Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
Rank Order
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Background:
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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. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny the government effective control over the entirety of the state's internationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, progress on market reforms and democratization support the country's goal of greater integration with Western political, economic, and security institutions.
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Location:
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Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
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Geographic coordinates:
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42 00 N, 43 30 E
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Map references:
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Asia
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Area:
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total: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than South Carolina
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
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Coastline:
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310 km
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Maritime claims:
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NA
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Climate:
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warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
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Terrain:
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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
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
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Natural resources:
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forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
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Land use:
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arable land: 11.21%
permanent crops: 4.09%
other: 84.7% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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4,700 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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earthquakes
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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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Geography - note:
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strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
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Population:
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4,934,413 (July 2003 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 18.6% (male 466,743; female 449,440)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,628,757; female 1,744,922)
65 years and over: 13% (male 252,031; female 392,520) (2003 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 34.8 years
male: 32.6 years
female: 37 years (2002)
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Population growth rate:
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-0.52% (2003 est.)
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Birth rate:
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11.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Death rate:
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14.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 51.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 56.83 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 64.76 years
male: 61.33 years
female: 68.36 years (2003 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 900 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2001 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
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Ethnic groups:
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Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
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Religions:
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Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
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Languages:
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Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1999 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: none
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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T'bilisi
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Administrative divisions:
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9 regions, (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Chiat'ura*, Gori*, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, K'ut'aisi*, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, P'ot'i*, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Rust'avi*, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli, T'bilisi*, Tqibuli*, Tsqaltubo*, Zugdidi*
note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are shown in parentheses
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Independence:
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9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
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National holiday:
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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
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Constitution:
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adopted 17 October 1995
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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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
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
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 (government-in-exile) deputies 12, independents 17, other 3
elections: last held 31 October and 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court
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Political parties and leaders:
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Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG [Avtandil JORBENADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; New National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; "Revival" Union Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA
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International organization participation:
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BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE
chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILES
embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68
FAX: [995] (32) 933-759
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Flag description:
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maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
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Economy - overview:
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Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals. 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, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. However, the Georgian Government suffers from limited resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi distribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, making the venture unprofitable. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and trade. The start of construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bring much-needed investment and job opportunities.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $15 billion (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2001 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 20%
industry: 25%
services: 55% (2002 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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54% (2001 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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37.1 (1996)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5.2% (2002 est.)
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Labor force:
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2.1 million (2001 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry 20%, agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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17% (2001 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $499 million
expenditures: $554 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
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Industries:
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steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3% (2000)
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Electricity - production:
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7.27 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 19.7%
hydro: 80.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.18 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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850 million kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Agriculture - products:
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citrus, grapes, tea, hazlenuts, vegetables; livestock
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Exports:
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$515 million (2002 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine
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Exports - partners:
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Russia 23.0%, Turkey 21.5%, Azerbaijan 3.3%, US 3.0%, Germany 2.5% (2001)
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Imports:
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$750 million (2002 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals
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Imports - partners:
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Turkey 15.3%, Russia 13.3%, Azerbaijan 10.7%, Germany 10.1%, US 4.1% (2001)
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Debt - external:
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$1.7 billion (2001)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA $150 million (2000 est.)
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Currency:
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lari (GEL)
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Currency code:
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GEL
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Exchange rates:
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lari per US dollar - 2.2 (2002), 2.07 (2001), 1.98 (2000), 2.02 (1999), 1.39 (1998)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 1,612 km
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (2002)
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Highways:
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total: 33,900 km
paved: 29,500 km (includes some all-weather gravel-surfaced roads)
unpaved: 4,400 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1990)
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Waterways:
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none
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Pipelines:
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crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992)
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Ports and harbors:
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Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
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Merchant marine:
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total: 116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 483,028 GRT/713,461 DWT
ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 72, chemical tanker 1, container 11, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belize 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 4, Gibraltar 1, Greece 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malta 1, Panama 9, Romania 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 5, Turkey 2, Ukraine 7, UAE 11, UK 1, US 1 (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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40 (2002)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 5
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Transportation - note:
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transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair
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This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
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