Greece
Hellenic RepublicElliniki Dhimokratia
parliamentary republicIndependence 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Greece as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 129 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
18 fieldsLand useshare of 131,940 sq km
Location
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Natural resources
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
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
People
20 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)
Male · female
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.)
Ethnic groups
Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
People - note
women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005); Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon, 300 seatsone dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
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
Legal system
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
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
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.
45 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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.
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
Exports - commodities
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
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
Exchange rates
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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)
Television broadcast stations
36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Transportation
10 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
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)
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)
Military
Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force (Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA)
7 fieldsMilitary 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)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Greece.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/greece/2005.