Georgia's GDP Up by 9% in Q1 2026 - Civil Georgia

Georgia posted a 9% year-over-year expansion in real GDP for the first quarter of 2026, reaching GEL 24.77 billion (about USD 9.178 billion) according to Geostat's preliminary data released on June 19. The GDP deflator climbed 2.3% in the quarter, signaling price increases alongside the output gains. Driven by high growth in information and communication (up 36%), transportation and storage (18%), and arts, entertainment, and recreation (14.5%), the economy showed broad upside. Other notable gains came from financial and insurance activities (11.7%) and wholesale and retail trade, including vehicle repair (5.5%). Geostat noted that value-added growth underpinned the gains while some sectors contracted, with agriculture, forestry and fishing down 3.3% and construction slipping 2% year on year. Wholesale and retail trade remained the largest contributor, accounting for 13.2% of GDP in Q1, followed by information and communication at 10.4% and real estate at 10%. Manufacturing contributed 8.2%, public administration, defence and compulsory social security 7.2%, education 6.5%, and construction 6.4% of GDP. IMF estimates project Georgia’s growth at about 6.5% for 2026, suggesting sustained momentum but moderating beyond the first quarter.