2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

130,800 sq km

total

131,940 sq km

water

1,140 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Alabama

Climate

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

13,676 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Olympus 2,917 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution; water pollution

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 22 00 E

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

Irrigated land

13,140 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km

total

1,210 km

Land use

arable land

19%

forests and woodland

20%

other

12% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

8%

permanent pastures

41%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

6 nm

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes

Natural resources

bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 15% (male 828,585; female 779,902) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,580,079; female 3,574,788) 65 years and over: 18% (male 815,247; female 1,022,926) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

9.82 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

9.64 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Greek 98%, other 2%

note

the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in

Infant mortality rate

6.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Greek 99% (official), English, French

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.16 years (2000 est.)

male

75.89 years

total population

78.44 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93% (1991 est.)

male

98%

total population

95%

Nationality

adjective

Greek

noun

Greek(s)

Net migration rate

1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

10,601,527 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.21% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.33 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

Capital

Athens

Constitution

11 June 1975; amended March 1986

Country name

conventional long form

Hellenic Republic

conventional short form

Greece

former

Kingdom of Greece

local long form

Elliniki Dhimokratia

local short form

Ellas or Ellada

Data code

GR

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS

embassy

91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens

mailing address

PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108

telephone

(1) 721-2951

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Alexandros PHILON

telephone

(202) 939-5800

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995)

election results

Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90%

elections

president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA March 2005); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)

FAX

(202) 939-5824

(1) 645-6282

consulate(s)

Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

consulate(s) 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

Government type

parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Independence

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

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, 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

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.8%, ND 42.7%, KKE 5.5%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%; seats by party - PASOK 158, ND 125, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6

elections

elections last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NA April 2004)

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) ; Communist Party of Greece or KKE ; Democratic Social Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios TSOVOLAS]; Liberal Party ; New Democracy or ND (conservative) ; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK ; Political Spring [Andonis SAMARAS]; Rainbow Coalition

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$45 billion

Currency

1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Debt - external

$41.9 billion (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)

Economy - overview

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP. 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 below 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 - and averaged only 2.6% in 1999. Further restructuring of the economy and the reduction of unemployment remain major challenges.

Electricity - consumption

42.18 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

900 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

2.46 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

43.677 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

8.26%

hydro

91.24%

nuclear

0%

other

0.5% (1998)

Exchange rates

drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 326.59 (January 2000), 305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995)

Exports

$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

manufactured goods, food and beverages, fuels (1998)

Exports - partners

EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France 6%), US 16% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $149.2 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8.3%

industry

27.3%

services

64.4% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $13,900 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$27.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels, chemicals (1998)

Imports - partners

EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (1999 est.)

Labor force

4.32 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 59.2%, agriculture 19.8%, industry 21% (1998)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

9.9% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

23 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

5.02 million (1997)

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

5.431 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

328,500 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

64 (plus about 1,000 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Network (1999)

Televisions

2.54 million (1997)

Airports

80 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

64 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

16 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.)

Heliports

2 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)

total

117,000 km

unpaved

9,594 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 273, cargo 60, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 8, container 43, liquified gas 5, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 245, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 75, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)

total

779 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,744,872 GRT/43,734,138 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km

Ports and harbors

Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos

Railways

narrow gauge

961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)

standard gauge

1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km double track)

total

2,548 km

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

Military branches

Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.04 billion (FY98 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,674,571 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,043,414 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

21 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

78,448 (2000 est.)

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 its name

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

GREENLAND