2009 Edition

Background

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.

Area

total: 131,957 sq km country comparison to the world: 96 land: 130,647 sq km water: 1,310 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Alabama

Climate

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

13,676 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

air pollution; water pollution

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%) per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)

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

14,530 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,228 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km

Land use

arable land: 20.45% permanent crops: 8.59% other: 70.96% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

72 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.3% (male 788,722/female 742,270) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,660/female 3,578,344) 65 years and over: 19.2% (male 902,617/female 1,156,815) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

9.45 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Death rate

10.51 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 92

Ethnic groups

population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census) note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 187 male: 5.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.66 years country comparison to the world: 26 male: 77.11 years female: 82.37 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97.8% female: 94.2% (2001 census)

Median age

total: 41.8 years male: 40.7 years female: 42.9 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek

Net migration rate

2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Population

10,737,428 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Population growth rate

0.127% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2006)

Sex ratio

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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.37 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Urbanization

urban population: 61% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Vassilis KASKARELIS chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300

Executive branch

chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Yeoryios PAPANDREOU (since 6 October 2009) 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); 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

FAX

[1] (202) 939-1324 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tampa consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans

[30] (210) 645-6282 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

Independence

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges are 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 4 October 2009 (next to be held by 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.9%, ND 33.5%, KKE 7.5%, LAOS 5.6%, SYRIZA 4.6%, other 4.9%; seats by party - PASOK 160, ND 91, KKE 21, LAOS 15, SYRIZA 13

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

Political parties and leaders

Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) [Gr. KONSTANTOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Democratic Revival [Stelios PAPATHEMELIS]; Democratic Universal Hellas [Stergio KRIKELISI]; Ecologist Greens [Ioanna KONTOULI]; Fighting Socialist Party [Nikos KARGOPOULOS]; Greek Ecologists [Dimosthenis VERGIS]; Liberal Alliance [Foris PERIKOS]; Liberal Party [Manolis KALIGIANNIS]; Light-Truth-Justice [Konstantinos MELISSOURGOS]; New Democracy or ND [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece [Ilias ZAFIROPOULOS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]; Radical Left Front [D. DESILLAS]; Regional Urban Development [Nikolaos KOLITIS]; Salvation Party Christian Democracy [Alkiviadis STOILIS]; Union of Centrists [Vassilis LEVENTIS]; United Anti-Capitalist Left [Konstantinos PAPDAKIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS]; General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $126.5 billion expenditures: $144.4 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 92 5% (31 December 2007) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.65% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 112 7.71% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$51.53 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 -$44.4 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$504.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 19 $454.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33 (2005) country comparison to the world: 96 35.4 (1998)

Economy - overview

Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that 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. But growth dropped to 2.9% in 2008, as a result of the world financial crisis and tightening credit conditions. 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 2007-08. 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.

Electricity - consumption

58.28 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity - exports

1.962 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

7.575 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

58.79 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Exports

$29.14 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $23.91 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles

Exports - partners

Italy 11.5%, Germany 10.5%, Bulgaria 7%, Cyprus 6.2%, US 5%, UK 4.7%, Romania 4.4% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.7% industry: 20.6% services: 75.7% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$32,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $31,200 (2007 est.) $30,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 4% (2007 est.) 4.5% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$357.5 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$343.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $334.1 billion (2007 est.) $321.3 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)

Imports

$93.91 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $80.79 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Germany 13.3%, Italy 12.8%, China 6.2%, France 5.6%, Netherlands 5.1%, Russia 4.7% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 2.9% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Labor force

4.96 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 12.4% industry: 22.4% services: 65.1% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 $264.9 billion (31 December 2007) $208.3 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

4.206 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - imports

4.205 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas - production

14 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.982 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Oil - consumption

434,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Oil - exports

151,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Oil - imports

553,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Oil - production

4,891 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Oil - proved reserves

10 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

97.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 112% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.473 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $3.658 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$32.44 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $31.65 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$36.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $53.22 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$394.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 21 $365.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$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 16 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

$NA

Unemployment rate

7.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 8.3% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.gr

Internet hosts

2.342 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 28

Internet users

4.253 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 47

Radio broadcast stations

AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

5.975 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 29

Telephones - mobile cellular

13.799 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 47

Television broadcast stations

36 (plus 1,341 repeaters); also 2 stations in the American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Airports

81 (2009) country comparison to the world: 69

Airports - with paved runways

total: 67 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 9 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 12 (2009)

Heliports

9 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 869 country comparison to the world: 12 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)

Pipelines

gas 1,197 km; oil 75 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Railways

total: 2,548 km country comparison to the world: 65 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 (2008)

Roadways

total: 117,533 km country comparison to the world: 37 paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)

Waterways

6 km country comparison to the world: 108 note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,535,174 females age 16-49: 2,517,273 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,067,878 females age 16-49: 2,050,289 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 53,401 female: 50,084 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2009)

Military expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

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

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 page last updated on November 11, 2009