Georgia in Numbers: Economy, Population & Trade (2026)

Georgia is a small, open, upper-middle-income economy at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. With a population of about 3.9 million and a land area of roughly 69,700 km², it combines a modest domestic market with an outward-facing economy built on trade, transit, tourism and a fast-growing services sector. Over the past decade it has been one of the faster-growing economies in the wider region, supported by low taxes, a liberal business environment and deepening ties with both the European Union and its neighbours. This page pulls together the headline figures from official sources — chiefly the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) and the National Bank of Georgia — and sets them against a regional and global backdrop.

Figures are the latest available and are periodically revised; see the sources for current data.

Snapshot

Georgia vs the region and the world

Georgia is a smaller economy than most of its neighbours, but it has grown faster and kept inflation lower than the regional average in recent years, and it consistently scores highest in the South Caucasus on economic freedom.

Indicator (2024 unless noted)	Georgia	Armenia	Azerbaijan	Türkiye	EU (reference)
Real GDP growth	9.7%	~5.9%	~4.1%	~3.2%	~1.0%
GDP per capita, PPP (USD)	~28,000	~22,800	~25,100	~43,900	~62,300
Inflation (annual avg)	~1.1%	~0.3%	~2.2%	~58%	~2.6%
Economic-freedom rank (Heritage 2025)	35	57	75	111	—

Sources: Geostat (Georgia, 2024); IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank for GDP per capita (PPP) and comparator growth/inflation (2024 estimates); Heritage Foundation 2025 Index of Economic Freedom for ranks. Comparator figures are IMF/World Bank estimates and are latest available; treat single-year inflation figures for neighbours as approximate.

People and population

Georgia’s 2024 population census recorded 3,929,581 residents as of 14 November 2024 — up from the 2014 count, largely on the back of an urban rebound. About 62% of the population now lives in urban areas, and the capital, Tbilisi, is home to roughly 1.33 million people, or around 34% of the country (Geostat, 2024 census). The population is concentrated heavily in and around Tbilisi and the Black Sea corridor, while many rural and mountainous areas are sparsely settled. For a detailed breakdown of who is moving in and out of Georgia — and how the 2022 regional inflows reshaped the numbers — see Migration to Georgia: what the official data shows.

The economy

Georgia’s output is dominated by services, with industry second and agriculture now a relatively small share of value added — a structure typical of a middle-income economy shifting toward trade, tourism and business services.

Shares are of gross value added (Geostat, 2024); the remainder is net taxes on products. Within services, the largest single contributor to nominal GDP is wholesale and retail trade, followed by real estate, with manufacturing and construction leading on the industry side.

Key sectors underpinning the economy include:

• Tourism — a major source of foreign-currency earnings and a large employer, driving much of the services surplus.
• IT / BPO and ICT — a fast-growing export-oriented segment, supported by special tax regimes for the sector.
• Agriculture and wine — smaller in GDP terms but culturally central and a notable export earner, with wine a flagship product.
• Transit and logistics — Georgia’s position on east–west corridors between the Caspian, the Black Sea and Türkiye makes trans-shipment and re-export significant.
• Hydropower and energy — abundant hydro resources support domestic supply and periodic electricity exports.
• Construction and real estate — consistently among the largest contributors to nominal GDP.
• Financial services — a well-developed banking sector, reflected in it being the single largest recipient of foreign direct investment.

Trade: exports and imports

Georgia runs a large merchandise trade deficit. In 2024, total goods trade turnover was about USD 23.4 billion, with exports of roughly USD 6.6 billion against imports of about USD 16.9 billion, leaving a goods trade deficit of around USD 10.3 billion (Geostat, 2024). Much of this gap is offset by a strong surplus in services — above all tourism — which does not appear in the merchandise figures.

Georgia’s export basket is concentrated, and heavily shaped by re-exports (notably used cars re-shipped to neighbouring markets):

Top export goods (2024)	Approx. value	Approx. share of exports
Motor cars (mostly re-exports)	~$2.4bn	~37%
Ferro-alloys	~$320m	~4.9%
Spirits (spirituous beverages)	~$290m	~4.4%
Wine	~$276m	~4%
Copper / precious-metal ores	~$234m	~3.6%

Motor cars, ferro-alloys and spirits are the Geostat-confirmed top three for 2024; wine and ores are among other leading exports (approximate, latest available). Trade is oriented toward regional partners, and the top three export destinations account for a large slice of the total:

Export shares for Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are derived from Geostat’s 2024 figures; Russia and Armenia are approximate, latest available. On the import side, Türkiye, the United States, Russia and China are the largest suppliers, led by motor cars, petroleum products and medicaments. Businesses trading in or through Georgia often make use of its free industrial zones, which offer customs and tax advantages for manufacturing and re-export.

Business climate

Georgia consistently ranks as one of the more open and lightly regulated economies in the region. It scored around 69 and ranked roughly 35th globally in the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 Index of Economic Freedom — the highest in the South Caucasus, ahead of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye. On governance, it scored 53 out of 100 in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, placing it in the middle of the global table, though its score has slipped in the most recent readings.

Foreign direct investment has cooled from earlier peaks: net FDI was about USD 1.57 billion in 2024 (adjusted data, Geostat), down from prior years, with the bulk being reinvested earnings. The largest investor economies were the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Malta, and the financial sector was the single biggest recipient.

A large part of Georgia’s appeal to entrepreneurs and relocating businesses is its low, simple tax system. Companies benefit from an Estonian-style corporate profit tax that is only charged on distributed profit, alongside special tax regimes for small businesses, IT and international companies. Individuals may also qualify for favourable tax residency treatment.

Why this matters for relocation

For anyone considering a move, the numbers tell a consistent story: a small but fast-growing, open economy, with low inflation historically, a liberal tax system, and the highest economic-freedom ranking in the South Caucasus. Services and trade dominate, the population is concentrated in Tbilisi, and the country’s position on regional trade corridors keeps it outward-looking. If you are weighing Georgia as a base, these fundamentals sit behind the practical questions covered elsewhere on this site — from the work and residence permit route to tax residency and the migration data that shows who else is making the move.

Sources and methodology

The figures on this page are drawn from primary and official bodies:

• National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) — population and the 2024 census, GDP and GDP by sector, external trade, foreign direct investment, inflation and unemployment.
• National Bank of Georgia — the lari, monetary policy and the inflation target, and balance-of-payments/FDI data.
• IMF (World Economic Outlook / DataMapper) and the World Bank — GDP per capita (PPP) and international comparison.
• Heritage Foundation — 2025 Index of Economic Freedom rankings.
• Transparency International — Corruption Perceptions Index.

Every figure here is dated and traceable to the sources listed above. Numbers are rounded, reflect the latest available releases, and are periodically revised — always check the linked source for the current data. Our approach to sourcing and dating statistics is set out in the data integrity standard.

Frequently asked questions

What is Georgia's population?

About 3.9 million. Geostat's 2024 population census recorded 3,929,581 residents as of 14 November 2024. Roughly 62% live in urban areas, and about 1.33 million people (around 34% of the country) live in the capital, Tbilisi.

How big is Georgia's economy?

Nominal GDP was about GEL 93 billion in 2024, equivalent to roughly USD 34 billion (Geostat, 2024). GDP per capita was about USD 9,200 in nominal terms, or roughly USD 28,000 on a purchasing-power-parity (PPP) basis (IMF World Economic Outlook / World Bank, 2024).

How fast is Georgia's economy growing?

Real GDP grew 9.7% in 2024 according to Geostat's revised final estimate — one of the strongest growth rates in the region. Growth has averaged high single digits over recent years, though the IMF projects it to ease toward more moderate rates over the medium term.

What are Georgia's main exports?

In 2024 the largest single export was motor cars (about USD 2.4 billion, roughly 37% of exports), which is overwhelmingly re-export of used vehicles. Other leading exports include ferro-alloys, spirits, wine, and copper and precious-metal ores (Geostat, 2024).

What currency does Georgia use?

The Georgian lari (GEL, symbol ₾), issued by the National Bank of Georgia. Annual inflation was low in 2024 (about 1.1% on average) but rose during 2025; the National Bank targets inflation of around 3%.

How does Georgia rank on economic freedom and corruption?

Georgia scored around 69 and ranked about 35th globally in the Heritage Foundation's 2025 Index of Economic Freedom — the highest in the South Caucasus. It scored 53 out of 100 in Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, though its score has slipped more recently.