As 2025 draws to a close, Georgia feels like a country holding two truths at once. Cafés are full, airports are busier than ever, and Georgian wine and cinema are making waves abroad. Yet at home, politics has dominated daily life — spilling onto the streets, into courtrooms, and deep into conversations at family tables.
This has been a year of tension, pride, frustration, and persistence. For many Georgians, it has also been a year of learning just how fragile — and how resilient — their democracy can be.
A Year on the Streets
The protests that started in late 2024 did not end with the new year. In Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square became regular gathering points for citizens demanding new elections, judicial independence, and the release of detainees from previous demonstrations.
Some rallies drew tens of thousands of people, while others were smaller, nightly gatherings.
The most serious clashes happened on 4 October 2025, the day of local elections that the opposition largely boycotted. Crowds marched toward Orbeliani Palace, calling for political change. Police blocked access, and clashes broke out. Authorities used water cannon and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Several journalists were injured while covering the events, drawing criticism from press freedom organizations.
Afterward, the government arrested several opposition figures, charging them with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order. Officials said the measures were necessary to maintain public order. Human rights groups warned that the crackdown threatened the right to peaceful assembly. By the end of the year, civil society groups were describing dozens of detainees as political prisoners.
For many Georgians, the protests have been exhausting. Streets that once felt open now carry tension, and citizens have watched (or participated in) demonstrations with a mix of hope and fear for months.
An Economy That Kept Moving
What made 2025 especially disorienting was that, economically, Georgia was doing well — and at the same time, many people were feeling the cost of daily life rising.
Tourists arrived in record numbers. Georgia recorded around 4.3 million international visitors between January and September 2025, a rise of roughly 8 percent compared with the same period in 2024, with total visitors — including same-day arrivals — exceeding 6.1 million. Tourism revenue for the year was projected to reach around $4.5 billion. Flights were full. Hotels expanded. Wine exports grew. In Batumi, Kutaisi and Tbilisi, business owners spoke of a strong season. Restaurants stayed open late. New cafés appeared almost overnight. Georgian airports handled millions of passengers, many arriving from Europe and the Gulf — drawn by direct flights, affordable prices, and Georgia’s reputation for hospitality. The contrast was clear: a country under political strain, yet economically alive.
At the same time, prices at home were rising. By November, official figures showed Georgia’s annual inflation rate at about 4.8 percent, with food and non-alcoholic beverages among the largest contributors to that rise. Bread, vegetables, oils, and dairy products all cost noticeably more than in previous months, a change felt in markets and stores across the country.
Officials acknowledged these pressures publicly. At a year-end economic briefing, a government spokesperson said: “We see that food prices have risen more quickly than overall inflation. We are monitoring the situation closely and are prepared to take steps to support households most affected by these increases.” That echoed comments from the National Statistics Office and the central bank, which has kept its key interest rate steady even as price pressures build.
For many families, especially those on modest incomes, the rising cost of groceries and everyday goods was a regular topic of conversation — a reminder that headline economic success does not always translate into relief at the checkout counter.
Walking the Diplomatic Tightrope
Looking back at 2025, Georgia navigated a complex and often tricky diplomatic landscape. While claiming a desire to maintain ties with Western allies, the ruling Georgian Dream government grew increasingly critical of the West, publicly denouncing what it saw as interference in domestic affairs and framing US measures, such as the MEGOBARI Act, as hostile. In parallel, the country also looked east, strengthening trade and economic connections with China and exploring partnerships with other non-Western nations like Iran. These moves reflected a deliberate strategy to diversify partnerships, assert Georgia’s independence, and position the country as a key hub for trade and transit in the region.
Closer to home, Georgia quietly played a role in promoting stability in the South Caucasus. The historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan was welcomed in Tbilisi, and the country actively participated in talks with both neighbors to strengthen cooperation on trade, transport, and shared regional challenges.
Educational Shifts
In 2025, Georgia unveiled plans to reshape its schools and universities. For schools, the proposals include an 11-year system with an optional 12th grade, stricter rules like uniforms and phone limits, and more standardized textbooks.
Meanwhile, in higher education, the government’s National Reform Concept proposes shortening degree cycles to a 3+1 model, centralizing financing and governance, and limiting international student admissions to state universities. Supporters say it modernizes education, while critics worry it may limit choice, autonomy, and Georgia’s connection to Europe. For now, it’s all on paper, but the ideas are already stirring debate about the country’s educational future.
Culture That Travels
Where politics and finances divided the country, culture continued to unite it and promote Georgia abroad.
Georgian wine remained one of the country’s strongest ambassadors. From wine fairs in Europe to tastings in North America and Asia, traditional qvevri wines and indigenous grape varieties continued to attract attention. For many producers, this year brought new export contacts and new audiences.
Books, too, found their way onto international shelves. Publishers organized a collective presence at the annual Frankfurt Book Fair, presenting Georgian literature as both ancient and urgently contemporary — shaped by history, identity, and the struggles of the present moment.
On stage, Georgian dance and music carried the same message. Touring ensembles reminded international audiences that Georgian culture is not just preserved — it is alive, evolving, and fiercely expressive. The Royal National Ballet of Georgia toured several European countries, while the Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet continued its long tradition of international performances, showcasing the country’s rich dance heritage.
In fashion, Georgian designers and models made significant strides internationally. Georgian labels, including Situationist, presented collections at events such as Paris Fashion Week, while designers like David Koma and Avtandil continue to appear on major fashion stages in Europe. Model Mathilda Gvarliani had a standout year, walking for top fashion houses including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, and Gucci, and appearing in the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She was also recognized by Models.com as Best Street Style (Women+) in their 2025 Readers’ Choice awards, highlighting her growing influence and visibility in global fashion.
In Batumi, the Black Sea Music and Art Festival once again brought together Georgian and international artists, reinforcing the city’s role as a cultural center. At the end of the year, Tbilisi hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, drawing young performers and delegations from across Europe and putting Georgia’s music scene in front of a broad audience.
Cinema on the World Stage
In 2025, Georgian films won recognition abroad, giving Georgian storytelling a spotlight on the international stage.
Dry Leaf, directed by Alexandre Koberidze, premiered in the main competition at the 78th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and won a Special Mention prize, marking a significant moment for Georgian cinema on the European circuit. The Men’s Land, a documentary by Mariam Khatchvani, won the Heart of Sarajevo award for Best Short Documentary Film at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival. Both films drew praise for their depth and craft and helped attract fresh international attention to filmmakers from Georgia.
Pride on the Field
If culture and economics gave Georgians reasons to celebrate, sport provided some of the clearest moments of unity and joy.
At a year-end awards ceremony, the Ministry of Sports named Georgia’s best athletes of 2025, with fencer Sandro Bazadze taking Male Athlete of the Year and judoka Eter Liparteliani Female Athlete of the Year. The Georgian National Basketball Team was honored as Team Sport of the Year, and the Georgian Judo Team was named Team of the Year.
But beyond titles, the numbers told their own story. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Georgian athletes won a record 1,935 international medals in 2025, a haul described as “a year that brought tremendous success for our athletes and for our country.” Among the milestones he cited were the national basketball team finishing among the top eight teams in Europe, ahead of traditional powers such as Spain and France, and the mixed national judo team becoming world champions for the first time. Kobakhidze also highlighted Georgia’s first gold medal at the Winter Olympic Festival, a world championship title in fencing, and the country’s first female world champion in judo as standout achievements.
Unfinished Work
It is clear that not everyone benefited equally from the year’s growth, and structural challenges remain going into 2026. Official statistics and outside assessments in 2025 pointed to uneven employment conditions even as overall unemployment edged down from earlier years; the unemployment rate was around 13–14 percent in 2025, a figure that, while improved from past highs, still sits well above many European countries. Economic forecasts noted that structural unemployment — particularly among youth — remained elevated, and that income inequality and outward migration continued to constrain opportunity for many Georgians.
In rural villages and small towns, jobs remained scarce. Young people continued to look abroad for education and work. For families struggling to make ends meet, economic statistics sometimes felt distant from everyday reality.
At a public forum in Tbilisi this year, an economist put it plainly: “Growth only matters if people feel it in their daily lives.” For many in Georgia’s regions, that daily life still includes long job searches, modest incomes and the sense that opportunity is unevenly shared.
Looking Toward 2026
As Georgia moves into 2026, the mood is cautious.
There is pride in what the country has achieved — economically, culturally, internationally. There is also exhaustion from constant political confrontation and concern about where it might lead.
For many Georgians, the hope is simple: stability without stagnation, growth without exclusion, and a political system that listens rather than reacts.
Or, as a small business owner in Batumi put it near the end of the year:
“We don’t want miracles. We want to feel safe, respected, and included. If we have that, we’ll do the rest ourselves.”
By Team GT
