Tbilisi (GBC) - Georgia’s National Statistics Office (GeoStat) has published the principal findings of the country’s 2024 Population and Agricultural Census.
As of November 14, 2024, Georgia’s population stood at 3,929,581, representing an increase of 5.8 per cent (215,777 persons) compared with the 2014 census figure of 3,713,804.
According to the 2024 census results, the urban population numbered 2,455,444 (62.5 per cent), whilst the rural population stood at 1,474,137 (37.5 per cent). The urban population grew by 15.7 per cent (332,821 persons), whereas the rural population declined by 7.4 per cent (117,044 persons). As a result, the urban-rural balance shifted markedly compared with 2014, with the urban share of the total population rising by 5.3 percentage points to reach 62.5 per cent.
The population of Tbilisi was recorded at 1,331,485, exceeding the 2014 census figure by 20.1 per cent (222,768 persons).
Compared with 2014, the most significant population increases outside Tbilisi were recorded in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (20.7 per cent) and the Kvemo Kartli region (4.2 per cent). All other regions saw population declines, with the steepest falls recorded in Guria (9.7 per cent) and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti (7.6 per cent). Notable decreases were also observed in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti (6.8 per cent), Kakheti (4.6 per cent), and Imereti (4.3 per cent).
At the municipal level, the highest growth rate was recorded in Batumi, where the population increased by 54.2 per cent to reach 235,668. Significant growth was also observed in the municipalities of Kazbegi (28.8 per cent), Lentekhi (17.5 per cent), and Marneuli (11.0 per cent). Positive trends were likewise recorded in Kutaisi (9.0 per cent) and Rustavi (5.6 per cent).
The most pronounced population declines compared with 2014 were registered in the municipalities of Khulo (29.9 per cent) and Shuakhevi (26.2 per cent). Downward trends were also observed in Tsageri (18.2 per cent), Tskaltubo (15.1 per cent), and Tkibuli (14.9 per cent).
Age and sex composition
According to the 2024 census, 47.9 per cent of Georgia’s population are male (1,881,004) and 52.1 per cent are female (2,048,577). Compared with 2014, the share of the population aged 65 and over rose by 3.3 percentage points to 17.6 per cent (692,700 persons). The 0–14 age group increased its share by 1.0 percentage point to 19.6 per cent (770,823 persons), whilst the 15–64 age group saw its share fall by 4.3 percentage points to 62.8 per cent (2,466,058 persons).
Citizenship
The number of Georgian citizens rose by 2.5 per cent compared with 2014, reaching 3,775,415; however, their share of the total population declined from 99.2 per cent to 96.1 per cent over the inter-census period. The number of foreign nationals permanently residing in Georgia stood at 133,857.
Among foreign citizens, the top five groups by country of origin were: the Russian Federation (37,715), India (23,925), Ukraine (11,542), Azerbaijan (8,309), and Armenia (5,381).
Ethnic composition
According to the 2024 census, the number of ethnic Georgians increased by 2.5 per cent compared with 2014, reaching 3,304,075. Their share of the total population, however, declined from 86.8 per cent to 84.1 per cent. Azerbaijanis constitute the second-largest ethnic group at 268,832 persons (6.8 per cent), representing an increase of 15.4 per cent, whilst ethnic Armenians form the third-largest group at 169,296 persons (4.3 per cent), up 0.7 per cent on the 2014 census.
The ethnic Russian population grew by 60.8 per cent over the inter-census period, reaching 42,545. The number of ethnic Indians rose from 446 to 23,996, whilst the Ukrainian community increased by 139.4 per cent to 14,443. The Arab population grew from 609 to 12,533, Belarusians from 431 to 4,558, and Iranians from 217 to 4,304.
The Abkhaz population grew by 5 per cent to 907 persons. Meanwhile, the Ossetian population decreased by 12.3 per cent to 12,611, and the Yazidi community fell by 7.0 per cent to 11,324.
Religion
According to the 2024 census, 82.0 per cent of Georgia’s population (3,223,206 persons) identify as Orthodox Christians, a figure 4.1 per cent higher than in 2014. Over the inter-census period, however, their share of the total population edged down from 83.4 per cent to 82.0 per cent.
The number of Muslims reached 437,458 (11.1 per cent of the total population), exceeding the corresponding 2014 figure by 9.7 per cent. The number of adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church declined by 6.7 per cent to 101,736. The number of Catholics remained broadly unchanged, whilst the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses fell by 13 per cent to 10,787.
Mother tongue
According to the 2024 census, Georgian is the mother tongue of 85.1 per cent of the population (3,343,987 persons). Compared with 2014, the number of Georgian speakers increased by 2.7 per cent, though their share of the total population declined from 87.6 per cent to 85.1 per cent.
Azerbaijani ranks second as a mother tongue, cited by 265,534 people (6.8 per cent), representing a 14.7 per cent increase on 2014. Armenian is listed as the mother tongue by 139,438 persons (3.5 per cent), a figure 3.7 per cent lower than the previous census.
Over the same period, the number of Russian speakers increased by 18.6 per cent to 54,460. Ossetian was recorded as the mother tongue by 3,839 persons, a decrease of 32.6 per cent on the 2014 figure. Abkhaz was cited as the mother tongue by 370 persons, an increase of 36.0 per cent on the comparable 2014 figure of 272.
According to GeoStat, the census was conducted between November 14 and December 31, 2024.
“The census spanned the whole of the country, except for the occupied territories. In line with international standards, the enumeration applies to all permanent Georgian residents, including any foreign nationals or stateless persons residing in Georgia.
The reference moment for the population count, the census critical moment, was set at midnight between November 13 and 14, against which all facts were recorded. The agricultural census covered all households and legal entities that, as of October 1, 2024, owned or had temporary use of agricultural land, or kept livestock, poultry, or bee colonies, regardless of whether any agricultural produce had been generated during the reporting year.
Data were collected electronically using modern technology. The process took place in two stages: an initial self-registration phase (CAWI) from November 14–23, 2024, followed by in-person computer-assisted interviews (CAPI) from November 29 to December 31. In view of the likelihood that deteriorating weather conditions during November and December would hamper fieldwork in certain high-altitude and hard-to-reach settlements, the census in the municipalities of Mestia, Kazbegi, Lentekhi, parts of Akhmeta (the Omalo administrative unit) and Dusheti (the administrative units of Gudamakari, Magharosikari, Ukanapshavi, Kvesheti, Shatili and Khevsureti, as well as villages within the Pasanauri administrative unit) was conducted in September 2024.
