Eduard A. Schevardnadze (b.1928), a key figure in the Soviet government, has been president of Georgia since 1992. Joseph Stalin (1879–1953), a key figure in the Soviet period, was born in Gori, Georgia. The medieval poet Shota Rustaveli, who was from Georgia, wrote the masterpiece Knight in the Tiger's Skin . Nineteenth-century poets include Ilia Chavchavadze (1837–1907), Akaki Tsereteli (1840–1915), and Vazha Pshwda. Writers of that century include Titsian Tabidze (1895–1937), Gioigi Leonidze, and Irakli Abashidze. Painters include Niko Pirosmanashvili (1862–1918), and Irikli Toidze. Composers include Zakhari Paliashvili (1871–1933) and Meliton Balanchivadze (1862–1937).

Georgia has international telecommunications links via landline to other former Soviet republics and Turkey. There is also a low capacity satellite earth station and connections via Moscow. As of 1997, there were 620,000 main line telephones in use. A 2000 report indicated there were an additional 185,500 mobile cellular phones. As of 1998, there were 7 AM and 12 FM radio broadcast stations. A 2001 report indicated there were about 67 television stations, many of which are only regional. In 2000, there were 556 radios and 474 television sets per 1,000 people. The same year, there were six Internet service providers serving only about 20,000 people.

In 2001, there were about 200 independent newspapers throughout the country. The most widely read was Sakartvelos Respublika, with a 1995 circulation of 40,000. In T'bilisi, the major daily is Vestnik Gruzzi ( Georgian Herald ). There are also several general and special interest periodicals available.

The Constitution and a 1991 press law provide for a free press, but in practice the government is said to restrict some press rights. Libel laws, as well as pressure from business and society leaders and government authorities, inhibit hard core investigative reporting.

Georgia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry promotes trade and commerce with its fellow members of the CIS. Union organizations in Georgia include the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions, an umbrella organization. Important political organizations include the all-Georgian Mecrab Kostava Society and the Paramilitary group Mkhredrioni.

The Georgian Academy of Sciences, promoting research and education in all branches of science, was established in 1941. Youth organizations include the National Youth Council of Georgia (throughout the Department of Youth and Sport), the United Nations of Youth: Georgia, and scouting programs.

In western Georgia, a typical older home is wooden, raised off the ground slightly in areas where flooding or very damp ground is problematic. In the drier climate of eastern Georgia, stone (later brick) houses with flat roofs were constructed along roads. In urban regions, two-story brick or cement block homes are not uncommon.

Before independence, most urban housing was regulated by the government while most rural housing was privately owned. Beginning in the mid 1990s, legislation towards privatization led to the legalization of an open real estate market. Unfortunately, the need for adequate housing is far greater than current supplies. In 1989, there were 152,033 people registered and wating for adequate housing. Overcrowding became a problem as extended familes stayed together in one household simply because of the lack of alternative housing. Natural disasters have caused trouble for an already problematice housing situation. Mudslides are common in some areas. In 1987, a mudslide destroyed 210 homes and seriously damaged 850 more. In 1991, an earthquake destroyed 46,000 homes. Civil unrest has caused a great deal of homelessness as well. As of 2001, there were about 300,000 displaced persons throughout the country.

During 1995 a total of 55 423 sq. m. of dwelling was built in the republic, but this represented only a 4.4% increase in new dwelling are since 1987. Building costs are high, with the price of one square meter often between US $500 and US $1 000.

Adult literacy was estimated at 99.0% in 1998, with men estimated at 99.5% and women at 98.5%. Georgia's educational system was based on the Soviet model until the late 1980s, when there was a de-emphasis of Soviet educational themes in favor of Georgian history and language. Georgian students are taught in a number of languages, including Georgian, Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Abkhazian, and Ossetian. Education is compulsory for 11 years, grades 1 to 11, beginning at age seven. In 1997 there were 757 primary schools, with 298,485 pupils and 16,487 teachers. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was 17 to 1 in 1999. In the same year, 54% of those eligible attended secondary school. Public expenditure on education was estimated at 7.7% of GDP in 1995.

Several colleges and universities are located in Georgia. These include the Iran Dzhavakhiladze University of T'bilisi, Georgian Technical University, Abkhazian State University, and State University of Batumi.

The National Library in T'bilisi holds over six million volumes, while the Georgian State Public Library has eight million. The largest library in the country, however, is the Scientific and Technological Library of Georgia, which contains 10.1 million volumes. There are dozens of private libraries held by various scientific, cultural, and religious organizations and extensive university library holdings. Chief among the latter are T'bilisi State University (three million volumes), the Polytechinc University in T'bilisi (1.14 million volumes), and the Pedagogical Institute in T'bilisi (336,000 volumes).

Most of the country's cultural institutions are in T'bilisi, including the State Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the State Museum of Georgia, the T'bilisi Museum of History and Ethnography, and the Georgian State Museum of Oriental Art. There are local or specialty museums in Gori, Suchumi, and Kutaisi.

All employees are eligible for old age benefits which are funded primarily by employers, who contribute 27% of payroll. Disability and death are not covered. A special social pension exists for the aged and disabled who do not qualify for the employee pension system as determined by need. Paid maternity leave is provided for up to eight weeks, although it is reported that employers frequently withhold benefits. Temporary disability is only payable if the employer is responsible for the injury, although unemployment and permanent disability benefits are provided. Extremely high inflation has limited the effectiveness of the pension system. Medical services are provided to needy residents by government health officials.

Women, especially older women, mostly work in low-paying, traditional occupations, often on a part-time basis. Female participation in politics has been discouraged, and women rarely fill leadership positions in the private sector. Discrimination and harassment in the workplace are common. Violence against women is a serious problem and there are virtually no mechanisms to assist victims. Societal bias discourages the reporting of domestic abuse or sexual violence.

Human rights abuses by the police and security forces continue, often to obtain confessions or extract money. Prison conditions are inhumane and life threatening, and corruption is endemic in the judicial and law enforcement systems.