Greece

§1. Greece Introduction

Background:
  Greece achieved 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 supporters of the king and
  Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat 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. 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.

§2. Greece Geography

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 km²
  land: 130,800 km²
  water: 1,140 km²

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: 20.45%
  permanent crops: 8.59%
  other: 70.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  14,220 km² (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

§3. Greece People

Population:
  10,688,058 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14.3% (male 790,291/female 742,902)
  15-64 years: 66.7% (male 3,562,251/female 3,566,097)
  65 years and over: 19% (male 891,620/female 1,134,897) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 40.8 years
  male: 39.7 years
  female: 42 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  0.18% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  9.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  10.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 4.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 79.24 years
  male: 76.72 years
  female: 81.91 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  1.34 children born/woman (2006 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

§4. Greece Government

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*; Achaia,
  Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations

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 or LAOS [Yeoryios
  KARATZAFERIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Khristos POLYZOGOPOULOS];
  Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Odysseas KYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil
  Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]

International organization participation:
  ACCT (associate), 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, IPU, ISO, ITU,
  MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF,
  OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros MALLIAS
  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, Tampa
  consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Charles P. 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

§5. Greece Economy

Economy - overview:
  Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about
  40% of GDP and with per capita GDP at least 75% 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 between 2003 and 2005, largely because of an investment boom
  and infrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Economic
  growth slowed to about 3% in 2005. Greece has not met the EU's Growth and
  Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000. Public
  debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the euro-zone average. To
  overcome these challenges, the Greek Government is expected to continue
  cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and
  reforming the labor and pension systems.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $243.3 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $210.7 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  3.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $22,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 6.2%
  industry: 22.1%
  services: 71.7% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  4.72 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 12%, industry 20%, services 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  10.8% (2005 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:
  35.1 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  25.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $94.13 billion
  expenditures: $103.4 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005
    est.)

Public debt:
  108.9% of GDP (2005 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:
  1.7% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
  54.56 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  53.5 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports:
  2.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
  4.2 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
  5,805 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  435,700 bbl/day (2005 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:
  27 million m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  2.34 billion m³ (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  0 m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
  2.018 billion m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
  991.1 million m³ (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
  $-14.5 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $18.54 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals,
  textiles

Exports - partners:
  Germany 13.1%, Italy 10.3%, UK 7.5%, Bulgaria 6.3%, US 5.3%, Cyprus 4.6%,
  Turkey 4.5%, France 4.2% (2004)

Imports:
  $48.2 billion f.o.b. (2005 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:
  $2.3 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $75.1 billion (2005 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

Exchange rates:
  euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626
  (2002), 1.1175 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Greece Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  6,348,800 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  9,305,700 (2004)

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)

Television broadcast stations:
  36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed
  Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Internet country code:
  .gr

Internet hosts:
  414,724 (2005)

Internet users:
  3.8 million (2005)

§7. Greece Transportation

Airports:
  82 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 67
  over 3,047 m: 5
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
  914 to 1,523 m: 17
  under 914 m: 10 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 15
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 12 (2005)

Heliports:
  8 (2005)

Pipelines:
  gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004)

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)

Roadways:
  total: 116,470 km
  paved: 106,920 km (including 880 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 9,550 km (1999)

Waterways:
  6 km
  note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea
    voyage by 325 km (2006)

Merchant marine:
  total: 813 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,656,860 GRT/52,298,434 DWT
  by type: bulk carrier 272, cargo 61, chemical tanker 42, combination
    ore/oil 1, container 44, liquefied gas 4, passenger 12, passenger/cargo
    120, petroleum tanker 239, roll on/roll off 17, specialized tanker 1
  foreign-owned: 21 (Belgium 11, Chile 1, Sweden 1, UK 8)
  registered in other countries: 2,338 (The Bahamas 217, Barbados 11, Belgium
    4, Bermuda 1, Cambodia 7, Cayman Islands 22, Comoros 8, Cyprus 352,
    Denmark 1, Dominica 3, Egypt 6, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2,
    Georgia 5, Gibraltar 9, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 28, India 1, Isle of Man
    43, Italy 6, Jamaica 5, North Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Liberia 229, Malta 515,
    Marshall Islands 179, Panama 536, Philippines 7, Portugal 4, Russia 1,
    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 84, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Singapore
    8, Slovakia 5, Syria 1, UAE 2, UK 7, US 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 1,
    Venezuela 2, unknown 15) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi, Peiraiefs, Thessaloniki

§8. Greece Military

Military branches:
  Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos Polemiko
  Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Ellinikos Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA)
  (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law
  allows for recruitment beginning 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, Air Force; 15 months
  for Navy; women are eligible for military service (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)

§9. Greece Transnational Issues

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


<Factbook 2006>
