Georgia Map: What You Need to Know About Georgia

Georgia is a country located halfway between Asia and Europe, making it a Euro-Asian country situated in the Caucasian region of Eurasia. The official name of the country is the Republic of Georgia due to its parliamentary status.

The Georgian territory covers an area of 69,700 km2 inhabited by 3.718 million people. This population is mainly composed of Georgians at 86.8%, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and Russians.

The largest urban area of the country as well as its capital is Tbilisi, and the official language of the country is Georgian. The religion of the majority of the people (88%) is Christianity. The country’s telephone code is 995, i.e., 0995 or +995.

Which countries border it?

The neighboring countries of Georgia are Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. The country is also bordered to the west by the Black Sea.

Population of Georgia

The population of Georgia is approximately 3,729,600 inhabitants; with a territory area of 69,700 km2, the population density is 65.3 inhabitants per km2. The annual growth rate of the Georgian population is 0.15%.

The birth and death rates are respectively 0.143% and 0.120%. Life expectancy at birth is 73.5 years, and the male/female ratio in the country is 92%, with 107% at birth, 109% for those under 15 years old, and the rest showing a ratio of 96%.

What are the colors of the country?

The flag of Georgia is a flag called the five-cross flag. It consists of a white background with a large red cross in the middle and 4 smaller crosses in the 4 sections formed by the large one. Information about the flag indicates that the colors signify many things.

White represents purity, abstinence, brightness, and discernment. The color red represents valor, courage, righteousness, and affection. Literally, the Georgian flag is a Christian flag that represents the people’s love for their God.

Main things to visit in Georgia

Tbilisi

The capital is a magnificent city representing both old Europe combined with some oriental relics. The city is located on the banks of the Kura River surrounded by mountain ranges. You will see several buildings dating from the Soviet era as well as modernized buildings such as the new theater or the Bridge of Peace.

Situated on a height, the capital is a wonderful place for walking; you can stroll along the paved alleys around which several churches are built. The old town also includes the Narikala fortress, which offers a panoramic view of the region’s expanse.

One of its famous monuments is the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity erected high on Mount Saint Elias, next to which stands a botanical park ideal for outdoor walks. The city is also a famous seaside resort where thermal springs are found at its heart. It will therefore be a magnificent place to recharge and relax. Do not forget to visit the Clock Tower, which is a puppet theater and represents the culture of the city. It is also where musical performances often take place, where both adults and children can enjoy themselves.

Kutaisi

Kutaisi is the second largest urban area in the country; it is a small quiet village with a countryside charm. Lined by the Rioni River, the city displays a magnificent design with charming little houses. In this city, the walk is pleasant and you can even admire the old neighborhoods as well as the original houses with foliage scattered all around.

If you prefer to discover the country’s crafts and taste the city’s specialties, visit the covered market. It is there that you can taste a drink called chacha or tchurtchkhela, a dried fruit delicacy. The upper part of the city is accessible via a cable car that ends its route at the Bagrat Cathedral, a remnant of Georgian architecture. Also visit the Gelati Monastery located near the city just a few kilometers away. It is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Tusheti

The town is located in the northeastern section of the country, access to which is only possible via dangerous roads. It is a very remote town that is difficult to reach even during the summer periods. The town is located right in the center of the Caucasus and is bordered by mountain ranges; access is via small streets that cross panoramas and original villages scattered among vast wild emptiness.

This region is one of the least populated in the Caucasus but it is also the territory of several ancient architectures and protected monuments. Here, you will find some fortified boroughs and defense keeps that once preserved the town’s security against invasion. The inhabitants once lived off shepherding and farming.

Rent a 4×4 and head to Omalo, which abounds with parks left in a wild state that you can discover along with the abundant wildlife.

Where the cities are located on the map of Georgia

Tbilisi

The city of Tbilisi is located in the eastern part of the country inland. It is crossed by the Kura or Mt’kvari River. Geographic coordinates: 41° 43′ 01″ north, 44° 46′ 59″ east.

Kutaisi

The city of Kutaisi is located in the central section of Georgia, the Rioni River passes through the city center. Geographic coordinates: 42° 15′ north, 42° 42′ east.

Tusheti

The town of Tusheti is located in the northeastern section of Georgia, it is an area that is part of the world heritage, its geographic location is: 42°30’N, 45°30’E.

Economic map of Georgia

Georgia’s economy is one of the least performing in the world. According to the IMF, its trade balance is in deficit due to a lack of exports. The Georgian territory is only used by its neighbors for the transit of hydrocarbons going from the east to the west, particularly for European countries.

Foreign investors’ placements increased the country’s GDP thanks to 449.8 million dollars in turnover in 2005. However, this figure gradually decreased year by year until the financial crisis of 2009. In the years preceding the financial crisis, the country’s GDP experienced an annual growth rate of 9%. Recently, the growth rate has significantly decreased to 2% in 2016. Industrialization in the country is low and represents about 25% of the country’s GDP.

Other influential economic sectors are real estate, rental, and commercial activity. Foreign trade including import and export represents 12% of GDP. In contrast, the primary sector represents 8.1% of GDP. The active population with employment has been around 2 million over the last 10 years. However, the unemployment rate seems to be stagnant, between 12 and 16% of the active population. Here are some economic indicators of the country:

• Currency: Lari
• International organizations of which the country is a member: WTO, European Union
• Gross Domestic Product at nominal parity: 14.33 billion USD
• Annual GDP growth rate: 2.7% (2016)
• GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Parity: 3,852 USD
• Inflation rate: 1.8%
• Population below the poverty line: 20.1%
• Active population: 2,021,500
• Unemployment rate as % of active population: 12%
• Exports: 3.356 billion USD
• Imports: 9.137 billion USD

Climate map of Georgia

Although the Georgian territory is small, the climate is diverse. In the western coastal regions as well as the surrounding plains, the climate is tropical rainy. The central regions experience an arid climate. In contrast, the mountainous areas have an alpine climate.

Climate in coastal areas

The coastline bordering the Black Sea shows abundant rainfall exceeding 1500mm annually. These precipitations are evenly distributed throughout the year but are more abundant during the winter and autumn periods. In this part of the Georgian territory, the winter is milder with temperatures around 7°C.

This climate is influenced by the sea as well as the North Caucasus which prevents winds coming from the north from prevailing. Snow cover in the area is short, about 10 days per year. The summer in this part of the territory is hot but temperatures are lower than in the rest of the country, averaging 23°C. It is also the rainy season with rains often occurring in the afternoon in the form of thunderstorms.

Climate inland

In the center of the Georgian territory, the topography is dominated by mountain ranges as well as plateaus and valleys elevated over 400m altitude. As a result, the climate in this area is of the dry tropical type. Spring temperatures are around 25°C. However, summer is hotter with maximum sunshine and thunderstorms occurring in the early afternoon. Temperatures range between 35 and 38°C.

In the capital, the mountain ranges that make up the territory exhibit an alpine climate characterized by a cold winter with frequent snowfall and glaciers spread over a large area. In the highest part of the city, which is Mount Chkhara, rainfall is frequent. The capital area is highly subject to strong winds that bring frequent summer rains amounting to about 4500 mm annually. Along the capital’s coast, the winds hit hard and blow into the mountains.

Administrative and Demolinguistic Data

Administrative Subdivisions

Georgia is subdivided into autonomous republics, regions, and municipalities.

Currently

• There are 76 municipalities
• There are 12 autonomous cities
• There are 64 communities

Just like the autonomous republics, there are nine regions also called Mkhare. These are: Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Shida Kartli. The capital is also called an autonomous territory which is subdivided into 10 districts.

Here are the 12 administrative regions of Georgia:

• Abkhazia
• Mingrelia and Upper Svaneti
• Guria
• Adjara
• Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti
• Imereti
• Samtskhe-Javakheti
• Upper Kartli (or Kartalinie)
• Meskheti (and Mtianeti)
• Lower Kartli (or Kartalinie)
• Kakheti
• Tbilisi

Demolinguistic Data

Currently, there are more than 50 Georgian ethnic groups. The most important are

• Georgians who represent 70.50% of the population; the language of this ethnicity is Georgian
• Mingrelians who represent 7.70% of the population and speak Mingrelian
• North Azerbaijanis or Azeris who represent 6.00% of the population and speak North Azeri
• Armenians who represent 5.40% of the population and speak Armenian
• Abkhazians who represent 2.90% of the population and speak Abkhaz
• Greeks or Turkified people from Mariupol or Ourums who represent 2.00% of the population and speak Ourum.
• There are also Russians, Ossetians, and Kurds.