Georgia — map and facts

About Georgia

Georgia is a country at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, located in the South Caucasus on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. With a population of approximately 3.7 million people and an area of 69,700 square kilometres, it is a medium-sized nation in the region. Tbilisi is the capital and largest city. Georgia is a parliamentary republic and applied for European Union membership in 2022. The country has two regions — Abkhazia and South Ossetia — under the control of Russian-backed de facto authorities since the early 1990s and 2008 respectively, which Georgia and most of the international community regard as occupied Georgian territory. The economy relies on tourism, viticulture, remittances, and transit trade. The Georgian Orthodox Church holds deep cultural and historical significance. Georgia is one of the world's oldest wine-producing regions, with evidence of winemaking dating back approximately 8,000 years. In 2023 and 2024, large pro-EU demonstrations took place in Tbilisi following government actions seen as moving the country toward Russia's sphere of influence.

Geography and Landscape

Georgia's geography is extraordinarily diverse for a country of its size. The Greater Caucasus range forms the northern border with Russia, with Mount Shkhara reaching 5,193 metres as the highest peak on Georgian territory. The Lesser Caucasus extends across the south and southwest of the country. Between these two ranges lies the fertile Colchic lowland in the west and the Kura River valley in the east. The Kura, known as the Mtkvari in Georgian, flows through Tbilisi eastward into Azerbaijan before reaching the Caspian Sea. The Black Sea coast in the west features the Adjara region with a humid subtropical climate and dense forests. Eastern Georgia has a drier, more continental climate. The Alazani River valley in the Kakheti region is Georgia's primary wine-producing area, lined with vineyards and ancient monasteries. The Borjomi Gorge is famous for its mineral spring waters. Diverse ecosystems ranging from subtropical wetlands to alpine meadows and semi-arid steppe support exceptional biodiversity.

History

The territory of present-day Georgia has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic period. The ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia existed from approximately the 6th century BCE, with Colchis featuring in Greek mythology as the destination of Jason and the Argonauts seeking the Golden Fleece. Christianity was introduced by Saint Nino around 327 CE, and Georgia became one of the earliest Christian nations. The medieval Kingdom of Georgia reached its golden age under Queen Tamar, who ruled from 1184 to 1213, expanding territory and patronising the arts including the poet Shota Rustaveli. Mongol invasions in the 13th century, followed by Timurid raids, fragmented the kingdom. Georgia came under Ottoman and Persian spheres of influence before the eastern Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti accepted Russian suzerainty in 1801. Soviet rule was established in 1921, and Georgia declared independence in 1991. The 2003 Rose Revolution brought reformist leaders to power. A brief war with Russia in August 2008 resulted in Russian recognition of Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence.