Greece

Hellenic RepublicElliniki Dhimokratia

parliamentary republicIndependence 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Greece as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAthens

Position39 00 N, 22 00 E

Area131,940 sq km

LocationSouthern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea,

Populationas each edition published it

10.71 million July 1999 est. · 10.03m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.41% 1999 est. · 0.95% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 39.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.43 years 1999 est. · 77.5 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.3 children per woman 1999 est. · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.13 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$13,400 1998 est. · $8,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1998 est. · 1.2% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 131,940 sq km

arable land 19%permanent crops 8%permanent pastures 41%forests and woodland 20%other 12% (1993 est.)irrigated 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

131,940sq km

land: 130,800 sq kmwater: 1,140 sq kmslightly smaller than Alabama

Coastline

13,676km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 6 nm

Highest point

2,917m

Mount Olympuslowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

1,210km

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

Location

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

Climate

temperate;
mild, wet winters;
hot, dry summers

Terrain

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

Natural resources

bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

People

15 fields

Population

10,707,135

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 0.41% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

9.54Death

9.44Net migration

4.04

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)78.43

75.87 · 81.18

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1991 est.)95%

98% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Greek Orthodox 98%Muslim 1.3%other 0.7%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 16% (male 878,349; female 818,311)
15-64 years:: 67% (male 3,619,982; female 3,587,591)
65 years and over:: 17% (male 799,053; female 1,003,849) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

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:: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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

Government

Parliamentary republic; President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995); Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

41.5%

-PASOK 41.5%ND 38.1%KKE 5.6%Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%DIKKI 4.4%Political Spring 2.9%elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000)

Legislature, 300 seatsone dot, one seat

-PASOK 162ND 108KKE 11Coalition of the Left and Progress 10DIKKI 9

Percent of vote

-PASOK 41.5%ND 38.1%KKE 5.6%Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%DIKKI 4.4%Political Spring 2.9%

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

51 prefectures (nomoi, singular--nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

Independence

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday

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

Constitution

11 June 1975

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 Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995)
head of government:: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)
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 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president; percent of Parliament vote--NA

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 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000)
election results:: percent of vote by party--PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%, KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%, Political Spring 2.9%;
seats by party--PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9;
note--seating has subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK, ND, and DIKKI;
1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4

Judicial branch

Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council;
Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Political parties and leaders

New Democracy or ND (conservative)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Alexandre PHILON
chancery:: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general:: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s):: Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS
embassy:: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
mailing address:: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
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

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$13,400

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 7.3% (1998 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.9%

(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

10%

(1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1996)

agriculture 8.5%industry 23.5%services 68% (1996)

Budget

Revenues

$45 billionExpenditures

$47.6 billion (1998 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 89.16%hydro 10.75%other 0.09% (1996)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

40.028 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

41.388 billion (1996)Electricity exports

1.3 billion (1996)Electricity imports

2.66 billion (1996)

Economy--overview

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP, although the government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises. Tourism is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 4% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government has tightened policy with the goal of qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in 2001.

In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to just over 2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that inflation fell below 4% by the end of 1998--the lowest rate in 26 years. The outlook for 1999 is good with the budget deficit and inflation both expected to decline further, while GDP growth stays near 3% and the current account deficit remains below 2% of GDP.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$143 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force

4.28 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation

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

Industries

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

Agriculture--products

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

Exports

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

Exports--commodities

manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels (1998)

Exports--partners

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

Imports

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

Imports--commodities

manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels, chemicals (1998)

Imports--partners

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

Debt--external

$40.8 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient

$5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)

Currency

1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Exchange rates

drachmae (Dr) per US$1--278.78 (January 1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

5,571,293

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
microwave radio relay carries most traffic;
extensive open-wire network;
submarine cables to off-shore islands

domestic:: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable
international:: tropospheric scatter;
8 submarine cables;
satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0

Radios

Television broadcast stations

64 (in addition, there are about 1,000 low-power repeaters and two stations in the US armed forces network) (1997)

Televisions

2.3 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 810 ships by type(1998 est.)

bulk 307cargo 66chemical tanker 19combination bulk 9combination ore/oil 12container 45liquefied gas tanker 5multifunction large-load carrier 1oil tanker 229passenger 15passenger-cargo 2refrigerated cargo 4roll-on/roll-off cargo 17short-sea passenger 76specialized tanker 3

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 16

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3

Networkskm

Highways

117,000Railways

2,548

Highways: paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) · unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km double track) · narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)

Railways

total:: 2,548 km
standard gauge:: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km double track)
narrow gauge:: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)

Highways

total:: 117,000 km
paved:: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 9,594 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

80 km;
system consists of three coastal canals;
including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km;
and three unconnected rivers

Military

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

7 fields

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea;
Cyprus question with Turkey;
dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name;
in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions;
Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav 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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Greece.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/greece/1999.

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