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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


Map of Greece

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing Rank Order Rank Order
   Introduction    Greece
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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, most with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of Communist rebels 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. Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy; Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992).
   Geography    Greece
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 131,940 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 6 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower potential
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 22.12%
permanent crops: 8.47%
other: 69.41% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
14,220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
   People    Greece
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,665,989 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 811,080; female 761,728)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,578,320; female 3,557,800)
65 years and over: 18.3% (male 866,425; female 1,090,636) (2003 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 39.8 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 41 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.19% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 78.89 years
male: 76.32 years
female: 81.65 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.35 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Greek 99% (official), English, French
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.6%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
   Government    Greece
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Athens
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, 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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995)
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA February 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NA May 2004)
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; note - seats by party as of January 2002 - PASOK 156, ND 122, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Yeoryious SAVVAIDES
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 101 60 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 725-3025
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Greece
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for half of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily with economic growth averaging 4% since 1997, exceeding EU growth by more than 1 percentage point. Major challenges remaining include the reduction of the public debt, inflation, and unemployment, and further restructuring of the economy, including privatizing several state enterprises, undertaking serious reforms, and minimizing bureaucratic inefficiencies.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $201.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 8%
industry: 23%
services: 69% (2002)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
32.7 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.6% (2002)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.37 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
industry 20%, agriculture 20%, services 60% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $45 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
49.79 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 94.5%
hydro: 3.8%
other: 1.7% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
48.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
1.062 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
3.562 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
84,720 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
468,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.5 million bbl (January 2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
254.9 million cu m (January 2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$12.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
EU 51.6% (Germany 15.9%, Italy 13.5%, UK 6.4%), US 5.7% (1999)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$31.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
EU 66.2% (Italy 15.6%, Germany 15%, France 9.2%, Netherlands 6.4%) (1999)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$63.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$5.4 billion from EU
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
EUR
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 1.0626 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 365.399 (2000), 305.647 (1999), 295.529 (1998)
note: in January 2001, the drachma became a participating currency within the Eurosystem, and the euro market rate became applicable to all transactions
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Greece
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.431 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
937,700 (1997)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.gr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
27 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.4 million (2002)
   Transportation    Greece
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,571 km (764 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2002)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,594 km (1996)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
80 km
note: 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; there are also three unconnected rivers
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 813 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,173,608 GRT/51,184,723 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Ireland 1, Japan 1, Liberia 1, Norway 1, Panama 2, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 289, cargo 59, chemical tanker 32, combination bulk 6, combination ore/oil 4, container 47, liquefied gas 7, passenger 14, petroleum tanker 281, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 49, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
7 (2002)
   Military    Greece
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, Police, National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
Definition Field Listing
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 2,662,208 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 2,026,409 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 74,650 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$6.12 billion (FY99/00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.91% (FY99/00 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Greece
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over its name
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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

This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


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