Today Georgia is facing an increasing risk of brain drain. In recent years, Georgia has been experiencing a brain drain, with an increasing number of skilled professionals, young workers, and students leaving the country in search of better economic opportunities and stability. Since independence, the outmigration of Georgians has been mostly driven by economic factors – jobs, higher wages, better working conditions, and career advancement opportunities abroad. Recent political crises and institutional challenges create additional factors to intensify the trend significantly. 

In 2023, a total of 163,480 Georgians emigrated, while 91,896 returned to the country, resulting in a net outflow of 71,584 individuals. This represents a 54% increase compared to 2022 and a 75.3% increase compared to 2021, marking the largest negative migration balance recorded in the past 12 years. Over the period from 2012 to 2023, the cumulative outflow of Georgians reached 942,717, while the total inflow stood at 636,167, leading to a net migration loss of 316,550 (Geostat, 2025). These figures underscore a persistent trend of emigration, raising concerns about demographic sustainability and the long-term economic and social implications for the country.

What are the main drivers prompting more highly qualified Georgians to seek relocation out of the country and why may the trend accelerate?

First, it is uncertainty over the country’s future. Namely, its shift away from the historic and constitutional Euro-Atlantic course, which has been a strong anchor for the country's development, reform agenda, and institutional roles. There are growing concerns locally and internationally over democratic backsliding in Georgia, restrictions on civil liberties, free institutions, and particularly the stalled European integration process. The latest Global Democracy Index highlights a notable decline in Georgia's democratic standing, with the country’s score decreasing by 0.51 points, resulting in a drop from 89th to 94th place in 2024 compared to the previous year. Georgia’s overall rating now stands at 4.7, categorizing it within the "hybrid regime" classification, which encompasses scores between 4.0 and 5.99. This decline brings Georgia closer to the lower boundary of the category, approaching the classification of an autocratic regime. Furthermore, Georgia recorded the fourth most significant democratic regression globally, with only Bangladesh, Tunisia, and Kuwait experiencing greater declines (Economic Intelligence Unit, 2024).  

Many young and middle-aged highly educated and skilled Georgians express protest against the current political rule in the country.

Second, the situation has been exacerbated by the evidence of growing political repressions and selective justice.  Shrinking civic space, increasing risk of political repressions for political views, increasing restrictions on freedom of expression by heightening administrative sanctions and introducing new restrictions, and a deteriorating rule of law, have undermined public trust in Georgia’s institutions. The adoption of the "foreign agents law" (as well as announcing approval of the more stricter version of the law) and further growing restrictions on independent media (e.g. introducing media regulation bill, which is supposed to restrict freedom of speech) and civil society organizations have led to concerns that Georgia is aligning with the authoritarian governance models. 

Third, concerns over economic prospects amidst sanctions and weakening economic governance.  Business confidence is at the lowest point since COVID-19 (Quarter 4, 2020), highlighting negative expectations over the economic outlook, business, and investment climate. According to ISET's Business Confidence Index (BCI), the index turned negative for the first time since 2020 in the first quarter of 2025, declining by 5 points. Both the Past Performance and Expectations indices also recorded negative values, marking the first such occurrence since the fourth quarter of 2020. People have reduced spending in fear of not promising economic outlook.

Fourth, and not least, recent job market shocks, specifically the most sudden supply of many highly qualified professionals looking for jobs, while there are fewer jobs in NGOs and donor-funded institutions. (i) Civil society: Since the introduction of the so-called “foreign agents law’ Georgia’s civil society institutions/NGOs have been struggling, many tuned down activities or suspended operations in protest of new regulations and state intervention or fear of administrative measures.  This sector employed many highly skilled people in Tbilisi and regions, who lost income and jobs, or are facing the risk of losing jobs; (ii) public institutions: hundreds of staff have been fired or did not receive contract extensions at public institutions due to their political preferences and lack of loyalty towards the ruling party. These developments, coupled with declining foreign donor support (USAID, etc.), have further alienated young professionals, academics, and entrepreneurs who see diminishing prospects for their future in Georgia; (iii) Donor-funded: USAID ‘stop-work’ and closure of multiple programs has resulted in a most unexpected situation for hundreds of highly qualified professionals and experts, who emerged on the market in search for new opportunities. 

We should be very much worried about potential brain drain.  Why?

Without retaining skilled workers and attracting return migration, the country may struggle to sustain its economic, and social development and Euro-Atlantic orientation.  Let's put it in simple terms – brain drain will further harm Georgia’s resilience.

First, the economic consequences of brain drain are profound. The loss of skilled professionals reduces Georgia’s capacity for innovation, higher productivity, and economic growth. Furthermore, the outflow of educated individuals—who have benefited from state-funded education and training—represents a significant loss of human capital investment. A shrinking skilled workforce also limits Georgia’s ability to attract foreign investment, as companies seeking highly trained employees may turn to other countries with stronger labor market stability. Brain drain also hampers the positive structural transformation of the economy by making it more challenging to shift the labor force from low-productivity to high-productivity sectors. It exacerbates skill mismatches, making it harder for businesses to find adequately qualified workers, while also leading to a decline in the qualifications of public sector employees. This, in turn, slows down reforms and increases risks to economic and institutional stability.

Second, the demographic impact of brain drain cannot be overlooked. Many of those emigrating are young and highly educated, leading to a disproportionate age structure in the population.  With low birth rates and an aging workforce, Georgia risks facing long-term economic stagnation as labor shortages become more severe. 

Third, civic space may shrink by the outflow of those pro-European, pro-democracy, progressive, educated, skilled individuals who will be harmful to local democracy in these highly sensitive times.

Urgent action is needed to restore confidence in the country’s economic and political trajectory, and create an environment where talented individuals see opportunities to thrive at home rather than abroad.