Facts about Georgia: history, symbols, numbers
Where Georgia is and which countries it borders, how many people live here, what time it is in Tbilisi, what the flag and coat of arms show and who founded Tbilisi.
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What time is it in Tbilisi and Batumi, and which time zone does Georgia use?
All of Georgia, including Tbilisi and Batumi, is on one time, UTC+4.
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What happened to Abkhazia, and what is its status under Georgian law?
In Soviet times Abkhazia was an autonomous republic within the Georgian SSR, and after the armed conflict of 1992-1993 the Georgian authorities lost control of it.
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What is the Georgian war dance with weapons called?
The Georgian war dance with real swords is called parikaoba, an ancient dance with extremely complicated acrobatic steps.
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Why is Georgia called Georgia, and what do Georgians call their country?
Georgians call their country Sakartvelo, 'the land of the Kartvelians', and a Georgian person is a Kartveli.
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What is the Georgian chokha, and is it on UNESCO's intangible heritage list?
The chokha is part of traditional Georgian men's clothing, worn with a belt, a dagger, knitted britches and cowhide footwear.
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What is the national anthem of Georgia, and what is it called?
The national anthem of Georgia is called Tavisupleba (Freedom), and its text and music are set out in Annexes 4 and 5 of the Organic Law on State Symbols.
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What is the largest lake in Georgia?
Georgia's largest lake by surface area is Paravani, at 2,073 meters above sea level in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
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What is the longest river in Georgia?
The longest river in Georgia is the Alazani, at 406 kilometers.
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What was Colchis, and where was it?
Colchis was an ancient kingdom on the Black Sea shore, in what is now western Georgia, and is considered the first Georgian state.
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How old is Georgian wine, and where were the oldest traces of winemaking found?
Georgian winemaking has about 8,000 years of tradition, and the oldest traces of wine were found at Gadachrili Gora in Marneuli Municipality.
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What is Ushguli, and is it really the highest inhabited place in Europe?
Ushguli, a village in Svaneti known for its Svan towers, was long considered the highest inhabited point in Europe.
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Who are the famous Georgian writers and poets?
The best known names in Georgian literature include Shota Rustaveli, author of The Knight in the Panther's Skin, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Vazha-Pshavela and Galaktion Tabidze.
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Which countries send the most visitors to Georgia?
Citizens of Russia made the most visits to Georgia in 2025, followed by citizens of Turkey and then Armenia.
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How many tourists visit Georgia each year?
In 2025 Georgia had 5,789,300 international visitors, and 4,668,200 of them were only tourists who stayed overnight.
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Why is Georgia called the land of the Golden Fleece?
Georgia is called the land of the Golden Fleece because of the Greek myth of the Argonauts and the ancient fame of Colchis for its gold.
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What is The Knight in the Panther's Skin and who wrote it?
The Knight in the Panther's Skin is a poem by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, written during the reign of Queen Tamar.