Map of Greece | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Greece achieved its 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 with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of communist rebels in 1949 Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship which in 1967 had suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country was itself overthrown seven years later. Democratic elections in 1974 abolished the monarchy and created a parliamentary republic; Greece joined the EU in 1981.


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Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 131,940 km²
Land: 130,800 km²
Water: 1,140 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries
Total: 1,210 km
Border countries: (4) Albania 282 km; , Bulgaria 494 km; , Turkey 206 km; , The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km

Coastline: 13,676 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Territorial sea: 6 nm

Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble

Land use
Arable land: 19%
Permanent crops: 8%
Permanent pastures: 41%
Forests and woodland: 20%
Other: 12% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 13,140 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: severe earthquakes

Geography
Note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands


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Population: 10,707,135 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.41% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Greek(s)
Adjective: Greek

Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2%
Note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece

Languages: Greek (official), English, French

Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 16% (male 878,349; female 818,311)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,619,982; female 3,587,591)
65 years and over: 17% (male 799,053; female 1,003,849) (1999 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.41% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 9.54 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.44 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.04 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: air pollution; water pollution
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 7.13 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.43 years
Male: 75.87 years
Female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95%
Male: 98%
Female: 93% (1991 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
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: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Capital: Athens

Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular_nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

Dependent areas

Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)

Constitution: 11 June 1975

Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995)
Head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president; percent of Parliament vote_NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000)
Election results: percent of vote by party_PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%, KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%, Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party_PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9; note_seating has subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK, ND, and DIKKI; 1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandre PHILON
In the us chancery: 2,221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 939-5,800
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 939-5,824
In the us consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
In the us consulates: Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS
From the us embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10,160 Athens
From the us mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 9,842-0108
From the us telephone: [30] (1) 721-2,951
From the us FAX: [30] (1) 645-6,282
From the us consulates general: Thessaloniki

Flag description: 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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP, although the government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises. Tourism is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 4% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government has tightened policy with the goal of qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in 2001. In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to just over 2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that inflation fell below 4% by the end of 1998_the lowest rate in 26 years. The outlook for 1999 is good with the budget deficit and inflation both expected to decline further, while GDP growth stays near 3% and the current account deficit remains below 2% of GDP.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $13,400 (1998 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8.5%
Industry: 23.5%
Services: 68% (1996)

Agriculture products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 4.28 million (1998)
By occupation services: 59.2%
By occupation agriculture: 19.8%
By occupation industry: 21% (1998)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $45 billion
Expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1998 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels (1998)
Partners: EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France 6%), US 16% (1997)

Imports: $27.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels, chemicals (1998)
Partners: EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $40.8 billion (1997)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1_278.78 (January 1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994)


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Electricity
Production: 40.028 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 89.16%
Production by source hydro: 10.75%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0.09% (1996)
Consumption: 41.388 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 1.3 billion kWh (1996)
Imports: 2.66 billion kWh (1996)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones: 5,571,293 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands
Domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable
International: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $4.04 billion (1998 est.)
Percent of gdp: NA%

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 78 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 63
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 15
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 18
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 16
With paved runways under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 15
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km

Railways
Total: 2,548 km
Standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km double track)
Narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)

Roadways

Waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers

Merchant marine
Total: 810 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,798,431 GRT/44,056,618 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 307, cargo 66, chemical tanker 19, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 12, container 45, liquefied gas tanker 5, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 76, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: 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