<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000041077</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GEORGIA PACIFIC CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001171794</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOODE DAVID R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THREE COMMERCIAL PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORFOLK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23510-2191</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GEORGIA-PACIFIC OUTSIDE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN - 2004</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3407</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Georgia-Pacific Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3407</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3407</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Under the terms of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Outside Directors Stock Option Plan, granted options vest in three annual installments beginning Februray 1, 2005, and may be exercised (to the extent vested) beginning on such vesting date and continuing to February 1, 2014.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kenneth F. Khoury  For: David R. Goode</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

