Administrative divisions of Georgia (country)

Regions of Georgia
Map ref. Region Capital
1 Abkhazia Sukhumi (Sokhumi)
2 Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Zugdidi
3 Guria Ozurgeti
4 Adjara Batumi
5 Racha-Lechkhumi
and Kvemo Svaneti 		Ambrolauri
6 Imereti Kutaisi
7 Samtskhe-Javakheti Akhaltsikhe
8 Shida Kartli Gori
9 Mtskheta-Mtianeti Mtskheta
10 Kvemo Kartli Rustavi
11 Kakheti Telavi
12 Tbilisi Tbilisi
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Georgia is divided into two autonomous republics (Georgian: ავტონომიური რესპუბლიკა, avtonomiuri respublika), nine regions (Georgian: მხარე, mkhare), and the capital city of Tbilisi. The nine regions are Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Shida Kartli. The regions were organized on an interim basis in 1995 and consist of municipalities (მუნიციპალიტეტი), the total number of which is 62. Tbilisi and 11 other cities and towns—Ambrolauri, Akhaltsikhe, Batumi, Gori, Kutaisi, Mtskheta, Ozurgeti, Poti, Rustavi, Telavi, and Zugdidi enjoy a self-governing status (თვითმმართველი ქალაქი, t'vit'mmart'veli k'alak'i).

First-level entities

Autonomous republics

The autonomous republics (Abkhazia and Adjara) were established during the Soviet regime and are recognized by the modern Georgian Constitution. Abkhazia represents a breakaway republic whose independence is not recognized internationally. De jure, Abkhazia is headed by the Chairman of the Supreme Council (in exile) while de facto it is headed by the President. Ajara, which is headed by the Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers, became fully loyal to the central authorities of Georgia following a peaceful ousting of the former secessionist leader in 2004.

Cities

There is one city on the first level: Tblisi, the capital of Georgia.

Regions

Regions were established by Presidential decrees from 1994 to 1996, on a provisional basis until the secessionist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are resolved. The regional administration is headed by State Commissioner (Georgian: სახელმწიფო რწმუნებული) – informally Governor – an official appointed by the President of Georgia.

The status of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast – South Ossetia (also referred to as Samachablo or Tskhinvali Region), is the subject of negotiation with the de facto separatist government, headed by the President. The breakaway republic claims the northern part of the Shida Kartli region as its territory, with small parts of neighbouring regions.

Municipalities

The regions are subdivided into municipalities (Georgian: მუნიციპალიტეტი), before 2006 known as raioni, (Georgian: რაიონი):

Districts of Georgia

See also