2016 Edition

Background

Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. 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. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974 following the collapse of the dictatorship, 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 (EMU) in 2001. Greece has suffered a severe economic crisis since late 2009, due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Since 2010, Greece has entered three bailout agreements with the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the IMF. The Greek Government agreed to its current, $96 billion bailout in July 2015, which will conclude in August 2018.

Area

131,957 sq km 130,647 sq km 1,310 sq km

land

130,647 sq km

total

131,957 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

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

elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point

Mount Olympus 2,917 m

mean elevation

498 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution; water pollution

Environment - international agreements

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 Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

15,550 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

1,110 km Albania 212 km, Bulgaria 472 km, Macedonia 234 km, Turkey 192 km

border countries (4)

Albania 212 km, Bulgaria 472 km, Macedonia 234 km, Turkey 192 km

total

1,110 km

Land use

63.4% arable land 19.7%; permanent crops 8.9%; permanent pasture 34.8% 30.5% 6.1% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

63.4%

forest

30.5%

other

6.1% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes Santorini (elev. 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

volcanism

Santorini (elev. 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

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

13.93% (male 772,973/female 727,720) 9.68% (male 533,112/female 510,133) 42.71% (male 2,291,355/female 2,309,664) 13% (male 686,182/female 713,821) 20.68% (male 975,819/female 1,252,474) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

13.93% (male 772,973/female 727,720)

15-24 years

9.68% (male 533,112/female 510,133)

25-54 years

42.71% (male 2,291,355/female 2,309,664)

55-64 years

13% (male 686,182/female 713,821)

65 years and over

20.68% (male 975,819/female 1,252,474) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

8.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Death rate

11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

56.2% 22.8% 33.4% 3% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

33.4%

potential support ratio

3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

56.2%

youth dependency ratio

22.8%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups

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

note

data represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

population

Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)

Health expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.26% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

300 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

16,200 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

4.6 deaths/1,000 live births 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

80.5 years 77.9 years 83.3 years (2016 est.)

female

83.3 years (2016 est.)

male

77.9 years

total population

80.5 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 97.7% 98.5% 96.9% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.9% (2015 est.)

male

98.5%

total population

97.7%

Major urban areas - population

ATHENS (capital) 3.052 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

44.2 years 43.1 years 45.3 years (2016 est.)

female

45.3 years (2016 est.)

male

43.1 years

total

44.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

31.2 (2010 est.)

Nationality

Greek(s) Greek

adjective

Greek

noun

Greek(s)

Net migration rate

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.1% (2014)

Population

10,773,253 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.03% (2016 est.)

Religions

Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.2% of population rural: 98.1% of population total: 99% of population urban: 0.8% of population rural: 1.9% of population total: 1% of population (2015 est.)

rural

1.9% of population

total

1% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0.8% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

17 years 17 years 17 years (2013)

female

17 years (2013)

male

17 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.42 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

52.4% 47.4% 58.1% (2014 est.)

female

58.1% (2014 est.)

male

47.4%

total

52.4%

Urbanization

78% of total population (2015) 0.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

78% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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)

Capital

Athens 37 59 N, 23 44 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

37 59 N, 23 44 E

name

Athens

time difference

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

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece yes 10 years

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

Constitution

many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975; amended 1986, 2001, 2008 (2016)

Country name

Hellenic Republic Greece Elliniki Dimokratia Ellas or Ellada Hellenic State, Kingdom of Greece the English name derives from the Roman (Latin) designation "Graecia," meaning "Land of the Greeks"; the Greeks call their country "Hellas" or "Ellada"

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador David D. PEARCE (since 18 October 2013) 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 [30] (210) 721-2951 [30] (210) 645-6282 Thessaloniki (2012)

chief of mission

Ambassador David D. PEARCE (since 18 October 2013)

consulate(s) general

Thessaloniki (2012)

embassy

91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens

FAX

[30] (210) 645-6282

mailing address

PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108

telephone

[30] (210) 721-2951

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Theocharis LALACOS (since 27 June 2016) 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 939-1300 [1] (202) 939-1324 Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco Atlanta, Houston

chancery

2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Theocharis LALACOS (since 27 June 2016)

consulate(s)

Atlanta, Houston

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 939-1324

telephone

[1] (202) 939-1300

Executive branch

President Prokopis PAVLOPOULOS (since 13 March 2015) Prime Minister Alexis TSIPRAS (since 21 September 2015); note - Vassiliki THANOU-CHRISTOFILOU served as interim prime minister beginning on 27 August 2015 after the resignation of Alexis TSIPRAS on 20 August 2015; she was Greece's first female prime minister Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 February 2015 (next to be held by February 2020); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament Prokopios PAVLOPOULOS (ND) elected president by Parliament - 233 of 300 votes

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Prokopis PAVLOPOULOS (since 13 March 2015)

election results

Prokopios 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 18 February 2015 (next to be held by February 2020); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Alexis TSIPRAS (since 21 September 2015); note - Vassiliki THANOU-CHRISTOFILOU served as interim prime minister beginning on 27 August 2015 after the resignation of Alexis TSIPRAS on 20 August 2015; she was Greece's first female prime minister

Flag description

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; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Hellenic Supreme Court of Civil and Penal Law (consists of 56 judges) judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council, 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 Supreme Administrative Court; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Court of Auditors

highest court(s)

Hellenic Supreme Court of Civil and Penal Law (consists of 56 judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council, 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

subordinate courts

Supreme Administrative Court; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Court of Auditors

Legal system

civil legal system based on Roman law

Legislative branch

unicameral Hellenic Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; 288 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 12 seats are filled from nationwide party lists; 50 seats allocated to the party with the highest total valid vote count and remaining seats are apportioned according to each party's or coalition's vote percentage; members serve up to 4 years) last held on 20 September 2015 (next to be held by 2019); note - snap elections were called because of upheaval in the governing SYRIZA party over a new bailout deal with international creditors percent of vote by party - SYRIZA 35.5%, ND 28.1%, Golden Dawn 7.0%, PASOK-DIMAR 6.3%, KKE 5.6%, To Potami 4.1%, ANEL 3.7%, EK 3.4%, other 6.3%; seats by party - SYRIZA 145, ND 75, Golden Dawn 18, PASOK-DIMAR 17, KKE 15, To Potami 11, ANEL 10, EK 9; note - only parties surpassing a 3% 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

description

unicameral Hellenic Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; 288 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 12 seats are filled from nationwide party lists; 50 seats allocated to the party with the highest total valid vote count and remaining seats are apportioned according to each party's or coalition's vote percentage; members serve up to 4 years)

election results

percent of vote by party - SYRIZA 35.5%, ND 28.1%, Golden Dawn 7.0%, PASOK-DIMAR 6.3%, KKE 5.6%, To Potami 4.1%, ANEL 3.7%, EK 3.4%, other 6.3%; seats by party - SYRIZA 145, ND 75, Golden Dawn 18, PASOK-DIMAR 17, KKE 15, To Potami 11, ANEL 10, EK 9; note - only parties surpassing a 3% 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

elections

last held on 20 September 2015 (next to be held by 2019); note - snap elections were called because of upheaval in the governing SYRIZA party over a new bailout deal with international creditors

National anthem

"Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty) Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS 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

lyrics/music

Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS

name

"Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

National symbol(s)

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

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

blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA [collective leadership] Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alexios (Alexis) TSIPRAS] Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Dimitrios KOUTSOUMBAS] Democratic Left or DIMAR [Athanasios (Thanassis) THEOCHAROPOULOS] Golden Dawn [Nikolaos MICHALOLIAKOS] Independent Greeks or ANEL [Panagiotis (Panos) KAMMENOS] Movement of Democratic Socialists or KIDISO [Georgiose PAPANDREOU] New Democracy or ND [Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS] Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Fofi GENIMMATA] Popular Unity [Panagiotis LAFAZANIS] To Potami (The River) [Stavros THEODORAKIS] Union of Centrists or EK [Vassilis LEVENTIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Supreme Administration of Civil Servants Unions 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

$56.33 billion $60.19 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$60.19 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$56.33 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.05% (31 March 2016) 0.15% (11 June 2014) this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

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

5.89% (31 December 2015 est.) 6.52% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$8 million (2015 est.) -$5.006 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$514.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $575.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.7 (2012 est.) 35.7 (2011)

Economy - overview

Greece has a capitalist economy with a 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 18% 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 averaged growth of about 4% per year between 2003 and 2007, but the economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit. By 2013 the economy had contracted 26%, compared with the pre-crisis level of 2007. Greece met the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than 3% of GDP in 2007-08, but violated it in 2009, with the deficit reaching 15% of GDP. Deteriorating public finances, inaccurate and misreported statistics, and consistent underperformance on reforms prompted major credit rating agencies to downgrade Greece's international debt rating in late 2009 and led the country into a financial crisis. Under intense pressure from the EU and international market participants, the government accepted a bailout program that called on Athens to cut government spending, decrease tax evasion, overhaul the civil-service, health-care, and pension systems, and reform the labor and product markets. Austerity measures reduced the deficit to 3% in 2015. Successive Greek governments, however, failed to push through many of the most unpopular reforms in the face of widespread political opposition, including from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. In April 2010, a leading credit agency assigned Greek debt its lowest possible credit rating, and in May 2010, the International Monetary Fund and euro-zone governments provided Greece emergency short- and medium-term loans worth $147 billion so that the country could make debt repayments to creditors. In exchange for the largest bailout ever assembled, the government announced combined spending cuts and tax increases totaling $40 billion over three years, on top of the tough austerity measures already taken. Greece, however, struggled to meet the targets set by the EU and the IMF, especially after Eurostat - the EU's statistical office - revised upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. European leaders and the IMF agreed in October 2011 to provide Athens a second bailout package of $169 billion. The second deal called for holders of Greek government bonds to write down a significant portion of their holdings to try to alleviate Greece’s government debt burden. However, Greek banks, saddled with a significant portion of sovereign debt, were adversely affected by the write down and $60 billion of the second bailout package was set aside to ensure the banking system was adequately capitalized. In exchange for the second bailout, Greece promised to step up efforts to increase tax collection, to reduce the size of government, and to rein in health spending. These austerity measures were designed to generate $7.8 billion in savings during 2013-15, but in fact prolonged Greece's economic recession and depressed tax revenues. In 2014, the Greek economy began to turn the corner on the recession. Greece achieved three significant milestones: balancing the budget - not including debt repayments; issuing government debt in financial markets for the first time since 2010; and generating 0.7% GDP growth — the first economic expansion since 2007. Despite the nascent recovery, widespread discontent with austerity measures helped propel the far-left Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) party into government in national legislative elections in January 2015. Between January and July 2015, frustrations between the SYRIZA-led government and Greece’s EU and IMF creditors over the implementation of bailout measures and disbursement of funds led the Greek government to run up significant arrears to suppliers and Greek banks to rely on emergency lending, and also called into question Greece’s future in the euro zone. To stave off a collapse of the banking system, Greece imposed capital controls in June 2015 shortly before rattling international financial markets by becoming the first developed nation to miss a loan payment to the IMF. Unable to reach an agreement with creditors, Prime Minister Alexios TSIPRAS held a nationwide referendum on 5 July on whether to accept the terms of Greece’s bailout, campaigning for the ultimately successful “no” vote. The TSIPRAS government subsequently agreed, however, to a new $96 billion bailout in order to avert Greece’s exit from the monetary bloc. On 20 August, Greece signed its third bailout which allowed it to cover significant debt payments to its EU and IMF creditors and ensure the banking sector retained access to emergency liquidity. The TSIPRAS government — which retook office on 20 September after calling new elections in late August — successfully secured disbursal of two delayed tranches of bailout funds. Despite the economic turmoil, Greek GDP did not contract as sharply as feared, with official source estimates of a -0.2% contraction in 2015, boosted in part by a strong tourist season.

In 2014, the Greek economy began to turn the corner on the recession. Greece achieved three significant milestones

balancing the budget - not including debt repayments; issuing government debt in financial markets for the first time since 2010; and generating 0.7% GDP growth — the first economic expansion since 2007.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2015 est.) 0.7525 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.78 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.)

Exports

$27.5 billion (2015 est.) $35.6 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 11.2%, Germany 7.3%, Turkey 6.6%, Cyprus 5.9%, Bulgaria 5.2%, US 4.8%, UK 4.2%, Egypt 4% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

70.5% 20.2% 11.7% -2.2% 30.2% -30.3% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

30.2%

government consumption

20.2%

household consumption

70.5%

imports of goods and services

-30.3% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

11.7%

investment in inventories

-2.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

4% 15.2% 80.8% (2015 est.)

agriculture

4%

industry

15.2%

services

80.8% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$26,400 (2015 est.) $26,200 (2014 est.) $25,900 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.2% (2015 est.) 0.7% (2014 est.) -3.2% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$195.3 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$286 billion (2015 est.) $286.6 billion (2014 est.) $284.8 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

9.4% of GDP (2015 est.) 9.7% of GDP (2014 est.) 9.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.7% 26.7% (2015 est.)

highest 10%

26.7% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%

1.7%

Imports

$46.62 billion (2015 est.) $65.17 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Germany 10.7%, Italy 8.4%, Russia 7.9%, Iraq 7%, China 5.9%, Netherlands 5.5%, France 4.5% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.6% (2015 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.7% (2015 est.) -1.3% (2014 est.)

Labor force

4.791 million (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

12.6% 15% 72.4% (30 October 2015 e)

agriculture

12.6%

industry

15%

services

72.4% (30 October 2015 e)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$44.58 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $33.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $72.64 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

36% (2014 est.)

Public debt

177.4% of GDP (2015 est.) 180.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.026 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $6.212 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$260.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $264.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$30.07 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $34.49 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$21.28 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $26.54 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$259.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $298.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$86.69 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $84.03 billion (31 December 2014 est.) see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

note

see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

25% (2015 est.) 26.6% (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

78 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1,667 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

549,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

1,077 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

10 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

53 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

600 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

70.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

11.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

15.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

9.5 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

19 million kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

48 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

100% (2016)

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

2.924 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.931 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

5 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

991.1 million cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

297,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

316,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

83,020 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

587,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadcast media

Broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about ten 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 (2014)

Internet country code

.gr

Internet users

7.202 million 66.8% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

66.8% (July 2015 est.)

total

7.202 million

Telephone system

adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands 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) (2015)

domestic

microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands

general assessment

adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service

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) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

5,177,090 48 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

48 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

5,177,090

Telephones - mobile cellular

12.682 million 118 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (July 2015 est.)

total

12.682 million

Airports

77 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

10 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

19

2,438 to 3,047 m

15

914 to 1,523 m

18

over 3,047 m

6

total

68

under 914 m

10 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

7 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

9

under 914 m

7 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

SX (2016)

Heliports

9 (2013)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 262, cargo 49, carrier 1, chemical tanker 68, container 35, liquefied gas 13, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 109, petroleum tanker 302, roll on/roll off 14 42 (Belgium 17, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 3, Italy 5, UK 6, US 8) 2,459 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 225, Barbados 14, Belize 2, Bermuda 8, Brazil 1, Cabo Verde 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 9, Comoros 4, Curacao 1, Cyprus 201, Dominica 4, Egypt 8, Gibraltar 8, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 62, Italy 7, Jamaica 3, Liberia 505, Malta 469, Marshall Islands 408, Mexico 2, Moldova 1, Panama 379, Philippines 5, Portugal 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 42, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 22, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 3, Venezuela 4, unknown 10) (2010)

by type

bulk carrier 262, cargo 49, carrier 1, chemical tanker 68, container 35, liquefied gas 13, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 109, petroleum tanker 302, roll on/roll off 14

foreign-owned

42 (Belgium 17, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 3, Italy 5, UK 6, US 8)

registered in other countries

2,459 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 225, Barbados 14, Belize 2, Bermuda 8, Brazil 1, Cabo Verde 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 9, Comoros 4, Curacao 1, Cyprus 201, Dominica 4, Egypt 8, Gibraltar 8, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 62, Italy 7, Jamaica 3, Liberia 505, Malta 469, Marshall Islands 408, Mexico 2, Moldova 1, Panama 379, Philippines 5, Portugal 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 42, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 22, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 3, Venezuela 4, unknown 10) (2010)

total

860

National air transport system

12,583,541 27,452,961 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

27,452,961 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

12,583,541

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

93

number of registered air carriers

9

Pipelines

gas 1,329 km; oil 94 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki Agioi Theodoroi Revithoussa

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Revithoussa

major seaport(s)

Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki

oil terminal(s)

Agioi Theodoroi

Railways

2,548 km 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified) 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2014)

narrow gauge

961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)

total

2,548 km

Roadways

116,960 km 41,357 km (includes 1,091 km of expressways) 75,603 km (2010)

paved

41,357 km (includes 1,091 km of expressways)

total

116,960 km

unpaved

75,603 km (2010)

Waterways

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

Military branches

Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2013)

Military expenditures

2.46% of GDP (2015 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2014) 2.19% of GDP (2013) 2.26% of GDP (2012) based on 2010 prices

note

based on 2010 prices

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; 18 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation is 1 year for the Army and 9 months for the Air Force and Navy; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2014)

Disputes - international

Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

9,101 (Syria); 5,411 (Tanzania); 5,223 (Afghanistan) (2015) 198 (2015) 1,031,819 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (2015 - November 2016)

note

1,031,819 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (2015 - November 2016)

refugees (country of origin)

9,101 (Syria); 5,411 (Tanzania); 5,223 (Afghanistan) (2015)

stateless persons

198 (2015)