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Georgia Society
Population: Mid-1994 estimate 5,681,025. Annual
growth
rate 0.81 percent in 1994. Density seventy-nine per square
kilometer in 1994.
Ethnic Groups: In early 1990s, Georgians 70.1
percent,
Armenians 8.1 percent, Russians 6.3 percent, Azerbaijanis 5.7
percent, Ossetians 3 percent, and Abkhaz 1.8 percent.
Languages: In early 1990s, official language,
Georgian,
spoken by 71 percent of population. Russian spoken by 9 percent,
followed by Armenian with 7 percent and Azerbaijani with 6
percent.
Religion: In 1993 Georgian Orthodox 65 percent,
Muslim
11 percent, Russian Orthodox 10 percent, and Armenian Apostolic 8
percent.
Education and Literacy: Free and compulsory
through
secondary school. Previous Soviet system modified to eliminate
ideology and strengthen Georgian language and history. Some
teaching continues in minority languages. Nineteen institutions
of higher learning. Literacy estimated at 100 percent by 1980s.
Health: Universal free health care, among best
systems
in Soviet period, but under severe stress after 1991. Reform
program blocked by civil war and political instability in early
1990s. Facilities overtaxed by refugee and emergency care
requirements.
Data as of March 1994
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