Georgia is a country located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia, bordered by Russia to the north and northeast, Azerbaijan to the east, Armenia to the south, and Turkey to the southwest. The capital and largest city of Georgia is Tbilisi.

Georgia has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic era. It has been ruled by various empires throughout its history, including the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Mongols, Ottomans, and Russians. It declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Georgia is known for its scenic landscapes, with the Greater Caucasus Mountains running through the country's northern regions, and the Black Sea coastline to the west. The country has a diverse climate, with subtropical and alpine climates in different regions.

Georgia's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, with major crops including grapes, citrus fruits, hazelnuts, and tea. The country is also a major producer of mineral resources, including manganese, copper, and gold.

Georgia has a parliamentary republic system of government, with a President serving as the head of state and a Prime Minister serving as the head of government. The country is known for its relatively high levels of political freedom and democracy compared to other countries in the region.

Georgian culture is rich and diverse, with a strong tradition of music, dance, and art. Georgian cuisine is also highly regarded, featuring dishes such as khinkali (dumplings), khachapuri (cheese-filled bread), and shashlik (grilled meat skewers).

Telephone Code
995

Local Emergency Phone
22

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on the Black Sea coast

Currency (Code)
Laris (GEL)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Major Languages
Georgian, Azeri, Armenian, Russian

Major Religions
Orthodox 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic 2.9%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Kakheti; Kutaisi; Lake Ritsa; Ananuri Castle; Tbilisi; Monastery of the Cross

Major Sports
Soccer, wrestling, rugby, weightlifting, basketball

Cultural Practices
Even numbers of flowers are used in funerals, while odd numbers are used as gifts.

Tipping Guidelines
Check to see if a 10% service charge has been applied to your bill. If not, leave a gratuity of around 10-15% of the bill. If you are staying at a higher-end hotel, tip the bellhop around 1-2 laris per bag and leave the maid at least 5 laris per day.

Souvenirs
Cloisonne jewelry and decorative items, silk clothing and accessories, woven carpets, felt items, religious icons, nesting dolls, wine and brandy

Traditional Cuisine
Khachapuri, Sulguni — cheese-filled, leavened, and baked bread topped with a cracked soft-boiled egg and butter just before serving

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

Climate
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Natural resources
timber, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth

People and Society
Population
4,936,390 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 est.)

Languages
Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1%; note - Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia (2014 est.)

Religions
Orthodox (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 est.)

Population growth rate
0.01% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic

Capital
name: Tbilisi

Economy
Economic overview
COVID-19 crippled tourism, transportation, and construction sectors; rising unemployment, public debts and poverty; foreign investment and domestic bond issuance

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$57.434 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$15,500 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
milk, grapes, maize, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, tomatoes, tangerines/mandarins, barley, apples

Industries
steel, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese, copper, gold), chemicals, wood products, wine

Exports
$8.086 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Russia 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, Armenia 9%, Bulgaria 8%, China 6%, Turkey 6%, Ukraine 6% (2019)

Exports - commodities
copper, cars, iron alloys, wine, packaged medicines (2019)

Imports
$11.151 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
Turkey 17%, China 11%, Russia 9%, Azerbaijan 6%, United States 6%, Germany 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, copper, packaged medicines, natural gas (2019)