A Brief History of Remittances and Migration in Georgia

Nestled between Europe and Asia, Georgia has been exposed to many different cultures, languages, and traditions throughout its rich history. Be it the construction of numerous churches across the country, the introduction of domed roofs or the adoption of loanwords, the Romans, Persians, and Ottomans each left a significant mark on the transcontinental nation.

Famous for being one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world, Georgia also boasts breathtaking landscapes, a vibrant culinary scene, and a strong sense of community and hospitality. Symbolized by the supra, a feast in which guests are encouraged to enjoy all the dishes and make new friends, the warmth and generosity of Georgian people often leaves a lasting impression on other nationalities.

Yet, Georgia is also known as a country of emigration and, as part of our Brief Histories series, we’ll explore Georgia’s changing migration patterns and how they influence the country’s remittance flows.

Georgia’s relationship with migration

For much of its recent past, Georgia’s migration history has been defined by its relationship with its northern neighbor, Russia. In the 1990s, regional conflict as well as favorable entry requirements spurred many migrants to head north toward Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other major Russian cities in search of a better everyday life. However, in 2000, Russia introduced visa requirements for Georgian migrants and net migration figures reduced considerably.

This gave way to a period of steady but reduced emigration with small Georgian diaspora communities growing in Greece, the United States, Germany, Cyprus, Turkey and Spain. In recent years, Georgia has sought to build on these relationships by negotiating visa-free travel to the European Union as well as boosting its remittance inflows through seasonal migration. In 2018, Poland made significant changes to its work permits, enabling Georgian citizens to work temporarily in the country, particularly in agriculture, horticulture and tourism. That year, 12,000 Georgians received temporary work permits, signaling a notable shift in the country’s emigration flows. Similar arrangements have followed with Georgian migrants supporting agricultural efforts in Germany, healthcare in Israel, as well as broader seasonal work in both France and Bulgaria. 

However, in 2022, Georgia’s migration patterns altered once more as unparalleled numbers of Russian nationals entered the country with more than 200,000 crossing the border in September alone. While many have since travelled to other countries or returned to Russia, tens of thousands continue to reside in Georgia, particularly in Tbilisi and the port city Batsumi. From March 2022 through to December 2023, the number of companies registered by Russian citizens more than tripled, suggesting that some Russian migrants have decided to move to Georgia for the long-term.

As a country of emigration, this was undoubtedly an unusual period in Georgia’s history and the latest figures appear to indicate that Georgia has already returned to the previous status quo. In 2021, around 80,000 Georgian citizens left the country, with nearly half returning in the same calendar year. By 2023, those numbers had doubled, implying that Georgian migrants are increasingly seeking employment opportunities abroad.

Georgia’s changing remittance landscape

Without doubt, remittances play a major role in Georgia’s economy. In 2021, money transfers accounted for more than 14% of the country’s GDP. These much-needed funds provide Georgian families with additional income, helping them pay for essential goods and services such as food, clothing, and healthcare. 

Historically, Russia has been the single largest remittance corridor, sending more than $400 million in eight of the last ten years. However, recent trends indicate that Georgia’s remittance sources are increasingly diversifying. Prior the Russian migration waves in 2022, money transfers from Russia had fallen from 56.1% of total foreign remittances in 2012 to 17.5% in 2021.

Further evidence of this changing remittance landscape emerged in April 2024 when the National Bank of Georgia announced that money transfers from EU countries in March 2024 amounted to $115.53 million, an increase of nearly 11% on the previous month’s figures. Driven by a notable surge in remittances from Italy, Germany and Greece, this was also more than double the amount sent from Russia ($53 million).

Ultimately, the expanding relationship between Georgia and the European Union presents benefits for both Georgian migrants and Europe. Georgian migrants are increasingly filling important seasonal roles in a variety of sectors while their remittances are providing families across Georgia with a higher standard of living.

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