Demographic Shifts in Georgia: Aging Population, Declining Birth Rates, and Growing Challenges for the Healthcare System

As of 2024, Georgia is entering a new demographic phase marked by a rapidly aging population and a significant decline in birth rates. These trends, long observed in the country, have now reached a critical point, as recent statistics present a sharper and more urgent picture. According to a TBC Capital healthcare sector review, the share of the population aged 65 and over has risen to 16.2%, compared to 14.1% in 2013. Such accelerated demographic change has far-reaching social and systemic economic implications, with a profound impact on the country’s future.

In parallel with aging, Georgia’s demographic potential is weakening due to falling birth rates. Since 2014, the country has experienced a 36% decline in total births, one of the steepest historical drops. This sharp decrease is already reducing demand for pediatric and maternity services, prompting structural and economic shifts within the healthcare sector. In turn, these shifts are accelerating the aging process, placing Georgia’s social and economic stability under increasing strain.

Compounding these challenges is a structural imbalance in the healthcare workforce. According to the report, the nurse-to-doctor ratio in Georgia lags significantly behind both EU standards and the average levels across neighboring countries. This shortfall results in lower quality of care and reduced hospital efficiency, rendering the healthcare system even more vulnerable in the face of rising demand. With an expanding elderly population and fewer births, there is a growing need for chronic care and long-term treatment, yet the system lacks sufficient human and financial resources to meet this demand effectively.

This emerging reality underscores the urgent need for coordinated responses across national policy, economic planning, and the healthcare sector. In Georgia, demographic change is no longer just a social or medical concern — it is a strategic issue that must become central to the country’s development agenda. Addressing this requires innovative policies, the adoption of new healthcare standards, and a radical renewal of human capital to ensure the long-term sustainability of the economy and social stability in the coming decades.