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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Greece



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Greece Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001.
   Geography    Greece Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 20.45%
permanent crops: 8.59%
other: 70.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
14,530 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
72 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%)
per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
   People    Greece Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,722,816 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 789,137/female 742,469)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,101/female 3,575,572)
65 years and over: 19.1% (male 898,337/female 1,149,200) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 41.5 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 42.6 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.146% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.54 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 79.52 years
male: 76.98 years
female: 82.21 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)
note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.8%
female: 94.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.4% of GDP (2005)
   Government    Greece Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Athens
geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos (Kostas) KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government
election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of parliamentary votes, 279 out of 300
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 16 September 2007 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - ND 41.8%, PASOK 38.1%, KKE 8.2%, Synaspismos 5%, LAOS 3.8%, other 3.1%; seats by party - ND 152, PASOK 102, KKE 22, Synaspismos 14, LAOS 10
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS]; General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros P. MALLIAS
chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD
embassy: 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country
   Economy    Greece Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP at least 75% of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by nearly 4.0% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has sustained record levels of consumer spending. Greece violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criteria in 2007. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the euro-zone average, but are falling. The Greek Government continues to grapple with cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor and pension systems, in the face of often vocal opposition from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. The economy remains an important domestic political issue in Greece and, while the ruling New Democracy government has had some success in improving economic growth and reducing the budget deficit, Athens faces long-term challenges in its effort to continue its economic reforms, especially social security reform and privatization.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$327.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$314.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$30,600 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 24.5%
services: 71.9% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.92 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 12%
industry: 20%
services: 68% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.3% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
33 (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $115.2 billion
expenditures: $124.1 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
89.5% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.71% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$392.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.2% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
59.33 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
55.98 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
269 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
5.894 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,265 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
441,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
125,100 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
527,200 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.069 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.982 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$44.4 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$23.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 11.6%, Italy 10.8%, Cyprus 6.6%, Bulgaria 6.5%, UK 5.5%, Romania 4.5%, France 4.2%, US 4.2% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$80.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 12.9%, Italy 11.7%, Russia 5.6%, France 5.6%, China 5%, Netherlands 5% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.658 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$86.72 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$52.84 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$30.8 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$145 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
   Communications    Greece Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.227 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.997 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service
domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands
international: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
36 (plus 1,341 repeaters); also 2 stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.gr
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.626 million (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.54 million (2007)
   Transportation    Greece Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
81 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 12 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
9 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,571 km
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 117,533 km
paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6 km
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 869
by type: bulk carrier 260, cargo 66, carrier 1, chemical tanker 66, combination ore/oil 2, container 45, liquefied gas 10, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 115, petroleum tanker 274, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 64 (Belgium 16, Cyprus 7, Turkey 1, UK 32, US 8)
registered in other countries: 2,357 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Bahamas 209, Barbados 12, Belize 1, Bermuda 9, Brazil 1, Cambodia 3, Cayman Islands 16, China 2, Comoros 6, Cyprus 259, Denmark 4, Dominica 10, Egypt 8, Georgia 5, Gibraltar 6, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 22, Isle of Man 50, Italy 6, Jamaica 6, North Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Liberia 358, Maldives 1, Malta 452, Marshall Islands 269, Norway 3, Panama 510, Philippines 4, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 71, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 15, Slovakia 2, Turkey 1, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 3, unknown 5) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
   Military    Greece Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 1 year for all services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 2,535,174
females age 16-49: 2,517,273 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 2,084,469
females age 16-49: 2,065,956 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 53,858
female: 50,488 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Greece Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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