Georgia’s National Statistics Office (Geostat) has published the official results of the 2024 Population and Agricultural Census, conducted in the last quarter of 2024. The data outlines both demographic changes and structural shifts in agricultural land use across the country.
As of November 14, 2024, Georgia’s permanent population stood at 3,929,581. Of this, 62.5% (2,455,444 people) live in urban areas, while 37.5% (1,474,137 people) reside in rural settlements. Compared to 2014, the rural population declined by 7.4% (117,044 people), while urban population increased by 15.7%, highlighting continued urbanization.
Total agricultural land amounted to 809.1 thousand hectares as of October 1, 2024. Within this structure, arable land decreased to 325.2 thousand hectares, down by 13.8% compared to 2014, and its share fell from 47.9% to 40.2%. In contrast, perennial crops expanded sharply to 176.0 thousand hectares, up 60.6%, with vineyards and orchards accounting for the largest share of this growth.
In annual crops, the data shows mixed but mostly declining trends. Maize remains the dominant crop at 76.5 thousand hectares, despite a 35.4% decline over the decade. Wheat increased to 59.4 thousand hectares (+20.5%), while barley slightly decreased. Significant declines were recorded in vegetables (-49.4%) and potatoes (-23.5%), while sunflower cultivation saw a sharp rise to 6.3 thousand hectares (+350%). Overall, the census confirms a long-term shift in Georgia’s agricultural structure, with shrinking arable land and growing emphasis on perennial crops.
