Economy, jobs and prices in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti, Georgia: official figures
The economy of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti generated 476.78 million lari of gross value added in 2024 at current prices, 0.6% of Georgia's total and the smallest of 11 regional economies.
What is the GDP per capita of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti?
Gross value added per resident in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti was about 15,975 lari in 2024, 22.5% below the national figure of 20,603 lari and 5th highest of 11 regions.
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti?
Employees in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti earned an average of 978 lari a month before tax in 2024, 50.4% below the national average of 1,971 lari and the lowest of 11 regions.
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti?
The unemployment rate in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti was 8.5% in 2025 (down from 11.6% in 2024), compared with 13.9% nationally, 2nd lowest of 11 regions; about 1,084 people were looking for work.
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copyHow much foreign investment does Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti get?
Foreign direct investment in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti was negative on balance over 2021-2025, a net outflow of about 15 million US dollars as foreign investors withdrew more than they put in; in 2025 alone it was 0.1 million dollars.
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copyHow many hotels are in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti?
105 hotels and hotel-type businesses operated in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti in 2025, compared with 38 in 2019 before the pandemic, about 356 per 100,000 residents.
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copyHow many companies are in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti?
2,516 businesses and organisations were active in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti at the end of 2024, about 84 per 1,000 residents, up from 1,365 at the end of 2020.
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copyMore figures
- In nominal terms the regional economy of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti grew by 79% between 2019 and 2024, against 86% for Georgia as a whole. Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copy
- Average monthly pay in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti rose from 557 lari in 2019 to 978 lari in 2024, an increase of 76%. Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copy
- 46.1% of residents aged 15 and over in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti were in work in 2025 (11,697 people) and 50.4% were in the labour force; 87% of the employed were hired employees and the rest mostly self-employed (Georgia 69% hired). Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copy
- Businesses registered in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti reported a turnover of 140.10 million lari in 2024 and employed 3,027 people, who were paid an average of 997 lari a month (all Georgian businesses: 2,024 lari). Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) · saved copy
How Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti compares with other first-level divisions
Gross value added per resident (lari) (2024)
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti ranks 5 of 11, highest first. Regional gross value added at current prices divided by the population on 1 January 2025
| Rank | Region | Gross value added per resident (lari) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mtskheta-Mtianeti | 23,601 |
| 3 | Adjara Aut. Rep. | 18,601 |
| 4 | Samtskhe-Javakheti | 16,006 |
| 5 | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti | 15,975 |
| 6 | Samergelo and Zemo (upper) Svaneti | 14,579 |
| 7 | Shida Kartli | 13,588 |
| 8 | Kakheti | 13,311 |
Average monthly nominal earnings of employees (lari) (2024)
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti ranks 11 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly nominal earnings of employees (lari) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Samergelo and Zemo (upper) Svaneti | 1,269 |
| 6 | Imereti | 1,268 |
| 7 | Kakheti | 1,248 |
| 8 | Shida Kartli | 1,235 |
| 9 | Samtskhe-Javakheti | 1,226 |
| 10 | Guria | 1,100 |
| 11 | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti | 978 |
Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (%) (2025)
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti ranks 10 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Guria | 14.1% |
| 6 | Kvemo Kartli | 13.8% |
| 7 | Samergelo and Zemo (upper) Svaneti | 9.6% |
| 8 | Adjara Aut. Rep. | 9.4% |
| 9 | Kakheti | 8.7% |
| 10 | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti | 8.5% |
| 11 | Samtskhe-Javakheti | 7.0% |
Employment rate, ages 15+ (%) (2025)
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti ranks 7 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15+ (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Samergelo and Zemo (upper) Svaneti | 47.8% |
| 5 | Tbilisi | 47.5% |
| 6 | Guria | 47.0% |
| 7 | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti | 46.1% |
| 8 | Shida Kartli | 46.0% |
| 9 | Mtskheta-Mtianeti | 43.2% |
| 10 | Kvemo Kartli | 42.3% |
Active businesses and organisations per 1,000 residents (2024)
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti ranks 2 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Active businesses and organisations per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tbilisi | 85 |
| 2 | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti | 84 |
| 3 | Adjara Aut. Rep. | 70 |
| 4 | Samtskhe-Javakheti | 62 |
| 5 | Mtskheta-Mtianeti | 58 |
| 6 | Imereti | 57 |
| 7 | Guria | 56 |
More on Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo (lower) Svaneti: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Georgia
Sources
- National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat): Regional Statistics: population and vital statistics, regional GDP, labour force, earnings, household incomes and expenditures, health care and social protection, schools and universities, household infrastructure, hotels and foreign direct investment by region (the eleven Excel files offered on the page, saved unmodified in one archive with a manifest of their download links), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a38acfadfe56…)
- National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat): Regional Statistics, Business Sector: turnover, value added, employment, pay and investment of businesses by region, city and municipality, 2014-2024, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f87cc320c757…)
- National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat): Statistical Yearbook of Georgia 2024 (published December 2025): population of cities and active entities by administrative-territorial unit, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75cc83526308…)
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