HistoryData

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.

Population of Georgia — view historical data & charts
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

Zviad Gamsakhurdia

1939 – 1993

Georgia's first president after independence (1991-1992) and prominent dissident writer who led the country's liberation movement from Soviet rule.

literary criticliterary historianphilologistBorn March 31Wikipedia →
Eduard Shevardnadze

Eduard Shevardnadze

1928 – 2014

Georgian Foreign Minister (1985-1990) who helped end the Cold War and later served as President of Georgia from 1995 to 2003.

Kakha Kaladze

Kakha Kaladze

1978 – Present

Former AC Milan and Georgia defender who won the Champions League twice before becoming Mayor of Tbilisi in 2017.

association football playerathleteentrepreneurBorn February 27Wikipedia →
Vakhtang Kikabidze

Vakhtang Kikabidze

1938 – 2023

Beloved Georgian entertainer and actor best known for his role in the cult film 'Mimino' and his popular songs across the Soviet Union.

actorcomedianfilm actorBorn July 19Wikipedia →
Bidzina Ivanishvili

Bidzina Ivanishvili

1956 – Present

Georgian billionaire businessman and founder of Georgian Dream party who served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2013.

business oligarchbusinesspersoneconomistBorn February 18Wikipedia →
Salome Zourabichvili

Salome Zourabichvili

1952 – Present

President of Georgia since 2018 and former French diplomat who previously served as Georgia's ambassador to France.

diplomatpoliticianstatespersonBorn March 18Wikipedia →
Irakli Kobakhidze

Irakli Kobakhidze

1978 – Present

Prime Minister of Georgia since February 2024 and former Speaker of Parliament, representing the Georgian Dream party.

lawyerpoliticianuniversity teacherBorn September 25Wikipedia →
Irakli Garibashvili

Irakli Garibashvili

1982 – Present

Georgian businessman and politician who served two terms as Prime Minister (2013-2015, 2021-2024) and co-founded the Georgian Dream party.

businesspersoncivil servantentrepreneurBorn June 28Wikipedia →
Nodar Kumaritashvili

Nodar Kumaritashvili

1988 – 2010

Georgian luger who died in a training accident on the opening day of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Giorgi Marghvilashvili

Giorgi Marghvilashvili

1969 – Present

Fourth President of Georgia (2013-2018) and philosopher who taught at Tbilisi State University before entering politics.

philosopherpoliticianBorn September 4Wikipedia →
Ilia II of Georgia

Ilia II of Georgia

1933 – Present

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia since 1977, the spiritual leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church for over four decades.

patriarchreligious leaderBorn January 4Wikipedia →
Zurab Zhvania

Zurab Zhvania

1963 – 2005

Georgian 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.

biologistofficialpoliticianBorn December 9Wikipedia →
Giya Kancheli

Giya Kancheli

1935 – 2019

Internationally acclaimed Georgian composer known for his symphonies and film scores, including music for over 40 Soviet and Georgian films.

composerfilm score composerBorn August 10Wikipedia →
Giorgi Gakharia

Giorgi Gakharia

1975 – Present

Prime Minister of Georgia from 2019 to 2021 who resigned amid disputes with the Georgian Dream party leadership.

officialpolitical scientistpoliticianBorn March 19Wikipedia →
Niko Pirosmani

Niko Pirosmani

1862 – 1918

Self-taught Georgian primitivist painter whose naive style depicting Georgian life gained international recognition posthumously.

Mikheil Kavelashvili

Mikheil Kavelashvili

1971 – Present

President of Georgia since December 2024 and former Manchester City striker who played 86 times for the Georgian national team.

association football playerathleteeconomistBorn July 22Wikipedia →
Nona Gaprindashvili

Nona Gaprindashvili

1941 – Present

Women's World Chess Champion from 1962 to 1978, the first woman to be awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE.

athletechess playerBorn May 3Wikipedia →
Sergei Bagapsh

Sergei Bagapsh

1949 – 2011

Second President of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia from 2005 until his death in 2011.

Nino Burjanadze

Nino Burjanadze

1964 – Present

Former Speaker of the Georgian Parliament (2001-2008) who served as Acting President during the Rose Revolution period.

lawyerpoliticianuniversity teacherBorn July 16Wikipedia →
Giorgi Kvirikashvili

Giorgi Kvirikashvili

1967 – Present

Prime Minister of Georgia from 2015 to 2018 who previously worked as a physician and economist in international development.

economistofficialphysicianBorn July 20Wikipedia →
Nika Melia

Nika Melia

1979 – Present

Chairman of the United National Movement, Georgia's main opposition party, and former Mayor of Tbilisi (2017-2017).

juristlawyerofficialBorn December 21Wikipedia →
Maia Chiburdanidze

Maia Chiburdanidze

1961 – Present

Women's World Chess Champion from 1978 to 1991 who became the youngest-ever world champion at age 17.

athletechess playerphysicianBorn January 17Wikipedia →
Khatia Buniatishvili

Khatia Buniatishvili

1987 – Present

Georgian-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.

classical pianistmusicianBorn June 21Wikipedia →
Alexander Ankvab

Alexander Ankvab

1952 – Present

Abkhaz 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

Mamuka Bakhtadze

1982 – Present

Georgian 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.

officialpoliticianBorn June 9Wikipedia →
Davit Mujiri

Davit Mujiri

1978 – Present

Georgian striker who played for clubs including Dinamo Tbilisi and earned over 70 caps for the national team.

association football playerBorn January 2Wikipedia →

Related Data

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.