The number of rural households in Georgia has declined significantly over the past decade (2014–2024) — dropping by 25.5% (or 163,284 households), according to the Georgian Farmers’ Association. According to the organization, while in 2014 the country had 639,963 households, that figure fell to 476,679 by 2024.
According to the Farmers’ Association, the main drivers of the decline were:
- out-migration of the population;
- an aging rural population;
- farm consolidation.
Over the reporting period, the number of rural households decreased in all regions of the country. The largest decline was recorded in Tbilisi, followed by Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Shida Kartli, and Imereti.
At the same time, despite the drop in the number of households, the number of agricultural enterprises grew.
For instance, in 2014 Georgia had 2,246 agricultural enterprises, and by 2024 their number had increased to 2,771 (an increase of 23.4% over ten years).
“As a rule, enterprises have larger land plots and better access to resources, which potentially boosts the competitiveness of agriculture,” the Farmers’ Association stated.
The analysis is based on data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) and reflects structural changes taking place in the country’s agricultural sector, highlighting a shift in the ratio between households and commercial agricultural enterprises.