tianeti is situated in the north-eastern part of georgia (mtskheta-mtianeti region). according to the 2014 state census, its population was 2,479 people. as 2003 studies of poverty in georgia suggest, mtskheta-mtianeti region, and tianeti district in particular, are among the poorest regions and districts of georgia. in 2003, 63% of the population of tianeti's populace was below the poverty line, compared to 47% of the georgian population (labbate, jamburia, mirzashvili, 2003: 21).