Tweet
The FINANCIAL, Georgia
Aug 20 2012
Georgia May Face Demographic Conflict, Experts Worry
Written by Mariam Papidze, The FINANCIAL
The FINANCIAL -- There are no recent demographic statistics for
Georgia. An official census of the population according to ethnic
groups has not been carried out since the last one which was in 2002.
However demographers are warning about the high risk of ethnic
conflict between Georgians and newly arrived ethnic groups in the
country such as the high numbers of Iranians, Turks, Chinese and
Indians.
`There is a high risk of ethnic conflict in Georgia as more and more
locals are complaining about the country's `guests',' said Tsiuri
Antadze, demographer, independent expert. `This is because of economic
expansion, which is the most long term form of expansion and very
dangerous in certain respects, as there is a big risk of Georgian
discrimination in the country. That is why officials are not carrying
out any research or statistics about this issue. The Government is not
regulating these developments. Georgia has visa-free regimes with such
countries which are not yet developed. This is very dangerous,'
Antadze added.
`The number of Iranians and Turkish people in Georgia is increasing.
They mainly settle in the Adjara region, Batumi specifically. They
have bought many economic objects there. 85,000 Turks are registered
in Batumi which is a large number for such a small city as that, the
population of which comes to just 180,000 people in total,' she added.
`Iranians come to Georgia for economic purposes,' said Salome
Tsnobiladze, demographer. `Hundreds of Chinese come to Georgia as
well. They are mainly settled in Racha, where they own large portions
of forest. The number of Indians has increased, and they are settled
in such places where they own economic objects. They are involved in
metallurgy, mechanical engineering, wood processing enterprises and
live in Kutaisi mainly. A large number of ethnic groups have made
their entrance in Georgia, bought economic objects and therefore
control economical levers, which is dangerous for the country,' she
added.
The current population of Georgia is 4 497.6 according to the National
Statistics Office of Georgia. The first population census was done in
1989, according to which 5,400,841 people were living in Georgia at
the time with the exception of the populations of the regions of
Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Out of this number 70.1 percent were
Georgians, 8.1 percent were Armenians, 6.3 percent - Russians, 5.7
percent - Azerbaijanis, 3.0 percent - Ossetians, 1.9 percent - Greeks,
1.8 percent - Abkhaz, and 1.0 percent - Ukrainian s.
The second and last official census was done in 2002. The number of
the population had decreased by then and was recorded at 4,371,535
people. But the share of Georgians in the population had increased and
consisted of 83.8 percent of the whole population. According to the
new data Azerbaijanis exceeded the number of Armenians and consisted
of 6.5 percent. After them came Armenians with 5.7 percent, Russians -
1.5 percent, Ossetians - 0.9 percent, Greeks - 0.3 percent, Ukrainian
s - 0.2 percent, and finally Abkhaz with just 0.1 percent.
Population by ethnic self-identification has not been officially
census validated recently. Elene Maruashvili, Chief specialist of the
Population Census and Demography Division at the National Statistics
of Georgia explains that it has not been necessary to provide any new
statistics as the demographic situation has hardly changed in Georgia.
Despite that however, independent demographers in cooperation with the
United Nations Population Fund census validated today's de facto
population of Georgia. Their statistics show that since 2003 the share
of Georgians has been stably increasing and reached 84.5 percent as of
the year 2011. Azerbaijanis still make up the majority of the foreign
contingent of Georgia's population and consist of 6.1 percent. Then
come Armenians with 5.2 percent and Russians with their 1.5 percent,
after them come Ossetians, Abkhaz and Ukrainian s. As well as these
ethnic groups, Kurds, Jews, Byelorussians and others whose percentage
indicators are very low compared to other groups also live in Georgia.
As well as the changes in the percentage distribution of the
population, the statistics show that since 1989 ethnic groups have not
changed significantly in Georgia. From 1989 to 2002 the same ethnic
groups lived in Georgia. Experts have been seeing the entrance of new
ethnic groups (Turks, Iranians, Chinese and Indians) in Georgia
recently, but they cannot say exactly when these groups first started
settling in the country.
Demographers found inconsistencies in the evaluation of the return of
emigrated Georgians to their home country as well. `There is a huge
difference between what the National Statistics Office of Georgia says
and what we find,' said Giorgi Tsuladze, demographic expert of the
Institute of Demography and Sociology. `The first wave of different
ethnic groups left Georgia in the `90s. Because of bad social and
economic conditions people started returning to their home countries
or other economically strong countries. This is the only reason why
the share of the Georgian population increased significantly, and not
because Georgians had started returning to Georgia. However, some
Georgians are really coming back to their home country. Lots of
Georgians returned from Russia because of the fear factor during the
pre- and post-war period. The official statistic gives a positive
balance, but more Georgians appear to be leaving the country than
returning here in actual fact. Georgians are mainly migrating for
labour purposes,' he added.
As for Russians, following the August War their number in Georgia has
not decreased, unofficially. `It is true that there is no official
statistic which shows the population percentage of Russians in Georgia
since the August 2008 war, but we can say that Russians did not leave
Georgia en masse. Since the war the attitude of Georgians toward
Russians has not changed. This is the reason why Russians never felt
forced to leave the country,' said Tsiuri Antadze.
Aug 20 2012
Georgia May Face Demographic Conflict, Experts Worry
Written by Mariam Papidze, The FINANCIAL
The FINANCIAL -- There are no recent demographic statistics for
Georgia. An official census of the population according to ethnic
groups has not been carried out since the last one which was in 2002.
However demographers are warning about the high risk of ethnic
conflict between Georgians and newly arrived ethnic groups in the
country such as the high numbers of Iranians, Turks, Chinese and
Indians.
`There is a high risk of ethnic conflict in Georgia as more and more
locals are complaining about the country's `guests',' said Tsiuri
Antadze, demographer, independent expert. `This is because of economic
expansion, which is the most long term form of expansion and very
dangerous in certain respects, as there is a big risk of Georgian
discrimination in the country. That is why officials are not carrying
out any research or statistics about this issue. The Government is not
regulating these developments. Georgia has visa-free regimes with such
countries which are not yet developed. This is very dangerous,'
Antadze added.
`The number of Iranians and Turkish people in Georgia is increasing.
They mainly settle in the Adjara region, Batumi specifically. They
have bought many economic objects there. 85,000 Turks are registered
in Batumi which is a large number for such a small city as that, the
population of which comes to just 180,000 people in total,' she added.
`Iranians come to Georgia for economic purposes,' said Salome
Tsnobiladze, demographer. `Hundreds of Chinese come to Georgia as
well. They are mainly settled in Racha, where they own large portions
of forest. The number of Indians has increased, and they are settled
in such places where they own economic objects. They are involved in
metallurgy, mechanical engineering, wood processing enterprises and
live in Kutaisi mainly. A large number of ethnic groups have made
their entrance in Georgia, bought economic objects and therefore
control economical levers, which is dangerous for the country,' she
added.
The current population of Georgia is 4 497.6 according to the National
Statistics Office of Georgia. The first population census was done in
1989, according to which 5,400,841 people were living in Georgia at
the time with the exception of the populations of the regions of
Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Out of this number 70.1 percent were
Georgians, 8.1 percent were Armenians, 6.3 percent - Russians, 5.7
percent - Azerbaijanis, 3.0 percent - Ossetians, 1.9 percent - Greeks,
1.8 percent - Abkhaz, and 1.0 percent - Ukrainian s.
The second and last official census was done in 2002. The number of
the population had decreased by then and was recorded at 4,371,535
people. But the share of Georgians in the population had increased and
consisted of 83.8 percent of the whole population. According to the
new data Azerbaijanis exceeded the number of Armenians and consisted
of 6.5 percent. After them came Armenians with 5.7 percent, Russians -
1.5 percent, Ossetians - 0.9 percent, Greeks - 0.3 percent, Ukrainian
s - 0.2 percent, and finally Abkhaz with just 0.1 percent.
Population by ethnic self-identification has not been officially
census validated recently. Elene Maruashvili, Chief specialist of the
Population Census and Demography Division at the National Statistics
of Georgia explains that it has not been necessary to provide any new
statistics as the demographic situation has hardly changed in Georgia.
Despite that however, independent demographers in cooperation with the
United Nations Population Fund census validated today's de facto
population of Georgia. Their statistics show that since 2003 the share
of Georgians has been stably increasing and reached 84.5 percent as of
the year 2011. Azerbaijanis still make up the majority of the foreign
contingent of Georgia's population and consist of 6.1 percent. Then
come Armenians with 5.2 percent and Russians with their 1.5 percent,
after them come Ossetians, Abkhaz and Ukrainian s. As well as these
ethnic groups, Kurds, Jews, Byelorussians and others whose percentage
indicators are very low compared to other groups also live in Georgia.
As well as the changes in the percentage distribution of the
population, the statistics show that since 1989 ethnic groups have not
changed significantly in Georgia. From 1989 to 2002 the same ethnic
groups lived in Georgia. Experts have been seeing the entrance of new
ethnic groups (Turks, Iranians, Chinese and Indians) in Georgia
recently, but they cannot say exactly when these groups first started
settling in the country.
Demographers found inconsistencies in the evaluation of the return of
emigrated Georgians to their home country as well. `There is a huge
difference between what the National Statistics Office of Georgia says
and what we find,' said Giorgi Tsuladze, demographic expert of the
Institute of Demography and Sociology. `The first wave of different
ethnic groups left Georgia in the `90s. Because of bad social and
economic conditions people started returning to their home countries
or other economically strong countries. This is the only reason why
the share of the Georgian population increased significantly, and not
because Georgians had started returning to Georgia. However, some
Georgians are really coming back to their home country. Lots of
Georgians returned from Russia because of the fear factor during the
pre- and post-war period. The official statistic gives a positive
balance, but more Georgians appear to be leaving the country than
returning here in actual fact. Georgians are mainly migrating for
labour purposes,' he added.
As for Russians, following the August War their number in Georgia has
not decreased, unofficially. `It is true that there is no official
statistic which shows the population percentage of Russians in Georgia
since the August 2008 war, but we can say that Russians did not leave
Georgia en masse. Since the war the attitude of Georgians toward
Russians has not changed. This is the reason why Russians never felt
forced to leave the country,' said Tsiuri Antadze.