🛏️ Hospital Beds in Georgia

Hospital Beds in Georgia

The Hospital Beds indicator measures inpatient care capacity as beds per 1,000 inhabitants. With a score of 29/100, a raw value of 2.9 beds per 1,000 inhabitants, and world rank 88 out of 231, Georgia sits in the lower-middle range – a striking contrast to the high doctor density, and an expression of the privatised, outpatient-oriented restructuring of Georgia's healthcare system since 2010.

Why the Value Has Fallen – the Privatisation Reform

Under Soviet infrastructure, Georgia had considerably more hospital capacity. The privatisation reform under Saakashvili (2010–2012) closed numerous unprofitable state hospital facilities and transferred clinics to private investors. The goal was efficiency gains; the result was a significant decline in bed numbers, as private operators focused on outpatient, higher-margin treatments. This reduced the number of inpatient beds but improved occupancy rates.

Comparison and Context

• Japan (78), Russia (62), Ukraine (59): Very high bed densities; partly a legacy of Soviet/Japanese infrastructure
• Australia (40), Estonia (43): Developed-world mid-range
• Georgia (29): Lower-middle range, but above Portugal (33), Singapore (26), or Thailand (22)

The WHO minimum recommendation is 1–2 beds per 1,000 inhabitants; Georgia's 2.9 meets this minimum. In large care demand scenarios (epidemics, mass casualty events), however, capacity could quickly become strained.

Relevant for Expats

For routine hospitalisations (appendectomy, orthopaedic procedures, childbirth), coverage in Tbilisi is sufficient. For complex medical emergencies, expats should consider international medical evacuation insurance.

Conclusion: 29/100 for hospital beds shows that Georgia has deliberately opted for an outpatient-oriented, privatised model. For expats, this is no daily concern, but a limitation in serious medical conditions.

This article was created on April 13, 2026