# Zugdidi

> city in Georgia

**Wikidata**: [Q185336](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q185336)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zugdidi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zugdidi

## Summary
Zugdidi is a city in Georgia recognized as the capital of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region and Zugdidi Municipality. Located in the western part of the country at an elevation of 100 meters, it serves as a significant administrative center with a population that has fluctuated over recent decades, recorded at 41,332 residents in 2023. The city maintains international ties through sister-city relationships with Columbus (USA), Dnipro (Ukraine), and Pokrovsk (Ukraine).

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: City (instance of large human settlement).
- **Location**: Georgia; specifically within Zugdidi Municipality, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 42.50805555555556, Longitude 41.8725.
- **Elevation**: 100 meters above sea level.
- **Area**: 21.8 square kilometres.
- **Population**: 
    - 2023: 41,332
    - 2020: 41,494
    - 2014: 42,998
    - 2002: 68,535
    - 1991: 50,000 (estimation)
- **Timezone**: UTC+04:00.
- **Postal Code**: 2100.
- **UN/LOCODE**: GEZAD.
- **Official Language**: Georgian.
- **Native Name**: ზუგდიდი.
- **Sister Cities**: Columbus (USA), Dnipro (Ukraine), Pokrovsk (Ukraine).

## FAQs
**What is the geographical location and size of Zugdidi?**
Zugdidi is situated in Georgia at coordinates 42.508°N 41.8725°E within the Zugdidi Municipality. It covers an area of 21.8 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 100 meters above sea level.

**How has the population of Zugdidi changed over time?**
The city experienced a population peak of 68,535 in 2002, according to census data. By 2023, the population decreased to 41,332, reflecting a general decline observed between the 2002 census and subsequent counts in 2014, 2020, and 2023.

**What international twin-town relationships does Zugdidi maintain?**
Zugdidi is twinned with Columbus, Georgia (USA), a relationship established in 1997; Dnipro (Ukraine), established in 2014; and Pokrovsk (Ukraine). These partnerships are documented by official city government sources.

**What administrative role does Zugdidi play in Georgia?**
Zugdidi serves as the administrative capital for both the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region and the Zugdidi Municipality. It functions as a primary urban center in western Georgia.

## Why It Matters
Zugdidi holds administrative significance as the capital of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, acting as a hub for governance and regional organization in western Georgia. Its demographic data provides a clear case study of post-Soviet population shifts in Georgian municipalities, with census records tracking a substantial demographic transition from 68,535 residents in 2002 to roughly 41,000 in the 2020s. Furthermore, its sister-city agreements—particularly the long-standing one with Columbus, USA, and the newer alliances with Ukrainian cities Dnipro and Pokrovsk—highlight its role in international municipal diplomacy and cultural exchange.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Capital**: Serves as the capital of the vast Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.
- **Demographic Shift**: Notable for a significant population reduction of over 27,000 residents between the 2002 and 2014 censuses.
- **Global Connectivity**: Maintains active "town twinning" relationships with cities in the United States and Ukraine.
- **Digital Presence**: Possesses a high volume of digital identifiers and Wikipedia language editions (over 70), indicating strong global recognition.
- **Cultural Heritage**: Features distinct civic heraldry, including a specific coat of arms and city flag.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Zugdidi is classified as a city and functions as a large human settlement in the country of Georgia. It is geographically positioned in the Zugdidi Municipality, where it serves as the administrative center. Additionally, it is the capital of the broader Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. The city is located at latitude 42.50805555555556 and longitude 41.8725. It sits at an elevation of 100 metres and encompasses a total area of 21.8 square kilometres. The city operates within the UTC+04:00 timezone and utilizes the postal code 2100. Its UN/LOCODE is GEZAD.

### Demographics
The population of Zugdidi has undergone notable changes over the last three decades:
- **1991**: Estimated at 50,000.
- **2002**: Peaked at 68,535.
- **2014**: Recorded at 42,998.
- **2020**: Recorded at 41,494 (preferred value for that period).
- **2023**: Recorded at 41,332.

### International Relations
Zugdidi maintains sister-city relationships with several international municipalities:
- **Columbus, USA**: The partnership began in 1997 and is verified by both the Zugdidi and Columbus city governments.
- **Dnipro, Ukraine**: The twin-town relationship was established in 2014.
- **Pokrovsk, Ukraine**: Listed as a twinned administrative body.

### Civic Symbols and Media
The city has distinct official symbols, including a Coat of Arms (`Coat_of_Arms_of_Zigdidi.svg`) and a City Flag (`Flag_of_Zugdidi_(City).svg`). Visual representation of the city is also provided through a montage image hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The official website for the city government is `https://zugdidi.gov.ge/`, with an English language version available.

### Identifiers and Classification
Zugdidi is cataloged under numerous international and national databases:
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n2009016643 (Labels: Zugdidi (Georgia), Sugdidi (Georgia)).
- **GeoNames ID**: 610824.
- **VIAF ID**: 129237969.
- **Wikidata ID**: Associated with a "fast_id" of 1878951.
- **FIPS 10-4 Code**: GG63.
- **Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID**: 1996831.
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 280679947.
- **UN/LOCODE**: GEZAD.

The entity is also referenced in specialized databases such as the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (1061666), Quora topics, and Google Arts & Culture. The Wikipedia entry for Zugdidi exists in approximately 72 different languages, including Abkhazian, Arabic, Belarusian, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Russian, among others.

## References

1. [Source](https://zugdidi.gov.ge/en/content/869/119/Columbus,-USA)
2. [Source](https://zugdidi.gov.ge/en/content/869/Twin-towns)
3. [Source](https://www.columbusga.gov/mayor/Commission-on-Relations)
4. [Source](http://oblrada.dp.gov.ua/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/%D0%98%D0%BD%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%96%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82-%D0%94%D0%BD%D1%96%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%97-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D1%96_08-08-min.pdf)
5. [Source](https://dniprorada.gov.ua/uk/articles/item/9756/u-dnipropetrovska-zjavilos-dva-novih-mistapobratima-solnok-ta-zugdidi)
6. [Source](https://zugdidi.gov.ge/en/content/869/118/Pokrovsk,-Ukraine)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. [Source](https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/41/population)
9. Great dictionary of geographical names
10. GeoNames
11. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/ge.htm)
12. Quora