Georgia’s IT Sector Growth: A New Phase of Economic Transformation

By 2025, Georgia’s IT sector has emerged as one of the country’s fastest-growing and structurally significant industries. Its share of GDP increased from just 0.4% in 2019 to 2.6% by 2023, contributing over 2.1 billion GEL in value—surpassing even the total output of Georgia’s mining industry. This is not a temporary spike; it reflects a deeper shift in the country’s economic composition.

One of the key drivers of this expansion has been geopolitical shifts. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a wave of international tech companies and skilled professionals relocated to Georgia. This inflow intensified competition but also brought knowledge transfer, new networks, and access to global markets. As a result, the local IT ecosystem expanded both in scope and sophistication.

Georgia’s IT exports mirror this transformation. In 2023, the country exported $209 million worth of ICT services—more than it did in financial services. The majority of this export (61%) went to just five developed markets: the U.S., U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, and Malta. These figures demonstrate that Georgian firms are becoming credible players in high-value international markets.

Domestically, the labor market has responded accordingly. By 2024, around 13,000 people were employed in IT-focused businesses and nearly 10,000 working in core IT professions across different sectors. Interestingly, only one-third of IT professionals are employed directly by IT companies—most work in education, finance, media, and other industries. This indicates that the digitization of Georgia’s economy is spreading beyond the tech sector itself.

Compensation in IT is now the highest in the country, with average monthly salaries reaching 6,973 GEL—over 3.4 times the national average. Still, this is not always enough to retain top talent. Sector representatives note that many professionals continue to take remote jobs abroad, drawn by even higher wages and flexibility, posing an ongoing brain drain risk.

The workforce is young and evolving. Nearly a third of IT professionals are under 26, making it one of the youngest occupational groups in the country. Female participation is growing as well: women now make up 24% of the IT workforce, up significantly from just a few years ago.

The growth of Georgia’s IT sector, its expanding export capacity, youth-driven workforce, and sectoral spillover effects all signal a fundamental transformation of the economy. However, the long-term success of this transition will depend on how the country addresses talent retention, education quality, and international integration. For now, Georgia stands firmly in the midst of a digital economic shift—with IT at its core.

Find the BTU’s research report on IT sector trends here.