Numerous metrics assess a country’s development and the well-being of its citizens, yet the most pivotal measure remains its economy, stated the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, noting that “simply examining the list of countries per capita, particularly through Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in relation to Gross Domestic Product, provides precise insights into the living standards of the population”.

“According to data from the International Monetary Fund, people in Germany and Sweden live three times better than in Georgia. In France, the living standards are about 2.5 times better than in Georgia. Russia and Bulgaria show 60% and 50% better living standards than Georgia, respectively. Georgia lags behind EU candidate countries North Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as neighbouring Azerbaijan and Armenia.

It is noteworthy that the gap in living standards between Georgia and more developed countries is gradually narrowing. For instance, Germans and Swedes lived not three but 4.5 times better than Georgians in 2012, while the French lived four times better. Russians and Bulgarians experienced a 148% and 67% improvement, respectively, compared to Georgia.

Furthermore, according to the International Monetary Fund, between 2012 and 2023, Georgia moved up from 110th to 79th place globally in terms of economic indicators, indicating growth not only in absolute terms but relative to other countries.

Projections from the International Monetary Fund indicate that by 2028, Georgia’s per capita GDP, measured by purchasing power parity, will surpass $32,000. The gap with most EU member states, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, is expected to be less than double. Specifically, the difference with Italy will be 99%, with Spain – 86%, with Portugal – 72%, and with Greece – 48%.

It is worth noting that Georgia has consistently exceeded IMF forecasts in recent years. This optimistic trend suggests that Georgia has the resources to minimize the gap with advanced European countries by 2030, eradicate poverty, and become a high-income nation. Achieving this requires effective economic policies and maintaining a peaceful and calm environment in the country,” Kobakhidze wrote on Facebook.