Population: 4,677,401 (July 2005 est.)
Total Area: 69,700 sq km - slightly smaller than South Carolina
Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
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
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
National holiday: 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
Economy - brief overview: 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 sec
tor 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.Labor force: 2.1 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40%
Agriculture - products: citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock
Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Oil - production: 2,000 bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA
Oil - exports: NA
Exports: $909.4 million
Exports - commodities: scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine
Imports: $1.806 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: Russia 14%, Turkey 11%, UK 9.3%, Azerbaijan 8.5%, Germany 8.2%, Ukraine 7.7%, US 6% (2004)
Government departments: Press Office Of President Of Georgia
Media: GeoTimes
Travel Information: Georgian Travel Guide
Other useful links:
Georgische Kunst (Georgian art)
Millenium project (Georgian history, culture, biographies of prominent people, heraldic and cartography)
Gobelins from Georgia - Miss Mzia Bobokhidze
News headlines
Ethnic Minorities Council Established by Ombudsman Office
Georgian Citizens to Receive Passports in 24 Hours for Additional Payment
Ministry of Energy to Call Tender for Launching Small and Medium HES
Parliamentarians Demand Apologizes From Russian Government
Giorgi Khaindrava Presented List Of Arms In Tskhinvali
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