World Factbook
Georgia
Republic of Georgia
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: white rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross (also known as Bolnisi cross), which has equal-length arms that are slightly wider at the end than in the center history: sometimes referred to as the Five-Cross Flag, the design is based on a 14th-century banner of the Kingdom of Georgia
Capital
name
Tbilisi
etymology
the name comes from the Georgian word tbili , meaning "warm" and referring to the hot sulfur springs in the area
time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
41 41 N, 44 50 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Georgia
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995
amendment process
proposed as a draft law supported by more than one half of the Parliament membership or by petition of at least 200,000 voters; passage requires support by at least three fourths of the Parliament membership in two successive sessions three months apart and the signature and promulgation by the president of Georgia
Country name
former
Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology
the Western name probably derives from the name of the local people, the Gurz, whose name origin is uncertain; the native name "Sak'art'velo" means "Land of the Kartvelians" and refers to the core central Georgian region of Kartli
local long form
Republic of Georgia
local short form
Sak'art'velo
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Georgia
Independence
9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
note
note: the Abkhazian and Ajarian Autonomous republics each have a supreme court and a hierarchy of lower courts
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges organized into several specialized judicial chambers; number of judges determined by the president of Georgia); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges nominated by the High Council of Justice (a 14-member body consisting of the Supreme Court chairperson, common court judges, and appointees of the president of Georgia) and appointed by Parliament; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed 3 each by the president, by Parliament, and by the Supreme Court judges; judges appointed for 10-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers
chief of state
President Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (since 29 December 2024)
election results
2024: Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (Georgian Dream Party) was formally inaugurated on 29 December 2024 2024: Irakli KOBAKHIDZE approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 84-10 2018: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Irakli GARIBASHVILI approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 89-2
head of government
Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 8 February 2024)
most recent election date
14 December 2024
election/appointment process
president elected by a 300-member College of Electors; prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 May (1918)
note: 26 May 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia; 9 April 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
National color(s)
red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Gelati Monastery (c); Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (c); Upper Svaneti (c); Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (n)
Political parties
Ahali Citizens Conservative Party Droa European Georgia - Movement for Liberty For Georgia For the People Freedom Square Georgian Dream Girchi - More Freedom Law and Justice Lelo for Georgia National Democratic Party People's Power Progress and Freedom Republican Party State for the People Strategy Aghmashenebeli United National Movement or UNM
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
150 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Sakartvelos Parlamenti)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/26/2024
expected date of next election
October 2028
percentage of women in chamber
16.8%
parties elected and seats per party
Georgian Dream (89); Coalition for Changes (19); Unity - National Movement (16); Strong Georgia – Lelo, For people, For Liberty! (14); For Georgia (12)
National anthem(s)
title
"Tavisupleba" (Liberty)
history
adopted 2004, after the Rose Revolution; based on music from the operas "Abesalom da Eteri" and "Daisi"
lyrics/music
Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)
National symbol(s)
Saint George, lion
Administrative divisions
9 regions ( mkharebi , singular - mkhare ), 1 city ( kalaki ), and 2 autonomous republics ( avtomnoy respubliki , singular - avtom respublika ) regions: 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 city: Tbilisi autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)
note 1: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses
note 2: the United States recognizes the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as part of Georgia
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 387-0864
chancery
1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 387-2390
chief of mission
Ambassador Tamar TALIASHVILI (since 24 July 2025)
consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
email address and website
embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.ge https://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[995] (32) 253-23-10
embassy
29 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue, Didi Dighomi, Tbilisi, 0131
telephone
[995] (32) 227-70-00
mailing address
7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alan S. PURCELL (since 16 July 2025)
email address and website
askconsultbilisi@state.gov https://ge.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CPLP (associate), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction