Greece

Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and became a kingdom. 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 other anti-communist and communist rebels. The communists were defeated in 1949, and Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a military coup forced the king to flee the country. The ensuing military dictatorship collapsed in 1974, and Greece abolished the monarchy to become a parliamentary republic. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. From 2009 until 2019, Greece suffered a severe economic crisis due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements -- the first two with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF; and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism -- worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in 2018, and Greece's economy has since improved significantly. In 2022, the country finalized its early repayment to the IMF and graduated on schedule from the EU's enhanced surveillance framework.

land

130,647 sq km

total

131,957 sq km

water

1,310 sq km

slightly smaller than Alabama

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

13,676 km

highest point

Mount Olympus 2,917

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation

498 m

note

note: Mount Olympus actually has 52 peaks but its highest point, Mytikas (meaning "nose"), rises to 2,917 meters; in Greek mythology, Olympus' Mytikas peak was the home of the Greek gods

39 00 N, 22 00 E

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

11,853 sq km (2019)

border countries

Albania 212 km; Bulgaria 472 km; North Macedonia 234 km; Turkey 192 km

total

1,110 km

agricultural land

63.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 19.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 34.8% (2018 est.)

forest

30.5% (2018 est.)

other

6.1% (2018 est.)

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

Europe

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

6 nm

severe earthquakesvolcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active

lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

one-third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters

mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

0-14 years

13.8% (male 742,131/female 699,079)

15-64 years

62.6% (male 3,278,906/female 3,267,140)

65 years and over

23.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,096,825/female 1,377,010)

beer

2.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

6.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

7.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

9.5% of GDP (2020)

54.1% (2023 est.)

12 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

35.5

potential support ratio

2.8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

57.7

youth dependency ratio

22.2

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

4.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Greek 91.6%, Albanian 4.4%, other 4% (2011 est.)

note

note: data represent citizenship; Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

0.68 (2024 est.)

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%

major-language sample(s)

Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

female

84.6 years

male

79.4 years

total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.4% (2018)

male

98.5%

total population

97.9%

3.154 million ATHENS (capital), 815,000 Thessaloniki (2023)

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

48.3 years

male

44.6 years

total

46.5 years (2024 est.)

30.7 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Greek

noun

Greek(s)

1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

24.9% (2016)

6.31 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

female

5,343,229 (2024 est.)

male

5,117,862

total

10,461,091

one-third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters

-0.35% (2024 est.)

Greek Orthodox 81-90%, Muslim 2%, other 3%, none 4-15%, unspecified 1% (2015 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

20 years (2020)

male

20 years

total

20 years

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

30.5% (2020 est.)

male

36.5% (2020 est.)

total

33.5% (2020 est.)

1.41 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

80.7% of total population (2023)

13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean)

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

Athens is the oldest European capital city; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom; in actuality, the appellation probably derives from a lost name in a pre-Hellenic language

geographic coordinates

37 59 N, 23 44 E

name

Athens

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

amendments

proposed by at least 50 members of Parliament and agreed by three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots at least 30 days apart; passage requires absolute majority vote by the next elected Parliament; entry into force finalized through a "special parliamentary resolution"; articles on human rights and freedoms and the form of government cannot be amended; amended 1986, 2001, 2008, 2019

history

many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975

conventional long form

Hellenic Republic

conventional short form

Greece

etymology

the English name derives from the Roman (Latin) designation "Graecia," meaning "Land of the Greeks"; the Greeks call their country "Hellas" or "Ellada"

former

Hellenic State, Kingdom of Greece

local long form

Elliniki Dimokratia

local short form

Ellas or Ellada

chief of mission

Ambassador George James TSUNIS (since 10 May 2022)

consulate(s) general

Thessaloniki

email address and website

athensamericancitizenservices@state.govhttps://gr.usembassy.gov/

embassy

91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens

FAX

[30] (210) 724-5313

mailing address

7100 Athens Place, Washington DC  20521-7100

telephone

[30] (210) 721-2951

chancery

2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Ekaterini NASSIKA (since 27 February 2024)

consulate(s)

Atlanta, Houston

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco

email address and website

gremb.was@mfa.grhttps://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/the-embassy/

FAX

[1] (202) 939-1324

telephone

[1] (202) 939-1300

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Ekaterini SAKELLAROPOULOU (since 13 March 2020)

election results

2020: Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes; note - SAKELLAROPOULOU is Greece's first woman president2015: Prokopis PAVLOPOULOS (ND) elected president by Parliament - 233 of 300 votes

elections/appointments

president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2020 (next to be held by February 2025); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 26 June 2023)

nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or for the colors

note

note: Greek legislation states that the flag colors are cyan and white, but cyan can mean "blue" in Greek, so the exact shade of blue has never been set and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time; in general, the hue of blue normally encountered is a form of azure

parliamentary republic

3 February 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire); note - 25 March 1821, outbreak of the national revolt against the Ottomans; 3 February 1830, signing of the London Protocol recognizing Greek independence by Great Britain, France, and Russia

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

highest court(s)

Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or Areios Pagos (consists of 56 judges, including the court presidents); Council of State (supreme administrative court) (consists of the president, 7 vice presidents, 42 privy councilors, 48 associate councilors and 50 reporting judges, organized into six 5- and 7-member chambers; Court of Audit (government audit and enforcement) consists of the president, 5 vice presidents, 20 councilors, and 90 associate and reporting judges

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by presidential decree on the advice of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life following a 2-year probationary period; Council of State president appointed by the Greek Cabinet to serve a 4-year term; other judge appointments and tenure NA; Court of Audit president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the advice of the SJC; court president serves a 4-year term or until age 67; tenure of vice presidents, councilors, and judges NA

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance (district courts)

civil legal system based on Roman law

description

unicameral Hellenic Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; 280 members in multi-seat and single-seat constituencies and 15 members - including 3 seats for Greek diaspora - in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; members serve up to 4 years)

election results

percent of vote by party - ND 40.6%, SYRIZA-PS 17.8%, PASOK-KINAL 11.9%, KKE 7.7%, Spartans 4.6%, Greek Solution 4.4%, NIKI 3.7%, Course of Freedom 3.2%, other 6.1%; seats by party - ND 158, SYRIZA-PS 48, PASOK-KINAL 32, KKE 20, Spartans 12, Greek Solution 12, NIKI 10, Course of Freedom 8; composition - men 231, women 69, percentage women 23%

elections

last held on 25 June 2023 (next to be held in 2027)

note

note: only parties surpassing a 3% vote threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold

lyrics/music

Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS

name

"Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)

note

note: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158-stanza poem by the same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans (only the first two stanzas are used); Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Liberty" as its anthem

selected World Heritage Site locales

Acropolis, Athens (c); Archaeological site of Delphi (c); Meteora (m); Medieval City of Rhodes (c); Archaeological site of Olympia (c); Archaeological site of Mycenae and Tiryns (c); Old Town of Corfu (c); Mount Athos (m); Delos (c); Archaeological Site of Philippi (c)

total World Heritage Sites

19 (17 cultural, 2 mixed)

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

Greek cross (white cross on blue field, arms equal length); national colors: blue, white

Coalition of the Radical Left-Progressive Alliance or SYRIZA-PS Communist Party of Greece or KKE Course of FreedomDemocratic Patriotic Movement-Victory or NIKIGreek SolutionNew Democracy or NDPASOK - Movement for Change or PASOK-KINALSpartans

17 years of age; universal and compulsory

maize, wheat, sheep milk, peaches/nectarines, oranges, grapes, tomatoes, milk, watermelons, potatoes (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

18.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$110.844 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$105.353 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

BB (2020)

Moody's rating

Ba3 (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BB- (2019)

Current account balance 2021

-$13.858 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$22.623 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$15.056 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

developed EU and eurozone economy; strong post-COVID growth driven by tourism, shipping industry, exports, and foreign investment supported by EU cohesion funds; public debt remains high despite recent budget surplus; challenges from negative household savings, high unemployment, corruption, and competitiveness gaps

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$87.521 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$106.189 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$106.65 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, packaged medicine, aluminum, natural gas, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Italy 10%, Bulgaria 7%, Germany 6%, Cyprus 5%, Turkey 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

44.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption

19.7% (2023 est.)

household consumption

68.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-49.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

13.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

2.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

3.8% (2023 est.)

industry

15.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

67.6% (2023 est.)

$238.206 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

32.9 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

24.8% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$103.532 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$127.82 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$117.922 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 12%, Germany 9%, Russia 9%, Italy 7%, Iraq 7% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.68% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.22% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

9.65% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.46% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

4.645 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

18.8% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

203.29% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$348.977 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$368.37 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$375.78 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

8.38% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.56% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.01% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$33,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$35,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$36,300 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.32% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.28% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.22% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$14.447 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$12.061 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$13.608 billion (2023 est.)

27.81% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

14.66% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

12.43% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

11% (2023 est.)

female

29.5% (2023 est.)

male

24.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

26.6% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

6.449 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

10.236 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

45.457 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

62.142 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

13.988 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

362,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

71,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

13.703 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

2.876 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

47.283 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

4.303 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

7.751 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

22.336 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

5.344 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

53.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

8.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

14.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

22.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

94.151 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

5.173 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

10.647 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

15.946 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

3.284 million cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

991.09 million cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

10 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

303,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

41 (2020 est.)

total

4,257,026 (2020 est.)

broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about 10 of which broadcast nationwide; 1 government-owned terrestrial TV channel with national coverage; 3 privately owned satellite channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV services available; upwards of 1,500 radio stations, all of them privately owned; government-owned broadcaster has 2 national radio stations

.gr

percent of population

78% (2021 est.)

total

7.8 million (2021 est.)

domestic

47 per 100 subscribers for fixed-line and 110 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)

general assessment

Greece’s telecom market is susceptible to the country’s volatile economy, and, as a result, revenue among the key networks has been variable; broadband subscriptions in Greece are developing steadily; the main networks are concentrating investment on fiber-based next generation networks, enabling them to reach the European broadband targets for 2025; their work is also supported by government ultra-fast broadband projects, largely funded by the EC and aimed at delivering a service of at least 100Mb/s to under served areas; Greece’s well-developed mobile market is dominated by the three MNOs; Networks continue to invest in LTE infrastructure and technologies to provide networks capable of meeting customer demand for data services; after extensive trials of 5G, the MNOs were able to launch commercial services in early 2021 following the December 2020 allocation of frequencies in a range of bands; the rapid rollout of 5G encouraged the shut down of the 3G network (a process expected to be completed by the end of 2021) and reallocate for LTE and 5G. (2023)

international

country code - 30; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, Adria-1, Italy-Greece 1, OTEGLOBE, MedNautilus Submarine System, Aphrodite 2, AAE-1 and Silphium optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia;  tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

47 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

4.907 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

109 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

11.326 million (2022 est.)

81 (2024)

SX

51 (2024)

by type

bulk carrier 132, container ship 4, general cargo 79, oil tanker 299, other 701

total

1,215 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

21.91 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

15,125,933 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

97

number of registered air carriers

11 (2020)

1,466 km gas, 94 km oil (2013)

key ports

Alexandroupoli, Iraklion, Kerkira, Ormos Aliveriou, Piraievs, Soudha, Thessaloniki, Volos

large

1

medium

7

ports with oil terminals

13

small

7

total ports

57 (2024)

very small

42

total

2,345 km (2020) 731 km electrified

total

117,000 km (2018)

6 km (2012) (the 6-km-long Corinth Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; it shortens a sea voyage by 325 km)

the Hellenic Armed Forces (HAF) are responsible for protecting Greece’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; the HAF also maintains a presence on Cyprus (the Hellenic Force in Cyprus or ELDYK) to assist and support the Cypriot National Guard; as a member of the EU, NATO, and other international organizations, the HAF participates in multinational peacekeeping and other security missions abroad, taking a particular interest in missions occurring in the near regions, such as the Balkans, the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, the Middle East, and North Africa; areas of focus for the HAF include instability in the Balkans, territorial disputes with Turkey, and support to European security through the EU and NATOGreece’s NATO membership is a key component of its security; it became a NATO member in 1952 and occupies a strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean on NATO’s southern flank; Greece is host to several NATO facilities, including the Deployable Corps Greece (NDC-GR) headquarters in Thessaloniki, the Combined Air Operations Center in Larissa, the Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center in Kilkis, the Multinational Sealift Coordination Center in Athens, and the Naval Base, Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre, and NATO Missile Firing Installation at Souda, Crete (2024)

Hellenic Armed Forces: Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES; includes National Guard), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA; includes air defense) (2024)

note

note 1: the police (under the Ministry of Citizen Protection) and the armed forces (Ministry of National Defense) share law enforcement duties in certain border areas; the Greek Coast Guard is under the Ministry of Shipping Affairs and Island Policynote 2: the National Guard was established in 1982 as an official part of the Army to help protect Greece and provide reinforcements and support to the Army in peacetime and in times of mobilization and war; members undergo weekly training run by the Army, which also provides weapons and ammunition

approximately 115,000 active-duty personnel (80,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 20,000 Air Force); approximately 35,000 National Guard (2024)

approximately 1,000 Cyprus; 110 Kosovo (NATO); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)

the military's inventory consists of a mix of imported weapons from Europe and the US, as well as a limited number of domestically produced systems; in recent years, France, Germany, and the US have been major suppliers; Greece's defense industry is capable of producing a range of military hardware, including naval vessels and associated subsystems (2024)

note

note: Greece is in the midst of a military modernization program which includes acquisitions of fighter aircraft and naval ships from France and armored vehicles and tanks from Germany; it has also boosted purchases of US equipment, including fighter aircraft upgrades, helicopters, and naval patrol craft

Military Expenditures 2020

2.9% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

3.7% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

3.9% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

3.1% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

3.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 12-month obligation for all services (note - as an exception, the duration of the full military service is 9 instead of 12 months if conscripts, after the initial training, serve the entire remaining time in certain areas of the eastern borders, in Cyprus, or in certain military units); 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2023)

note

note 1: compulsory service applies to any individual whom the Greek authorities consider to be Greek, regardless of whether the individual considers himself Greek, has a foreign citizenship and passport, or was born or lives outside of Greece; Greek citizens living permanently outside of Greece have the right to postpone their conscription; they are permanently exempted from their military obligations when they reach the age of 45 years oldnote 2: as of 2023, women comprised nearly 17% of the military's full-time personnel

a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis products 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

note

note: 1,289,013 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)

refugees (country of origin)

41,594 (Syria), 33,549 (Afghanistan), 14,228 (Iraq), 6,366 (West Bank and Gaza) (mid-year 2022); 27,365 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)

stateless persons

4,488 (2022)

Hellenic Space Center (HSC; aka Hellenic Space Agency; established 2018) (2024)

has a relatively new and growing space program focused on building and operating satellites; also researches and develops technologies in a variety of other space sectors, including such areas as remote sensing (RS), telecommunications, defense, environmental studies, and agricultural development; has a national space strategy; as a member of the European Space Agency (ESA), it contributes to, participates in, and benefits from ESA capabilities and programs; cooperates with space agencies and commercial space sectors of ESA and EU member states, as well as the US; has a robust commercial space sector that researches, develops, and produces a variety of space technologies and capabilities, including satellite components, electronics, sensors, and communications (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Revolutionary Struggle; Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

62.43 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

9.8 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

14.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

air pollution; air emissions from transport and electricity power stations; water pollution; degradation of coastal zones; loss of biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems; increasing municipal and industrial waste

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

global geoparks and regional networks

Chelmos Vouraikos; Grevena - Kozani; Kefalonia-Ithaca; Lavreotiki;  Lesvos Island; Meteora Pyli; Psiloritis; Sitia; Vikos - Aoos (2024)

total global geoparks and regional networks

9 (2024)

agricultural land

63.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 19.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 34.8% (2018 est.)

forest

30.5% (2018 est.)

other

6.1% (2018 est.)

0.04% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

68.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

8.11 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

330 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

1.69 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

80.7% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

5,477,424 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

1,040,711 tons (2014 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

19% (2014 est.)