The Report by Academician Vazha Lortkipanidze
- December 23, 2024
On 18th of December 2024 the National Committee of the Historians of Georgia and Ekvtime Takaishvili Society of Historians jointly held the scientific session on study the demographic issues of Georgia. Academician Vazha Lortkipanidze presented report “The Demographic Problems of Modern Georgia,” The session was open by introductory speech of the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia Academician Roin Metreveli.
As it was mentioned in the report today Georgia is faced by crisis in the field of demography. Here we must consider the current situation in various regions and countries of the world. In comparison with other countries Georgia suffers catastrophe. Population decreases. Death prevails birth. During the last 30 years population of Georgia decreased for 30 per cent, especially in comparison with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Villages are depopulated. In order to prove it the example of Racha region is quiet enough, were today live 18,000 people. The same situation is in Svaneti, where in Upper Svaneti live 4, 000, and in Lower Svaneti – 9,000 people.
The speaker also stressed the fact of significant decrease of the birth rate. against the background of the former centuries. Abrupt decrease started from 1993-1994. By 2023 only 40, 000 children have been born.
The initiative of the Cathalicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilya II must be mentioned, who stated that each third child born in family will be baptized by Him. By the data submitted by Statistics Service of Georgia the official birth rate decreased through the increase of the growth of the infants born out official marriage. We must take into account that fact, that the world’s population has been increased, especially in urban areas. Migration processes also hinder the growth of the birth rate.
Proceeding from the above mentioned it is necessary to look for the real tools to overcome this obstacle. One of such positive tools is the all-National Programme of Health Care of Georgia.
Finally it must be said that it is necessary to develop demology as science and policy. The crucial measures must be passed on the governmental and parliamentary levels. At the end of the meeting the floor was taken by Academicians Elizabar Javelidze, Ramaz Khurodze, Vladimir Papava, Ramaz Khetsuriani, Valeri Asatiani, Omar Gogiashvili etc.