilltops.

Pedestrians enjoy no right-of-way and need to be extremely careful when crossing streets.

The Georgian Patrol Police, who come under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, are responsible for maintaining traffic safety in Georgia, but enforcement of traffic regulations is haphazard.

There is no requirement that vehicles are certified safe to drive, and some vehicles may not have working headlights or tail lights.

Undivided two-lane roads connect most major cities in Georgia.

Outside of major highways, roads are generally in poor condition, unpaved, and often lack shoulder markings, center lines, and lighting.

In addition, traffic signals may not work due to poor maintenance.

Driving at night can be especially dangerous.

Travel on mountain roads is treacherous in both rain and snow, and during winter, heavy snowfalls may make some roads impassable.

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Airports - total

22

Airports with Paved Runways

18

Heliports

2

Railways

1,002 Miles 1,612 Kilometers

Roadways- total

11,874 Miles 19,109 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

11,874 Miles 19,109 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi

Transportation Note

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

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Pipelines: Gas

992 Miles 1,596 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

730 Miles 1,175 Kilometers

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Telephones

620,000

Cell Phones

2,600,000

Internet Users

360,000

Internet Country Code

.ge

Internet Hosts

110,680

Broadcast Media

• 1 public broadcaster in Tbilisi, 1 state-owned broadcaster in Ajaria Autonomous Republic
• 8 privately owned TV stations
• state run public broadcaster operates 2 TV stations
• dozens of cable TV operators, several major commercial TV stations, and several dozen private radio stations
• state run public broadcaster operates 2 radio stations

Telephone System

• assessment: Fixed-line telecommunications network has limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country
• Domestic: Cellular telephone networks cover the entire country; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi
• International: Country code - 995; the Georgia-Russia fiber-optic submarine cable provides connectivity to Russia; international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

6,902,000,000

Electricity Exports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

628,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

430,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

7,970,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,970,000,000

Natural Gas Imports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

1,960,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

9,151,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

8,495,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

17,280

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

531

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,982

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

35,000,000

Anthem History

"Tavisupleba" is the new national anthem of Georgia.

The title means "Freedom".

The new Georgian anthem was adopted on 23 April 2004, exactly 5 months after the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze (former Soviet Foreign Minister).

"Tavisupleba" succeeds the old anthem Dideba zetsit kurtheuls, adopted after Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union.

Anthem Lyrics

Tavisupleba Chemi khatia samshoblo, Sakhate mteli kveqana, Ganatebuli mta-bari Tsilnaqaria Ghmerttana. Tavisupleba dghes chveni Momavals umghers didebas, Amodis tsiskris varskvlavi Da or zghvas shua brtsqindeba. Dideba tavisuplebas, Tavisuplebas dideba!

Anthem Lyrics English

My icon is my motherland, And the whole world is its icon-stand. Bright mounts and valleys Are shared with God Today our freedom Sings to the glory of future, The dawn star rises up And shines out between two seas. Praise be to liberty, Praise be to liberty!