Georgia

Georgia (local Sak'art'velo) is a country in Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus region.

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, some progress on market reforms and democratization has been made.

More: Map of Georgia ►

◄ Asia

Information about Georgia

Capital: T'bilisi.

Administrative divisions: Nine regions one city (T'bilisi) and two autonomous republics (Abkhazia and Ajaria). The regions are: 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.

Population: 4 million (2018).

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% (2014 est.). Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia.

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.).

Terrain: mostly 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; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland. The highest point is in Mt'a Shkhara (5,193 m).

Border countries: Armenia (219 km), Azerbaijan (428 km), Russia (894 km) and Turkey (273 km).

Source: World Factbook - CIA.

The 11th century Sveti Tskhoveli Cathedral, in Mtskheta, former capital of Georgia. Today, Mtskheta is a City-Museum Reserve and a UNESCO's World Heritage site with historic examples of medieval religious architecture of the Caucasus.

Georgia flag adopted on 14 January 2004.

Georgia

Turkish-style bath houses, old town, T'bilisi.

Copyright © Geographic Guide - Travel.

Old chapel above River Kura, in T'bilisi.