fers from energy shortages; it
privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are
steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term
recovery on the development of an international transportation
corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The
growing trade deficit, continuing problems with tax evasion and
corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic
picture. However, revived investment could spur higher economic growth
in 2000, perhaps up to 6%.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 23%
services: 45% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: 60% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19% (1999 est.)

Labor force: 3.08 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation: industry and construction 20%,
agriculture and forestry 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14.5% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $364 million
expenditures: $568 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)

Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, electric locomotives,
trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine

Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (1998 est.)

Electricity - production: 6.96 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.66%
hydro: 85.34%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)

Electricity - consumption: 6.123 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports: 700 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports: 350 million kWh (1998)

Agriculture - products: citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes;
livestock

Exports: $330 million (1999 est.)

Exports - commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural
products; diverse types of machinery and metals; chemicals; fuel
reexports; textiles

Exports - partners: Russia 27%, Turkey 20%, Azerbaijan 10%, Armenia 8%
(1997)

Imports: $840 million (1999 est.)

Imports - commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and
parts, transport equipment

Imports - partners: EU 22%, Russia 15%, Turkey 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, US
7% (1997)

Debt - external: $1.8 billion (1998)

Economic aid - recipient: $212.7 million (1995)

Currency: 1 lari (GEL) = 100 tetri