Currency and Economy in Georgia

Georgia is an emerging free market, having been bound to the Soviet Union’s economy for decades. Since the mid-2000s, Georgian economy is growing thanks to the reforms set in place by the peaceful Rose Revolution. Georgia is considered the least corrupt nation in the Black Sea region, as it outperforms its neighbors without resorting to corruption.

Georgia's main exports are copper ores and concentrates, ferroalloys, hazelnut, medicaments, nitrogen fertilizers, wine, crude oil, mineral waters, non-denatured ethyl alcohol and spirits. Since the country gained independence, unemployment has been a persistent, though gradually reducing problem in Georgia. About half of Georgia’s population lives in rural areas, making their livelihood through farming. Georgia’s currency is the Georgian lari, denoted by GEL; 1 lari equals 0.42 US dollars.