Georgia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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 Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E Map references: Middle East Area: total:69,700 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 121 land:69,700 sq km water:0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total:1,814 km border countries:Armenia 219 km, Azerbaijan 428 km, Russia 894 km, Turkey 273 km Coastline: 310 km Maritime claims: territorial sea:12 nm exclusive economic zone:200 nm Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast 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, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland     Elevation extremes: lowest point:Black Sea 0 m highest point:Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m 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 Land use: arable land:5.94% permanent crops:1.65% other:92.41% (2011) Irrigated land: 4,328 sq km (2007) Total renewable water resources: 63.33 cu km (2011) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 63.33 cu km (2011) Natural hazards: earthquakes 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 Geography - note: strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them

People and Society

Nationality: noun: Georgian(s) adjective:Georgian Ethnic groups: Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census) Languages: Georgian (official) 71%, Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% Religions: Orthodox Christian (official) 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census) Population: 4,935,880 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 122 Age structure: 0-14 years:17.6% (male 459,334/female 410,494) 15-24 years:14% (male 359,559/female 332,182) 25-54 years:40.9% (male 976,129/female 1,042,898) 55-64 years:12.2% (male 269,367/female 330,386) 65 years and over:16.2% (male 295,673/female 459,858) (2014 est.) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:48.6 % youth dependency ratio:27 % elderly dependency ratio:21.7 % potential support ratio:4.6 (2014 est.) Median age: total:37.7 years male:34.9 years female:40.4 years (2014 est.) Population growth rate: -0.11% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 206 Birth rate: 12.93 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 155 Death rate: 10.77 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 37 Net migration rate: -3.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 182 Urbanization: urban population:52.8% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization:-0.37% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) Major urban areas - population: TBILISI (capital) 1.121 million (2011) Sex ratio: at birth:1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years:1.12 male(s)/female 15-24 years:1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years:0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years:0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over:0.66 male(s)/female total population:0.91 male(s)/female (2014 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 24 Maternal mortality rate: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) Infant mortality rate: total:16.68 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 100 male:18.86 deaths/1,000 live births female:14.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)     Life expectancy at birth: total population:75.72 yearscountry comparison to the world: 90 male:71.62 years female:80.17 years (2014 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 159 Contraceptive prevalence rate: 53.4% Health expenditures: 9.4% of GDP (2011) Physicians density: 4.24 physicians/1,000 population (2011) Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 97.3% of population total: 98.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 2.7% of population total: 1.3% of population (2012 est.) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 95.5% of population rural: 90.7% of population total: 93.3% of population unimproved: urban: 4.5% of population rural: 9.3% of population total: 6.7% of population (2012 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 93 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 6,600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 119 HIV/AIDS - deaths: 200 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 107 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.1% (2008)country comparison to the world: 82 Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.1% (2009)country comparison to the world: 132 Education expenditures: 2% of GDP (2012)country comparison to the world: 167 Literacy: definition:age 15 and over can read and write total population:99.7% male:99.8% female:99.7% (2011 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total:13 years male:13 years female:13 years (2008) Child labor - children ages 5-14: Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total:33.3% (2012)country comparison to the world: 23

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:Georgia local long form:none local short form:Sak'art'velo former:Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic Government type: republic Capital: name:Tbilisi geographic coordinates:41 41 N, 44 50 E time difference:UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: 9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika) 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 Constitution: previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995; amended several times, last in 2013 (2013) Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state:President Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI (since 17 November 2013) head of government:Prime Minister Irakli GARIBASHVILI (since 20 November 2013) cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 October 2013 (next to be held in October 2018) election results:Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI elected president; percent of vote - Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI 62.1%, Davit BAKRADZE 21.7%, Nino BURJANADZE 10.2%, other 6% Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (150 seats; 77 members elected by proportional representation, 73 elected in single-member constituencies; members to serve four-year terms) elections:last held on 1 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results:percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 55%, United National Movement 40.3%, other 4.7%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 85, United National Movement 65 Judicial branch: highest court(s):Supreme Court (organized into several specialized judicial chambers; number of judges determined by the president of Georgia); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) note - the Abkhazian and Ajarian Autonomous republics each have a supreme court and a hierarchy of lower courts judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Parliament; judges serve not less than 10-year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president following candidate selection by the Justice Council of Georgia, a 12-member consultative body of high-level judges, and presidential and parliamentary appointees; judges appointed for 10-year terms subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts     Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Movement [Giorgi AKHVELDIANI] Conservative Party [Zviad DZIDZIGURI] European Democrats [Paata DAVITAIA] For Fair Georgia [Zurab NOGAIDELI] Free Georgia [Kakha KUKAVA] Georgian Dream (a six-party coalition composed of Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia, Republican Party, Our Georgia-Free Democrats, National Forum, Conservative Party, and Industry Will Save Georgia) Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia [Irakli GARIBASHVILI] Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE] Georgian Troupe [Jondi BAGHTURIA] Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE] Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI] National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA] National Forum [Kakhaber SHARTAVA] New Rights [Pikria CHIKHRADZE] Our Georgia-Free Democrats (OGFD) [Irakli KADAGIDZE] People's Party [Koba DAVITASHVILI Republican Party [Khatuna SAMNIDZE] Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI] United National Movement or UNM [Vano MERABISHVILI] Political pressure groups and leaders: separatists in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia International organization participation: ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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 Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Archil GEGESHIDZE (since 12 April 2013) chancery:2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:[1] (202) 387-2390 FAX:[1] (202) 387-0864 consulate(s) general:New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Richard NORLAND (since 25 July 2012) embassy:11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131 mailing address:7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone:[995] (32) 227-70-00 FAX:[995] (32) 253-23-10 Flag description: white rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; sometimes referred to as the Five-Cross Flag; although adopted as the official Georgian flag in 2004, the five-cross design appears to date back to the 14th century National symbol(s): Saint George; lion National anthem: name:'Tavisupleba' (Liberty) Search Subscrib Youtube Instagram LinkedIn Google Plus Twitter Facebook LookForAttorney Search local attorneys/ lawyers by distance near a location on the radius map Country Guide All Countries Tanzania Facts Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues Geography Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total:947,300 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 31 land:885,800 sq km water:61,500 sq km note:includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar Area - comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of California Land boundaries: total:3,861 km border countries:Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km Coastline: 1,424 km Maritime claims: territorial sea:12 nm exclusive economic zone:200 nm Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south Elevation extremes: lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:Kilimanjaro 5,895 m (highest point in Africa)     Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel Land use: arable land:12.25% permanent crops:1.79% other:85.96% (2011) Irrigated land: 1,843 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources: 96.27 cu km (2011) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 96.27 cu km (2011) Natural hazards: flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought Environment - current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory Environment - international agreements: party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements Geography - note: Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only two mountains on the continent that has glaciers (the other is Mount Kenya); bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) in the southwest People and Society Nationality: noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective:Tanzanian Ethnic groups: mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages Religions: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim Population: 49,639,138country comparison to the world: 26 note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years:44.6% (male 11,173,655/female 10,962,186) 15-24 years:19.5% (male 4,838,216/female 4,841,338) 25-54 years:29.5% (male 7,340,129/female 7,289,483) 55-64 years:3.5% (male 745,214/female 985,524) 65 years and over:2.9% (male 629,483/female 833,910) (2014 est.) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:92.4 % youth dependency ratio:86.1 % elderly dependency ratio:6.2 % potential support ratio:16.1 (2014 est.) Median age: total:17.4 years male:17.1 years female:17.7 years (2014 est.) Population growth rate: 2.8% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 18 Birth rate: 36.82 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 17 Death rate: 8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 92 Net migration rate: -0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 136 Urbanization: urban population:26.7% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization:4.77% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) Major urban areas - population: DAR ES SALAAM (capital) 3.588 million (2011) Sex ratio: at birth:1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years:1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years:1 male(s)/female 25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over:0.76 male(s)/female total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 Maternal mortality rate: 460 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)     Infant mortality rate: total:43.74 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 49 male:45.78 deaths/1,000 live births female:41.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population:61.24 yearscountry comparison to the world: 190 male:59.91 years female:62.62 years (2014 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.95 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 17 Contraceptive prevalence rate: 34.4% (2009/10) Health expenditures: 7.3% of GDP (2011) Physicians density: 0.01 physicians/1,000 population (2006) Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 77.9% of population rural: 44% of population total: 53.2% of population unimproved: urban: 22.1% of population rural: 56% of population total: 46.8% of population (2012 est.) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 24.9% of population rural: 7.5% of population total: 12.2% of population unimproved: urban: 75.1% of population rural: 92.5% of population total: 87.8% of population (2012 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 5.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 13 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,472,400 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 7 HIV/AIDS - deaths: 80,000 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 4 Major infectious diseases: Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 156 Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.2% (2010)country comparison to the world: 44 Education expenditures: 6.2% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 37 Literacy: definition:age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic total population:67.8% male:75.5% female:60.8% (2010 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total:9 years male:9 years female:9 years (2012) Child labor - children ages 5-14: Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total:7.1% (2011)country comparison to the world: 129 Government Country name: conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form:Tanzania local long form:Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania local short form:Tanzania former:United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar Government type: republic Capital: name:Dar es Salaam; note - legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital, and the National Assembly now meets there on a regular basis; the executive branch with all ministries and diplomatic representation remains in Dar es Salaam geographic coordinates:6 48 S, 39 17 E time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: 30 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Tabora, Tanga Independence: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent on 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent on 10 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar on 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October 1964 National holiday: Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964) Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977; amended many times, last in 2012; note - in 2012, the Tanzania Constitutional Review Commission was formed, and in June 2013, completed the first draft of a new constitution (2013) Legal system: English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state:President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government:President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010) note:Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Ali Mohamed SHEIN elected to that office on 31 October 2010, sworn in 3 November 2010 cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections:president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president election results:Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%, Willibrod SLAA 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%, other 4.4% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (357 seats; 239 members elected by popular vote, 102 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; members serve five-year terms, up to 10 additional members appointed by the president, 1 seat reserved for the Attorney General); note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives with jurisdiction exclusive to Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats; members elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms) elections:last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015) election results:National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 259, CHADEMA 48, CUF 34, NCCR-M 4, other 7, Zanzibar representatives 5; Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 28, CUF 22     Judicial branch: highest court(s):Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and NA judges) judge selection and term of office:Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges appointed until mandatory retirement at age 60 but can extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judge tenure NA subordinate courts:Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Willibrod SLAA] Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE] Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA] Democratic Party or DP [Christopher MTIKLA] (unregistered) National Convention for Construction and Reform - Mageuzi or NCCR-M [Hashim RUNGWE] Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Mutamwega MUGAHWYA] United Democratic Party or UDP [Fahma DOVUTWA] Political pressure groups and leaders: Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Liberata Rutageruka MULAMULA (since 17 July 2013) chancery:1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone:[1] (202) 939-6125 FAX: