Migration is among the issues that particularly concern Georgian society. The Prime Minister of Georgia said this in today`s video address.

"In light of ongoing developments across Europe, the public`s concern and interest in this matter are not only understandable but welcomed. Every patriotic Georgian wishes to see Georgia’s national and religious identity firmly protected and preserved. For this reason, I believe it is important to openly share information about migration and our migration policies.

According to preliminary data from the national census, Georgia`s total population stands at 3,914,000, of whom a maximum of 257,000, or 6.6%, are foreign nationals. This figure includes all foreigners residing in Georgia, among them undocumented migrants.

The National Statistics Office of Georgia is expected to publish refined figures within the coming months. In the meantime, approximate numbers can be derived from border-crossing data. On that basis, roughly 70% of foreign residents, some 180,000 people, are citizens of post-Soviet states, EU member states, the US, or Israel, of whom at least 40,000 are either former Georgian citizens or carry a Georgian surname.

Turkish nationals account for 7.4% of the foreign population, and Iranians for 3.7%, meaning that, contrary to the speculation in circulation, the combined share of these two neighbouring countries in Georgia`s overall population stands at just 0.7%. As for nationals of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, their presence is negligible, something which, unlike for those politicians given to scaremongering, ought to come as no surprise whatsoever to anyone with a genuine understanding of the matter", - said Irakli Kobakhidze.