According to Geostat data, the birth rate in Georgia reached a 32-year low in 2025. The country saw 37,867 births, a 4.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Simultaneously, the number of deaths reached 44,319, resulting in a negative natural increase of -6,452. Statistics show that following a peak period in 2014, the birth rate has declined annually, while the average age of mothers at first childbirth has risen to 27.4 years. Notably, a decline in natural increase was recorded in every region except for Tbilisi, Adjara, and Kvemo Kartli.
For an in-depth analysis of these alarming demographic indicators—what is driving such a sharp decline and how these processes will impact the country’s future—we reached out to Ioane Makharadze, a specialist in international relations and geography. He explains the geopolitical and socio-economic factors that have brought Georgia to this 32-year low in natural increase.
“The information released by Geostat today is a clear symptom of the alarming situation in our country. With approximately 37,000 births and 44,000 deaths, the negative trend—where deaths outnumber births—is not only continuing but the gap is widening significantly. While the population declined primarily due to mechanical movement (emigration) over the past decade, this process is now compounded by a natural decline.
There is no single specific cause for this situation that, if fixed, would drastically improve the outlook. The problem is complex and requires a comprehensive solution plan. The basis for the declining birth rate involves both demographic and socio-economic factors. For instance, the unemployment rate and the sharply rising cost of real estate force many young people to delay starting a family or having multiple children, as they see no guarantee of financial security.
The low birth rate is also significantly driven by a negative migration balance. The vast majority of people leaving the country en masse are of fertile age. They either do not start families at all or do so abroad, meaning their children are no longer reflected in Georgia’s statistical data. Added to this are global socio-cultural changes—delayed marriage and an emphasis on professional development—which are causing birth rate declines in nearly all developed Christian states. However, unlike the West, Georgia is unable to replenish its population through immigration.
Currently, Georgia is in a population aging phase, meaning the share of elderly people in the overall structure is increasing while the share of youth is decreasing. The country is at a stage of limited demographic reproduction, where the high mortality rate is driven by an aging population and the prevalence of cardiovascular and oncological diseases.
Ultimately, Georgia is in a deep demographic crisis that is exacerbating the process of depopulation in most of its regions. It is essential to implement a complex, state-level demographic policy to increase the birth rate and alleviate the crisis. Otherwise, the country will soon face critical challenges, such as a sharp labor shortage and the collapse of social systems.” — Ioane Makharadze
