|
|
|
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, 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 royalist supporters of the king and
communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949,
Greece was able to join 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. Greece joined the European
Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992);
it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001. |
|
Location:
|
Southern
Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
39 00 N,
22 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Europe
|
|
Area:
|
total:
131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly
smaller than Alabama |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total:
1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494
km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km |
|
Coastline:
|
13,676 km
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation |
|
Climate:
|
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly
mountains with ranges extending into the sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest
point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
lignite,
petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel,
magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 21.1%
permanent crops: 8.78%
other: 70.12% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
14,220 sq
km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
severe
earthquakes |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Population:
|
10,668,354 (July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 14.4% (male 791,227/female 744,178)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 3,561,689/female
3,564,675)
65 years and over: 18.8% (male 884,497/female
1,122,088) (2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
40.5 years
male: 39.39 years
female: 41.65 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.19%
(2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
9.72
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
10.15
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
2.34
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 79.09 years
male: 76.59 years
female: 81.76 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.33
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.2%
(2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
9,100
(2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
less than
100 (2003 est.) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
Greek(s)
adjective: Greek |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Greek
98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no
ethnic divisions in Greece |
|
Religions:
|
Greek
Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% |
|
Languages:
|
Greek 99%
(official), English, French |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.6%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.) |
|
People - note:
|
women,
men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor
|
|
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 |
|
Government type:
|
parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum
8 December 1974 |
|
Capital:
|
Athens
|
|
Administrative divisions:
|
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:
|
1829
(from the Ottoman Empire) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 25 March (1821) |
|
Constitution:
|
11 June
1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on
codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,
criminal, and administrative courts |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years
of age; universal and compulsory |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief
of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12
March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos
KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on
the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by parliament for a
five-year term; election last held 8 February 2005 (next
to be held by February 2010); according to the Greek
Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms;
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 parlimentary votes, 279 out of 300
|
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 7 March 2004 (next
to be held by March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - ND
45.4%, PASOK 40.6%, KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by
party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE 12, Synaspismos 6 |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme
Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges
appointed for life by the president after consultation
with a judicial council |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Coalition
of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos
ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka
PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative)
[Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist
Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox
Rally [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS] |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
General
Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Khristos
POLYZOGOPOLOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV
[Odysseas KYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation
or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS] |
|
International organization participation:
|
Australia
Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, 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, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO,
WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Yeoryios SAVVAIDIS
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los
Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
|
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Charles RIES
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 10160
Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [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 |
|
Economy - overview:
|
Greece
has a capitalist economy with the public sector
accounting for about 40% 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 annual
GDP. The Greek economy grew by about 4.0% for the past
two years, largely because of an investment boom and
infrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic
Games. Despite strong growth, Greece has failed to meet
the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit
criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000; public debt,
inflation, and unemployment are also above the eurozone
average. Further restructuring of the economy will need
to include privatizing of several state enterprises,
undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing
bureaucratic inefficiencies. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$226.4
billion (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
3.7%
(2004 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $21,300 (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 7%
industry: 22%
services: 71% (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
4.4
million (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 12%, industry 20%, services 68% (2004 est.)
|
|
Unemployment rate:
|
10% (2004
est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
NA |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.3% (1998 est.) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
35.4
(1998) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
2.9%
(2004 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
27% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $54.39 billion
expenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
|
Public debt:
|
112% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
wheat,
corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine,
tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products |
|
Industries:
|
tourism;
food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal
products; mining, petroleum |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
4.1%
(2004 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
47.22
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 94.5%
hydro: 3.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
47.42
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
1.1
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
4.6
billion kWh (2002) |
|
Oil - production:
|
5,992
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
405,700
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
84,720
bbl/day (2001) |
|
Oil - imports:
|
468,300
bbl/day (2001) |
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
4.5
million bbl (1 January 2002) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
35
million cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
2.021
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
2.018
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
254.9
million cu m (1 January 2002) |
|
Current account balance:
|
$-8
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Exports:
|
$15.5
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
food and
beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Germany
13.2%, Italy 10.3%, UK 7.5%, Bulgaria 6.3%, US 5.3%,
Cyprus 4.6%, Turkey 4.5%, France 4.2% (2004) |
|
Imports:
|
$54.28
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Germany
13.3%, Italy 12.8%, France 6.4%, Netherlands 5.5%,
Russia 5.5%, US 4.4%, UK 4.2%, South Korea 4.1% (2004)
|
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$7.3
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$67.23
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$8
billion from EU (2000-06) |
|
Currency (code):
|
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:
|
EUR |
|
Exchange rates:
|
euros per
US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar
year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
5,205,100
(2003) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
8,936,200
(2003) |
|
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; 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:
|
AM 26, FM
88, shortwave 4 (1998) |
|
Radios:
|
5.02
million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
36 (plus
1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US
Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995) |
|
Televisions:
|
2.54
million (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.gr |
|
Internet hosts:
|
208,977
(2004) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
27 (2000)
|
|
Internet users:
|
1,718,400
(2003) |
|
Railways:
|
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) (2004) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.) |
|
Waterways:
|
6 km
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of
Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2004) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 1,166
km; oil 94 km (2004) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi,
Peiraiefs, Thessaloniki |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
861 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,186,624 GRT/52,943,968
DWT
by type: bulk carrier 296, cargo 65, chemical
tanker 47, combination ore/oil 2, container 46,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 121,
petroleum tanker 252, roll on/roll off 17
foreign-owned: 25 (Chile 1, China 1, Cyprus 5,
Norway 6, Sweden 1, United Kingdom 11)
registered in other countries: 2,208 (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
80 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
66
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
14
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.) |
|
Heliports:
|
7 (2004
est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Hellenic
Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force (Polemiki
Aeroporia, EPA) |
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
18 years
of age for compulsory military service; during wartime
the law allows for recruitment after reaching January of
the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17
year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript
service obligation - 12 months for the Army and Air
Force, 15 months for Navy (2005) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 2,459,988 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 2,018,557 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
males:
58,399 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$5.89
billion (2004) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
4.3%
(2003) |
|
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
|
|
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 |
|
This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
|
|
| |
|
|
