Georgia Achieves “Very High” Human Development Status in 2025

According to the latest Human Development Report published by the United Nations in May 2025, Georgia now ranks 57th out of 193 countries, officially entering the category of countries with a “very high” level of human development. Georgia's Human Development Index (HDI) reached 0.844— the highest score among all post-Soviet countries, excluding the Baltic states.

The report reflects data for 2023 and evaluates life quality across three main pillars: life expectancy, education levels, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP).

Global Rankings and Georgia’s Performance

Topping the list are Iceland (HDI 0.972), Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, and Germany— all with strong income levels, life expectancies above 82 years, and robust education and welfare systems. Georgia placed ahead of all other non-Baltic post-Soviet nations: Kazakhstan (60), Russia (64), Belarus (65), Armenia (69), Azerbaijan (81), Moldova (86), and Ukraine (87).

Georgia's key metrics include a life expectancy of 74.5 years, mean years of schooling at 12.7, expected years of schooling at 16.8, and GNI per capita above $20,000. These results reflect Georgia’s strong standing in global comparisons and confirm its long-term progress.

Inequality-Adjusted Indicators and Gender Index

While the standard HDI score is high, the inequality-adjusted HDI drops to 0.754 due to uneven access to education, healthcare, and income. An additional adjustment based on environmental factors yields a score of 0.772. Nevertheless, Georgia remains above the global average on all counts.

The Gender Inequality Index (GII) for Georgia stands at 0.257, placing it 66th out of 172 countries. While gaps in labor force participation and political representation persist, the country has made notable improvements in reproductive health and female education access.

Economic Outlook and Structural Progress

The UNDP emphasizes that further improvements depend on expanded social reforms, access to quality education and healthcare, and green development strategies. Georgia has already shown strong momentum— particularly in digital infrastructure, upskilling, and connectivity— positioning itself as a regional leader in human potential.

According to the IMF, Georgia ranks among the top three countries worldwide in per capita economic growth in the 21st century. In 2024 alone, the real GDP per capita rose by 10.7%, putting Georgia second globally. Its PPP-based GDP surpassed $104.4 billion, outpacing Luxembourg, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, and Iceland. By 2030, this figure is expected to rise to $159.7 billion, a 41% increase from 2025.

In Q1 2025, Georgia's real GDP grew by 9.3%, driven by information technology, professional services, and finance. Foreign trade rose 16.1% year-on-year, reaching $5.62 billion. Major trade partners include the US, Turkey, Russia, China, and Azerbaijan. International credit agencies have improved their forecasts for Georgia, with the government projecting 10% GDP growth by the end of 2025.

With stable macroeconomic indicators and fast development across education, health, and infrastructure, Georgia is emerging as a resilient investment destination amid global geopolitical uncertainty.