Greece

Hellenic RepublicElliniki Dhimokratia

parliamentary republicIndependence 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Greece as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 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, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
2000

Every edition of Greece

Populationas each edition published it
10.6 million July 2000 est. · 10.03m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.21% 2000 est. · 0.95% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 39.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
78.44 years 2000 est. · 77.5 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.33 children per woman 2000 est. · 1.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6.51 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 10 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$13,900 1999 est. · $8,200 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3% 1999 est. · 1.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 had suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, was itself overthrown seven years later. Democratic elections in 1974 abolished the monarchy and created a parliamentary republic; Greece joined the EU in 1981.

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

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 22 00 E

Climate

  • temperate;
  • mild, wet winters;
  • hot, dry summers

Terrain

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

Natural resources

bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes

Environment - current issues

air pollution; water pollution

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
10,601,527
(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.21% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth
9.82Death
9.64Net migration
1.97

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)78.44
75.89 · 81.16
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:
15% (male 828,585; female 779,902)
15-64 years:
67% (male 3,580,079; female 3,574,788)
65 years and over:
18% (male 815,247; female 1,022,926) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.8 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.33 children born/woman (2000 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

Languages

Greek 99% (official), English, French

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

43.8%
PASOK 43.8%ND 42.7%KKE 5.5%Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%elections last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NA April 2004)

Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon, 300 seatsone dot, one seat

PASOK 158ND 125KKE 11Coalition of the Left and Progress 6

Percent of vote

PASOK 43.8%ND 42.7%KKE 5.5%Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%

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*; 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; amended March 1986

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 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA March 2005);
  • prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90%

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 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NA April 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

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

  • Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS];
  • Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA];
  • Democratic Social Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios TSOVOLAS];
  • Liberal Party [Stephanos MANOS];
  • New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS];
  • Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS];
  • Political Spring [Andonis SAMARAS];
  • Rainbow Coalition [Pavlos VOSKOPOULOS]

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, 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 Alexandros PHILON
chancery:
2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 939-5800
FAX:
[1] (202) 939-5824
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
telephone:
[30] (1) 721-2951
FAX:
[30] (1) 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

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP. The government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises.

31 fields
Real growth rate
3%
(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 1% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate
9.9%
(1999 est.)
Labor force
4.32million
(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1998)

agriculture 8.3%industry 27.3%services 64.4% (1998)

Budget

Revenues
$45 billionExpenditures
$47.6 billion (1998 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 8.26%hydro 91.24%other 0.5% (1998)nuclear 0%
Electricity production
43.677 billion (1998)Electricity consumption
42.18 billion (1998)Electricity exports
900 million (1998)Electricity imports
2.46 billion (1998)

Economy - overview

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP. 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 below 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 - and averaged only 2.6% in 1999. Further restructuring of the economy and the reduction of unemployment remain major challenges.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $149.2 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $13,900 (1999 est.)

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, food and beverages, 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

$41.9 billion (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)

Currency

1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Exchange rates

drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 326.59 (January 2000), 305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
328,500
(1997)
Fixed lines
5.431 million
(1997)

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 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

5.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

64 (plus about 1,000 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Network (1999)

Televisions

2.54 million (1997)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

6
over 3,047 m
1
15
2,438 to 3,047 m
18
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
17
914 to 1,523 m
2
8
under 914 m
12
Paved 64Unpaved 16

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

Pipelines

crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km

Ports and harbors

Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos

Merchant marine

total:
779 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,744,872 GRT/43,734,138 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 273, cargo 60, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 8, container 43, liquified gas 5, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 245, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 75, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)

Airports

80 (1999 est.)

Heliports

2 (1999 est.)

Military

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

7 fields

Military branches

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

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,674,571 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,043,414 (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.04 billion (FY98 est.)

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 its name

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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Greece.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/greece/2000.

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