“There is significant public interest in the issue of migration, and it is unsurprising that members of parliament also have a keen focus on this matter,” stated Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, during an interpellation in Parliament.

The Prime Minister addressed the key factors influencing migration within the country.

“First and foremost, I will share the general data: according to GeoStat, Georgia’s population stands at approximately 3.9 million people, of which up to 257,000 are foreigners. We specify ‘up to’ because GeoStat does not have precise figures; the exact data will be published on June 25, and it is expected that this number may decrease, owing to some ambiguity in specific cases. The maximum figure is therefore 257,000.

Several important factors influence migration to Georgia. Firstly, Georgia is a popular tourist destination, which complicates the management of migration processes. Such management involves significant challenges. As you are aware, our education system is open to foreign students, and currently, approximately 37,000 international students are studying in Georgia.

The third key factor is labour migration. There is a significant shortage of workers in many sectors across Georgia, and without the contribution of foreign labour, numerous projects would have to be suspended due to the lack of interest from the Georgian workforce in those fields.

Of course, illegal migration also plays a role, and addressing this issue requires targeted efforts,” the Prime Minister concluded.