{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>The region of present-day Georgia once contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis (known as Egrisi locally) and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D., and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Persian, Arab, and Turk domination was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short when the Mongols invaded in 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1921 and regained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.</p> <p>In 2003, mounting public discontent over rampant corruption, ineffective government services, and a government attempt to manipulate parliamentary elections touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, who had been president since 1995. In the aftermath of this \"Rose Revolution,\" new elections in 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI and his United National Movement (UNM) party into power. SAAKASHVILI made progress on market reforms and governance, but he faced accusations of abuse of office. Progress was further complicated when Russian support for the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia led to a five-day conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, which included Russia invading large portions of Georgian territory. Russia initially pledged to pull back from most Georgian territory but then unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Russian military forces have remained in those regions.</p> <p>Billionaire Bidzina IVANISHVILI's unexpected entry into politics in 2011 brought the divided opposition together under his Georgian Dream coalition, which won a majority of seats in the 2012 parliamentary elections and removed UNM from power. Conceding defeat, SAAKASHVILI named IVANISHVILI as prime minister and left the country after his presidential term ended in 2013. IVANISHVILI voluntarily resigned from office after the presidential succession, and in the years since, the prime minister position has seen frequent turnover. In 2021, SAAKASHVILI returned to Georgia, where he was immediately arrested to serve six years in prison on outstanding abuse-of-office convictions. <br><br>Popular support for integration with the West is high in Georgia. Joining the EU and NATO are among the country's top foreign policy goals, and Georgia applied for EU membership in 2022, becoming a candidate country in December 2023. Georgia and the EU have a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, and since 2017, Georgian citizens have been able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe; note - Georgia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "42 00 N, 43 30 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Asia"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "69,700 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "69,700 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> approximately 12,560 sq km, or about 18% of Georgia's area, is Russian occupied; the seized area includes all of Abkhazia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which 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"
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than South Carolina; slightly larger than West Virginia"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,814 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Armenia 219 km; Azerbaijan 428 km; Russia 894 km; Turkey 273 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "310 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Mt'a Shkhara 5,193 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Black Sea 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "1,432 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "timber, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "35.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 5.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "39.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "25.1% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "4,330 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "settlement concentrated in the central valley, particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "earthquakes"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "<strong>note 1:</strong> strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the world's four deepest caves are all in Georgia, including two that are the only known caves on earth deeper than 2,000 m: Krubera Cave at -2,197 m (-7,208 ft; reached in 2012) and Veryovkina Cave at -2,212 (-7,257 ft; reached in 2018)"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "4,927,228 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Georgian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Georgian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1%; note - Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia (2014 est.)"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>მსოფლიო ფაქტების წიგნი, ძირითადი ინფორმაციის აუცილებელი წყარო. (Georgian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Eastern Orthodox Christian (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic Christian 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Roman Catholic Christian, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant Christian, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Analyzing population trends in Georgia since independence in 1991 has proven difficult due to a lack of reliable demographic statistics.  Censuses were fairly accurately and regularly updated through a vital statistics system during Georgia’s period of Soviet rule, but from independence until about 2010, the system broke down as a result of institutional and economic change, social unrest, and large-scale outmigration.  The 2002 census is believed to have significantly overestimated the size of Georgia’s population, in part because respondents continued to include relatives living abroad as part of their household count.  The 2014 census indicates that Georgia’s population is decreasing and aging.  Census data shows that the median age increased from 34.5 years in 2002 to 37.7 years in 2014.  The working-age population (ages 15-65 years) was fairly high in 2002 and rose between 2005 and 2011. Nonetheless, Georgia did not reap economic benefits from this age structure, since the working-age population increase seems to have stimulated labor outmigration to Russia, Ukraine, and other neighboring countries.</p> <p>Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgia has seen its economy grow to its highest level in years due to the influx of Russian businesses, information and communications technology specialists, and money transfers.  This growth may only be temporary and conditions could still easily change depending on future events.  Meanwhile, the Russian inflow is also a source of concern, as some Georgians fear it could prompt Putin to target their country next.  In addition, Ukrainian refugees use Georgia not just as a transit country but also as a destination.  Some 25,000 Ukrainians remain in the country as of November 2022; they pose an additional strain on resources in Georgia, which has a significant population of its own displaced citizens – from the 2008 Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia – who continue to need government support.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "18.41% (male 468,459/female 440,195)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "63.65% (male 1,543,748/female 1,598,047)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "17.95% (2023 est.) (male 348,822/female 537,119)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "55.4"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "32.8"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "22.6"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "4.4 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "38 years (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "35.6 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "40.4 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "-0.57% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "12.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "13.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "settlement concentrated in the central valley, particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "60.7% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia"
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "1.082 million TBILISI (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.65 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.92 male(s)/female (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "25.9 years (2019 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data does not cover Abkhazia and South Ossetia"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "28 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "24.3 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "20.8 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "72.3 years (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "68.3 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "76.6 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.96 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.95 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "40.6% (2018)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 99.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 94.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 97.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 5.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 2.7% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "7.6% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.9 beds/1,000 population (2014)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 96.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 72.7% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 86.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 3.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 27.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 13.3% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "21.7% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "1.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "3.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "31.7% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "56.3% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "7.1% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "2.1% (2018)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "67.1% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "0.3%"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "13.9%"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "0.5% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "99.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "99.7%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "99.5% (2019)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "16 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "16 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "16 years (2021)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy water pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals; land and forest degradation; biodiversity loss; waste management"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "35.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 5.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "39.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "25.1% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "60.7% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia"
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "19.06 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "10.13 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "6.05 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "800,000 tons (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "610 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "340 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "710 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "63.33 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Georgia"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Georgia"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Sak'art'velo"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the Western name may derive from the Persian designation \"gurgan\" meaning \"Land of the Wolves\"; the native name \"Sak'art'velo\" means \"Land of the Kartvelians\" and refers to the core central Georgian region of Kartli"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "semi-presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Tbilisi"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "41 41 N, 44 50 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name in Georgian means \"warm place,\" referring to the numerous sulfuric hot springs in the area"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "<p>9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika)</p> <p><strong>regions:</strong> 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</p> <p><strong>city:</strong> Tbilisi</p> <p><strong>autonomous republics:</strong> Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)</p>",
      "note": "<strong>note 1:</strong> the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the United States recognizes the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be part of Georgia"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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; amended several times, last in 2020 (legislative electoral system revised)"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Georgia"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "10 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Salome ZOURABICHVILI (since 16 December 2018)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 8 February 2024); note - Irakli GARIBASHVILI resigned on 29 January 2024 to prepare for general elections in October 2024"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet of Ministers"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president; note - 2017 constitutional amendments made the 2018 election the last where the president was directly elected; future presidents will be elected by a 300-member College of Electors; in light of these changes, ZOURABICHVILI was allowed a six-year term"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em>2024: </em>Irakli KOBAKHIDZE approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 84-10<em><br><br>2018:</em> 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; note-resigned on January 29, 2024"
      },
      "note": "<em>2013:</em> Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI elected president; Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI (Georgian Dream) 62.1%, David BAKRADZE (ENM) 21.7%, Nino BURJANADZE (DM-UG) 10.2%, other 6%"
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Parliament or Sakartvelos Parlamenti (150 seats statutory, 140 as of May 2023); 120 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote and 30 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by at least 50% majority vote, with a runoff if needed; no party earning less than 40% of total votes may claim a majority; members serve 4-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 31 October and 21 November 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 48.2%, UNM 27.2%, European Georgia 3.8%, Lelo 3.2%, Strategy 3.2%, Alliance of Patriots 3.1%, Girchi 2.9%, Citizens 1.3%, Labor 1%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 90, UNM 36, European Georgia 5, Lelo 4, Strategy 4, Alliance of Patriots 4, Girchi 4, Citizens 2, Labor 1; composition as of February 2024 - men 113, women 27, percentage women 19.3%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "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); note - the Abkhazian and Ajarian Autonomous republics each have a supreme court and a hierarchy of lower courts"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Alliance of Patriots [Davit TARKHAN-MOURAVI]<br>Citizens Party [Aleko ELISASHVILI]<br>Democratic Movement-United Georgia or DM-UC [Nino BURJANADZE] <br>European Georgia-Movement for Liberty [Giga BOKERIA]<br>European Socialists [Fridon INJIA]<br>For Georgia [Giorgi GAKHARIA]<br>Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia [Irakli KOBAKHIDZE]<br>Girchi-More Freedom [Zurab JAPARIDZE]<br>Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]<br>Lelo for Georgia [Mamuka KHAZARADZE]<br>New Political Centre-Girchi [Iago KHVICHIA]<br>Republican Party [Khatuna SAMNIDZE]<br>Strategy Aghmashenebeli [Giorgi VASHADZE]<br>United National Movement or UNM [Levan KHABEISHVILI]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador David ZALKALIANI (since 7 June 2022)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 387-2390"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 387-0864"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.ge<br><br>https://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Robin L. DUNNIGAN (since 12 October 2023)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "29 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue, Didi Dighomi, Tbilisi, 0131"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC&nbsp; 20521-7060"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[995] (32) 227-70-00"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[995] (32) 253-23-10"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>askconsultbilisi@state.gov<br><br>https://ge.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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; sometimes referred to as the Five-Cross Flag; although adopted as the official Georgian flag in 2004, the five-cross design is based on a 14th century banner of the Kingdom of Georgia"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "Saint George, lion; national colors: red, white"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Tavisupleba\" (Liberty)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 2004; after the Rose Revolution, a new anthem with music based on the operas \"Abesalom da Eteri\" and \"Daisi\" was adopted"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Gelati Monastery (c); Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (c); Upper Svaneti (c); Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (n)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>main economic activities include cultivation of agricultural products, such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese, copper, and gold; producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$63.403 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$57.434 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$51.993 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: data in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "10.39% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "10.47% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-6.76% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$17,100 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$15,500 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$14,000 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: data in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$24.781 billion (2022 est.)",
      "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "11.9% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "9.57% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": {
        "text": "5.2% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "BB (2019)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "Ba2 (2017)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "BB (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "8.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "23.7% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "67.9% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "62.8% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "17.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "29.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "2.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "50.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-62.2% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, grapes, maize, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, tomatoes, tangerines/mandarins, barley, apples"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "steel, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese, copper, gold), chemicals, wood products, wine"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "15.3% (2022 est.)",
      "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "1.84 million (2022 est.)",
      "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "11.68% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "11.85% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "11.73% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "28.3% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "27.4%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "29.9%"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "15.6% (2022 est.)",
      "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021": {
        "text": "34.2 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Average household expenditures": {
      "on food": {
        "text": "32.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)"
      },
      "on alcohol and tobacco": {
        "text": "3.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "2.7%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "26.2% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "15.55% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "14.19% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2020": {
        "text": "13.32% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$4.737 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$5.059 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2022": {
        "text": "43.32% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2021": {
        "text": "55.38% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2020": {
        "text": "65.88% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: central government debt as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "23.09% (of GDP) (2022 est.)",
      "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$1.12 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$1.943 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "-$1.984 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$13.24 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$8.086 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$5.927 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "China 13%, Russia 12%, Azerbaijan 11%, Turkey 7%, Ukraine 6% (2021)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "copper, iron alloys, cars, wine, refined petroleum, nitrogen fertilizers, liquors (2021)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$15.665 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$11.151 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$8.967 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Turkey 17%, China 9%, Russia 9%, United States 7%, Azerbaijan 6% (2021)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "cars, refined petroleum, copper, packaged medicines, natural gas (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$4.886 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$4.271 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020": {
        "text": "$3.913 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2019": {
        "text": "$18.149 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 2018": {
        "text": "$17.608 billion (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "laris (GEL) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "2.916 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "3.222 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "3.109 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "2.818 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "2.534 (2018 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "4.579 million kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "12,062,080,000 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "256 million kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "1.712 billion kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "918.2 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "25.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "73.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "99,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "362,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "277,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "201 million metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "300 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "32,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "100 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "35 million barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "247 bbl/day (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "2,052 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "28,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "6.088 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "2.54 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "2.535 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "8.495 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "10.299 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "1.063 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "4.245 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "4.992 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "63.286 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "301,117 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "9 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "5,163,558 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "137 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "the telecom sector has been attempting for many years to overcome the decades of under-investment in its fixed-line infrastructure during the Soviet era; concerted efforts to privatize state-owned enterprises and open up the telecom market have been mostly successful, with a large number of networks now competing in both the fixed-line and the mobile segments; more needs to be done, however, to give investors the confidence to enter a market that has barely moved in terms of revenue growth over the last decade, and where regulatory overreach has sometimes come perilously close to arresting further development; Georgia&rsquo;s government moved fast following the collapse of the Soviet Union to liberalize the country&rsquo;s telecom market; this resulted in a relatively high number of networks competing in the under-developed fixed-line segment as well as in the emerging mobile market; both segments remain dominated by just a few companies (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line subscriptions 9 per 100, mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 137 per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 995; landing points for the Georgia-Russia, Diamond Link Global, and Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Russia, Romania and Bulgaria; international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "The Tbilisi-based Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) includes Channel 1, Channel 2, and the Batumi-based Adjara TV, and the State Budget funds all three; there are also a number of independent commercial television broadcasters, such as Imedi, Rustavi 2, Pirveli TV, Maestro, Kavkasia, Georgian Dream Studios (GDS), Obiektivi, Mtavari Arkhi, and a small Russian language operator TOK TV; Tabula and Post TV are web-based television outlets; all of these broadcasters and web-based television outlets, except GDS, carry the news; the Georgian Orthodox Church also operates a satellite-based television station called Unanimity; there are 26 regional television broadcasters across Georgia that are members of the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters and/or the Alliance of Georgian Broadcasters; the broadcaster organizations seek to strengthen the regional media's capacities and distribution of regional products: a nationwide digital switchover occurred in 2015; there are several dozen private radio stations; GPB operates 2 radio stations (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".ge"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2.888 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "76% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "986,809 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "25 (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "4 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "12"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "516,034 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "750,000 (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "4L"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "19 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "4 (2024)"
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "1,596 km gas, 1,175 km oil (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,363 km (2014)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "37 km (2014) 0.912-m gauge (37 km electrified)"
      },
      "broad gauge": {
        "text": "1,326 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (1,251 km electrified)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "40,044 km (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "26 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 3, other 23"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Black Sea - Batumi, Poti"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Georgian Defense Forces (GDF; aka Defense Forces of Georgia or DFG): Ground Forces, Air Force, National Guard, Special Operations Forces, National Guard; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Border Police, Coast Guard (includes Georgian naval forces, which were merged with the Coast Guard in 2009) (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Ministry of Internal Affairs also has forces for protecting strategic infrastructure and conducting special operations"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "estimates vary; approximately 30,000 troops, including active National Guard forces (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>in December 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a resolution determining that the Georgian Defense Forces would have a maximum peacetime strength of 37,000 troops"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the majority of the military's inventory consists of Soviet-era weapons and equipment, although in recent years it has received armaments from a number of European countries, as well as the US (2023)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription was abolished in 2016, but reinstated in 2017 for men 18-27 years of age; conscript service obligation is 12 months (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note 1: </strong>approximately 6-7,000 individuals are called up annually for conscription for service; approximately 25% enter the Defense Forces, while the remainder serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs or as prison guards in the Ministry of Corrections<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> as of 2022, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the Defense Forces of Georgia (DFG) are responsible for protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country; the DFG also provides units for multinational military operations abroad and supports the Border Police in border protection and civil authorities in counter-terrorist operations, if requested; it is focused primarily on Russia, which maintains military bases and troops in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia; a five-day conflict with Russian forces in 2008 resulted in the defeat and expulsion of Georgian forces from the breakaway regions <br><br>Georgia is not a member of NATO but has had a relationship with the Alliance since 1992 and declared its aspiration to join in 2002; the military is working to make itself more compatible with NATO and has participated in multinational exercises and security operations abroad with NATO, such as Afghanistan, where it was one of the top non-NATO contributors, and Kosovo; the DFG has also contributed troops to EU and UN missions<br><br>the DFG is divided into two regional commands (eastern and western); the Ground Forces make up the majority of the DFG, with four infantry and two artillery brigades; the Coast Guard/naval forces operate a mix of coastal patrol craft and patrol boats, while the Air Force has a handful of refurbished Soviet-era ground attack aircraft (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "26,660 (Ukraine) (as of 30 December 2023)"
      },
      "IDPs": {
        "text": "308,000 (displaced in the 1990s as a result of armed conflict in the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; displaced in 2008 by fighting between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia) (2022)"
      },
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "530 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>a transit country for opiates produced in Asia trafficked into Ukraine or Moldova via the Black Sea for other European destinations; not a major corridor for synthetic drug smuggling operations; domestic synthetic market for ecstasy/MDMA, amphetamines, and cannabis with ecstasy laced with fentanyl the drug of choice</p>"
    }
  }
}