Lower Kartli ქვემო ქართლი
Mkhare (region)
From the top to bottom-right: Algeti National Park, Dashbashi Waterfall, Rustavi Metallurgical Plant, Tsughrughasheni, Kldekari Fortress
Country	Georgia
Seat	Rustavi
Subdivisions	1 city, 6 municipalities
Government
• Governor	Paata Khizanashvili[1]
Area
• Total	6,527.6 km2 (2,520.3 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	434,241
• Density	67/km2 (170/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	GE-KK
HDI (2021)	0.783[2] high · 10th
Website	kvemokartli.gov.ge/eng/

Kvemo Kartli (Georgian: ქვემო ქართლი) or "Lower Kartli", is a historic province and current administrative region (mkhare) in southeastern Georgia. The city of Rustavi is the regional capital.

Location

Kvemo Kartli is a region located in the Southeastern part of Georgia. It borders Tbilisi, Shida Kartli, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti on the north; Samtskhe–Javakheti on the west; Kakheti on the east; and the countries of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the south.

General information

The region is one of the most economically developed in Georgia. After Tbilisi, the region is ranked second in industrial production. The area of the region is of 6528 km squares, which accounts for 10% of the Georgian territory; and it is the fourth largest region by area. The region is the third most populated region in Georgia with a population of 434,000. The administrative center is Rustavi. There are 353 populated areas, including:

• 7 cities: Rustavi, Bolnisi, Gardabani, Dmanisi, Tetritsqaro, Marneuli and Tsalka
• 6 "daba": Kazreti, Manglisi, Tamarisi, Shaumiani, Bediani and Trialeti
• 338 villages

Demographics

In 2014, Kvemo Kartli province of Georgia had the following ethnic makeup of 423,986 total population:^[3]

• Georgians – 217,305 (51.25%)
• Azerbaijanis – 177,032 (41.75%)
• Armenians – 21,500 (5.07%)
• Greeks – 2,631 (0.62%)
• Russians – 2,113 (0.49%)

The population estimate in 2012 was 511,300,^[4] but the 2014 census shows it now reduced to about 424,000.

The ethnic Georgians live mostly in northern part of the region and comprise the majority in the municipalities of Tetritsqaro, Gardabani Municipality, Tsalka and in Rustavi. The Azerbaijanis live in the southern part and comprise for the majority in the municipalities of Marneuli, Dmanisi and Bolnisi. The ethnic Armenians and Greeks mostly live in the Tsalka Municipality.

Religions

According to 2014 census, 51.4% of the population identifies as Orthodox Christians, mostly Georgians, Russians and Greeks; 42.9% are Muslims, mostly Azerbaijanis; 3.3% are Armenian Christians and 0.2% are irreligious.^[5]

Administrative divisions

Kvemo Kartli is divided into 6 municipalities and 1 special status city, Rustavi:

Economy

Owing to its location, the region has great transport links. There passes the railway and the motorways which link Georgia with its neighbours Armenia and Azerbaijan. The main industries are located in Rustavi and Marneuli. The industrial production of Kvemo Kartlo comprises 20% of the global Georgian production.

Monuments

Kvemo Kartli inherited a lot of historical monuments such as the Bolnisi Sioni, the Pitareti Monastery, Birtvisi, Samshvilde and the old inhabited area near Dmanisi