Famous People from Georgia
28 notable historical figures from Georgia, including leaders, artists, scientists, and other influential people.
Georgia has produced 29 notable historical figures documented in historical records, with politicians forming the largest group at 19 individuals, followed by athletes and officials at 6 each. The country's political environment has been influenced by leaders such as Eduard Shevardnadze, a former Soviet foreign minister and later Georgia's president, and current president Salome Zourabichvili. Other key political figures include former presidents Giorgi Marghvilashvili and Zviad Gamsakhurdia, and prime minister Irakli Garibashvili. In other fields, composer Giya Kancheli gained international recognition for his classical works. Chess grandmaster Nona Gaprindashvili became the first woman to earn the title of Grandmaster. In contemporary sports, footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is part of the new generation of Georgian athletes. Religious leadership is represented by Ilia II of Georgia, the country's patriarch. These individuals highlight Georgia's contributions to politics, arts, sports, and religious life.
politician (9)athlete (6)association football player (4)official (4)lawyer (3)diplomat (2)businessperson (2)chess player (2)poet (1)literary critic (1)
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
1939 – 1993Georgia's first president after independence (1991-1992) and prominent dissident writer who led the country's liberation movement from Soviet rule.
Eduard Shevardnadze
1928 – 2014Georgian Foreign Minister (1985-1990) who helped end the Cold War and later served as President of Georgia from 1995 to 2003.
Kakha Kaladze
1978 – PresentFormer AC Milan and Georgia defender who won the Champions League twice before becoming Mayor of Tbilisi in 2017.
Vakhtang Kikabidze
1938 – 2023Beloved Georgian entertainer and actor best known for his role in the cult film 'Mimino' and his popular songs across the Soviet Union.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
2001 – PresentGeorgian footballer (born 2001)
Bidzina Ivanishvili
1956 – PresentGeorgian billionaire businessman and founder of Georgian Dream party who served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2013.
Salome Zourabichvili
1952 – PresentPresident of Georgia since 2018 and former French diplomat who previously served as Georgia's ambassador to France.
Irakli Kobakhidze
1978 – PresentPrime Minister of Georgia since February 2024 and former Speaker of Parliament, representing the Georgian Dream party.
Irakli Garibashvili
1982 – PresentGeorgian businessman and politician who served two terms as Prime Minister (2013-2015, 2021-2024) and co-founded the Georgian Dream party.
Nodar Kumaritashvili
1988 – 2010Georgian luger who died in a training accident on the opening day of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Giorgi Marghvilashvili
1969 – PresentFourth President of Georgia (2013-2018) and philosopher who taught at Tbilisi State University before entering politics.
Ilia II of Georgia
1933 – PresentCatholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia since 1977, the spiritual leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church for over four decades.
Zurab Zhvania
1963 – 2005Georgian politician and biologist who served as Prime Minister of Georgia from 2004 until his death in 2005. He was a key figure in the Rose Revolution and died under controversial circumstances from apparent gas poisoning.
Giya Kancheli
1935 – 2019Internationally acclaimed Georgian composer known for his symphonies and film scores, including music for over 40 Soviet and Georgian films.
Giorgi Gakharia
1975 – PresentPrime Minister of Georgia from 2019 to 2021 who resigned amid disputes with the Georgian Dream party leadership.
Niko Pirosmani
1862 – 1918Self-taught Georgian primitivist painter whose naive style depicting Georgian life gained international recognition posthumously.
Mikheil Kavelashvili
1971 – PresentPresident of Georgia since December 2024 and former Manchester City striker who played 86 times for the Georgian national team.
Nona Gaprindashvili
1941 – PresentWomen's World Chess Champion from 1962 to 1978, the first woman to be awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE.
Sergei Bagapsh
1949 – 2011Second President of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia from 2005 until his death in 2011.
Nino Burjanadze
1964 – PresentFormer Speaker of the Georgian Parliament (2001-2008) who served as Acting President during the Rose Revolution period.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili
1967 – PresentPrime Minister of Georgia from 2015 to 2018 who previously worked as a physician and economist in international development.
Nika Melia
1979 – PresentChairman of the United National Movement, Georgia's main opposition party, and former Mayor of Tbilisi (2017-2017).
Maia Chiburdanidze
1961 – PresentWomen's World Chess Champion from 1978 to 1991 who became the youngest-ever world champion at age 17.
Khatia Buniatishvili
1987 – PresentGeorgian-born classical pianist known for her technically brilliant and emotionally intense performances of Romantic repertoire. She has performed with major orchestras worldwide and is particularly celebrated for her interpretations of Liszt and Rachmaninoff.
Alexander Ankvab
1952 – PresentAbkhaz politician who served as the de facto President of Abkhazia from 2011 to 2014. He was forced to resign following popular protests and unrest in the breakaway Georgian region.
Mamuka Bakhtadze
1982 – PresentGeorgian politician who served as Prime Minister of Georgia from 2018 to 2019. He previously held the position of Finance Minister and was known for his economic reform initiatives.
Davit Mujiri
1978 – PresentGeorgian striker who played for clubs including Dinamo Tbilisi and earned over 70 caps for the national team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the most famous Soviet leader from Georgia?
Eduard Shevardnadze was the most notable Soviet-era leader from Georgia. He was Soviet Foreign Minister under Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985 to 1991 and later became President of independent Georgia from 1995 to 2003.
Are there any famous chess players from Georgia?
Yes, Nona Gaprindashvili is one of the world's renowned female chess players from Georgia. She held the title of Women's World Chess Champion from 1962 to 1978 and was the first woman to receive the Grandmaster title from FIDE.
Which Georgian footballer currently plays in Europe's top leagues?
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a leading Georgian footballer, playing as a winger for SSC Napoli in Italy's Serie A. He is recognized as one of the promising young talents in European football and plays a crucial role for the Georgian national team.