Zurab Zhvania was born in Tbilisi, Georgia on 9 December 1963.

In 1985 he graduated from faculty of biology at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
 
1985-1992 – worked at the Tbilisi State University, the department of the human and animal physiology of the biological faculty, as a senior laboratory technician and junior scientific worker.
 
1988-1993 – Zhvania chaired the central board of the Greens’ Party of Georgia, Speaker of the Greens’ Party and Co-Chairman of the European Greens’ Association.
 
June-November, 1992 – Zhvania was co-chairman of the Ecological Commission of the State Council of the Republic of Georgia.
 
1992-1995 – Member of the Parliament of Georgia; Chairman of the Greens’ parliamentary faction; Deputy Chairman of the Commission for Foreign Affairs.
 
1995- 2001 – Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia.      
 
In 2001 Zurab Zhvania resigned from the position of the Chairman of the Parliament.
 
In 2002 Zhvania set up new political party the United Democrats.

After the 2003 Rose Revolution Zhvania was appointed as the State Minister.

In February, 2004 Zhvania became the Prime Minister of Georgia.