ICT, driven by IT services, has emerged as a key engine of Georgia’s economic growth. The sector has been the fastest-growing part of the economy since 2022, and is now the 4th-largest, accounting for 8.2% of nominal GDP in 9M25. The sector is highly export-oriented, supporting Georgia’s services trade. ICT exports reached US$ 842mn in 2024 (10.9% of total services exports) and rose 52.3% y/y to US$ 898mn in 9M25 (14.0% of total).
IT sector turnover reached GEL 4.5bn in 9M25, more than doubling y/y (+2.1x), driven by a strong rebound in exports. This contrasts with 2024, when IT service exports declined by 9.2% y/y due to weaker performance by several large international providers. Nevertheless, robust growth among smaller international and local companies supported overall turnover growth of 48.8% y/y in 2024.
International companies are the main drivers of IT sector growth and exports, supported by tax incentives. Since 2020, Georgia’s IT sector has evolved from a small, domestically focused industry into a strong base for international companies, following the introduction of tax incentives. Growth accelerated in 2022 with the relocation of international IT companies and specialists amid geopolitical shifts.
International firms and talent have doubled salary levels in the IT sector over 2020-24, strengthening IT’s appeal as a career path. High wages and strong international career opportunities have fueled a sharp increase in student demand for IT education. Despite the growing supply of IT graduates, local labor-market demand has weakened, reflecting AI-driven productivity gains, among other factors. Yet Georgian IT talent has expanded internationally, with the number of Georgia-based developers on GitHub rising 22% y/y to 138.3k in 2024, highlighting participation in international projects and visibility to global employers.
With IT going global and Georgian talent engaging internationally, adapting to global trends is crucial, particularly through workforce specialization and upskilling. As AI automates routine tasks, demand is shifting toward senior, specialized, and AI-adjacent roles. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2030 work is expected to be evenly split between human, technological, and hybrid execution models, making continuous upskilling a critical factor for competitiveness. For Georgia, aligning workforce development with these trends represents a major opportunity to further expand ICT exports and move up the value chain.
