Georgia (country)

Georgia is a country on the Black Sea in the South Caucasus. A former republic of the Soviet Union, it shares borders with Russia in the north and Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan in the south.

Sakartvelo (საქართველო)

coat of arms
(In Detail) (Full size)

National motto:

Official language
Capital and
largest city Tbilisi
Capital's coordinates 41° 43' N, 44° 48' E
President Eduard Shevardnadze
Area
- Total
- % water Ranked 118th
69'700 km²
Negligible
Population
- Total (2003E)
- Density Ranked 111th
4'934'413
71/km²
Independence
From Soviet Union
9 April 1991
Currency Lari (GEL)
Time zone UTC +4 (DST +5)
National anthem Dideba zetsit kurtheuls
Internet TLD .GE
Calling Code 995

Table of contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 Rayons
4 Geography
5 Economy
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Miscellaneous topics
9 External links and references

Georgia is divided into 53 rayons (raionebi, singular - raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika):

Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria** (Batumi), Akhalgoris, khalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis, Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiatura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, Kutaisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*, Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis

note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses).

ISO 3166-2 codes for regions and autonomous republics of Georgia

Geography

Main article: Geography of Georgia

In the north, Georgia has a 723km common border with Russia, specifically with the Northern Caucasus federal district. The following Russian republics/subdivisions - from west to east - border Georgia: Krasnodar Region, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan.

Main cities: