Greece - GR - GRC - GRE - Europe
Greece Images
Greece is one of the top olive and olive oil producers in the world. The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta explains the major role of the products in the country’s economy, nutrition, religion, culture, and history. Exhibits also examine the development of the technology of olive growing and olive oil production in Greece from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. The museum is the first of its kind in Greece and is part of the Museums of the Olive in the Mediterranean network. Pictured is an olive press from the prehistoric era.
Countries shown in this late winter satellite image of the southern Balkan Peninsula include Italy (left center edge), Greece (below center), and Turkey (right edge). At upper right is the Black Sea, at center is the Aegean Sea, at upper left is the Adriatic Sea, and at bottom left is the Mediterranean Sea. North of Turkey are Bulgaria and Romania. Moving clockwise from top left are Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Albania. North of Albania is Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Scattered fires appear as red dots. Image courtesy of NASA.
This northwest-looking photo displays the rugged, mountainous landscape of Greece. Two major landform regions are captured in the photo - the northwest-southeast-trending Pindus Mtns. in central Greece north of the Gulf of Corinth and the Peloponnese Peninsula south of the Gulf (center of the photo). This rugged terrain caused the Greeks to become a seafaring people, second only to the Norwegians in Europe. The capital of Athens (lighter area) is barely discernible along the southern edge of the broad peninsula near the eastern edge of the photograph. Image courtesy of NASA.
This image includes many of the islands of the East Aegean as well as part of mainland Turkey. The largest modern city in the Aegean coast is Izmir, Turkey, situated about one quarter of the image length from the top. The city is the bright coastal area near the greenish waters of Izmir Bay and southeast of the roughly triangular-shaped island of Lesvos. The lengthy island at the bottom of the photo is Crete. North of Crete, the small broken ring of islands are the remnants of the collapsed caldera of Santorini Volcano. Image courtesy of NASA.
The islands in this photo - located approximately 120 km (75 mi) north of Crete in the Aegean Sea - are arranged in an oval shape. They are all that remains of what was once a large, circular volcano. The largest island in the ring is the tourist mecca of Santorini (also known as Thera), while the other islands are Thirasia and Aspronisi. The three pieces are what remains after an enormous eruption destroyed most of a volcanic island. Water from the Aegean Sea rushed in to fill the void, forming the central, 12 km-long (7.5 mi) lagoon. The lagoon is surrounded by high, steep cliffs on three sides. Several towns occupy the top of these impressive, near-vertical cliffs (roughly 300 m or 1,000 ft), appearing as white stipple patterns. Santorini is one of the most famous tourist islands on Earth. Ships arrive at the bottom of the cliffs near the town of Fira. Tourists then climb a switchback road up the cliffs to the town - a classic Greek village on a cliff face looking out into the great lagoon. The caldera explosion that made this lagoon is one of the largest known to geologists. An estimated 100 cu km of material blew out of the volcano, four times as much as the well-recorded eruption by Krakatoa in 1883. Santorini has been designated a “Decade Volcano” because it poses more than one volcanic hazard to people living near it. The date of the Santorini explosion has been carefully researched and is now known to have taken place between 1600 and 1627 B.C. Archaeological excavations at the town of Akrotiri are revealing exciting remains of a Minoan-age town with streets, three-story houses, and frescoes well preserved under ash layers, much like those preserved at Pompeii. Since the volcano is still active, the central peak has grown and then erupted repeatedly. Nea Kameni is the most recent peak of the underwater volcano to appear above water (popping up in 1707). There have been three eruptions in the 20th century alone. Image courtesy of NASA.
Mount Olympus is featured in this photo from the International Space Station. Mount Olympus is the highest peak (2,917 m) in Greece, as well as the mountain chain that runs north into Bulgaria and south, via the Cyclades Islands, into Turkey. In this winter view, Olympus is the only peak with a dusting of snow. The slopes of the peaks of Olympus and its neighboring peaks drop sheer into the Thermaikos Gulf, a northern arm of the Aegean Sea. White cirrus clouds obscure the shoreline near the city of Thessaloniki. This major port is spread along the shores of a small and well-protected bay at the north end of the gulf. Image courtesy of NASA.
The Parthenon crowns the Acropolis in Athens. The Acropolis is a citadel on a flat, high, rocky outcrop 150 m (490 ft) above sea level and is the highest point in Athens. It preserves a number of ancient structures.
Close up of the front of the Parthenon - the temple to ancient Athens' patron deity, Athena.
Another view of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. Built in the 5th century B.C., it is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece.
The Parthenon in Athens undergoing restoration.
Sculpted processional riders from the marble frieze of the Parthenon.
View of the rear of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. The temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, was built between 447 and 438 B.C. The Acropolis is a citadel on a flat, high, rocky outcrop 150 m (490 ft) above sea level and is the highest point in Athens. It preserves a number of ancient structures.
A view from the south of the Erechtheum temple on the Acropolis in Athens.
A close up of the Porch of the Caryatids (also known as the Porch of the Maidens) on the southern side of the Erechtheum temple on the Acropolis in Athens.
A closer view of the "Porch of the Maidens." The three figures on the left stand on their right knee, while the three on the right stand on their left knee.
The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis in Athens that was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. Built between 421 and 406 B.C., the temple is dedicated to the legendary Greek hero Erichthonius. The north side has a large porch with six Ionic columns, the south has the famous "Porch of the Maidens", with six draped female figures (caryatids) as supporting columns.
The south side of the Erechtheion with the "Porch of the Maidens," composed of six draped female figures (caryatids) as supporting columns. One of the six figures was removed in the early 19th century and is now in the British Museum in London; it was replaced by a copy. The Acropolis Museum in Athens holds the remaining original five figures, which have been replaced onsite by replicas.
The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis in Athens that was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. Built between 421 and 406 B.C., the temple is dedicated to the legendary Greek hero Erichthonius. The north side of the Erechtheion displays a large porch with six Ionic columns.
The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis in Athens that was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. Built between 421 and 406 B.C., the temple is dedicated to the legendary Greek hero Erichthonius.
The Theater of Dionysus in Athens.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens lies on the south slope of the Acropolis. Built in A.D. 161, the structure still serves as a venue for concerts; it has a seating capacity of 5,000.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens.
A view of the exterior of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, constructed A.D. 161.
Arches forming part of the facade of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (also called the Herodeion or Herodion), a stone Roman theater structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens. The building was completed in A.D. 161 and then renovated in the 20th century.
The west wall of Hadrian’s Library in Athens. The Library was founded by Roman Emperor Hadrian, an ardent hellenophile, in A.D. 132 on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens.
The Greek flag flies over the Acropolis.
The Acropolis, a flat-topped rock about five hectares in area, overlooks the sprawling city of Athens. Various famous ruins, including the Parthenon (a temple to the goddess Athena), crown its heights.
A view of the city of Athens from the Acropolis.
The Erechtheion appears in the upper left of this view of Athens from the Acropolis.
A view of Athens as seen from the Acropolis.
View of Athens as seen from the Acropolis. The prominent, well-preserved structure in the left center is the Temple of Hephaestus.
The Temple of Hephaestus in the Agora or ancient marketplace in Athens is the best preserved classical temple in Greece. It was dedicated to Hephaestus and Athena. The Agora was founded in the 6th century B.C. and was the heart of the city for 1,200 years.
The remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion) in Athens.
Close up of some of the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion) in Athens.
Thirteen of the columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion) in Athens. Originally, 104 columns supported this massive structure, which was begun in 520 B.C. but not fully completed until A.D. 132!
The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion) in Athens. Construction began in 520 B.C. but was not completed until A.D. 132 in the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian. Sixteen of the original Corinthian 104 columns survive (15 standing, one fallen). The Acropolis can be seen in the distance.
Hadrian's Arch in downtown Athens was built in A.D. 131 or 132 to honor the Roman Emperor Hadrian, possibly for restoring much of the city and completing the nearby Temple of Olympian Zeus. The Parthenon and Acropolis can be seen in the left background.
Entrance arch into the Roman Agora and Tower of the Winds in Athens. This area was used as the principal marketplace and agora by the Romans beginning in the 1st century A.D. It was a commercial and administrative center of the city until the 19th century.
The Tower of the Winds is an octagonal marble clock tower in the Roman Agora in Athens that functioned as a horologion or "timepiece." It is considered the world's first meteorological station. The structure features a combination of sundials, a water clock, and a wind vane. The frieze on the Tower of the Winds shows the wind gods Boreas (north wind, on the left) and Skiron (northwesterly wind, on the right).
The Stoa of Attalos in the Agora in Athens was a 2nd century B.C. shopping mall with both arcades divided into shops. Between 1952 and 1956 the American School of Classical Studies reconstructed the building and converted it into a museum. The statues on display were once on temples in the marketplace.
The Lysikrates Monument in Athens. The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates was built in 335 to 334 B.C. to commemorate the award of first prize to one of the performances he had sponsored. It stands alongside an ancient street that once led to the Theater of Dionysus and was lined with choragic monuments. (A choregos was a sponsor who paid for and supervised the training of dramatic dance choruses.) The Lysikrates Monument is the only one still standing in part because it was incorporated within the walls of a Capuchin monastery in 1658.
Kallimarmaro in Athens served as a racecourse in Ancient Greece. After it was restored, it served as the opening and closing ceremony site for the first modern Olympics in 1896 and was the venue for several of the track and field events. It continues to be the torch-lighting location for all modern Olympic Games.
The National Bank of Greece old headquarters building in Athens. The bank was founded in 1841.
The marble City Hall building in Athens was constructed between 1870 and 1874.
The Parliament Building in Athens was originally constructed as the Royal Palace in 1843. It is still on occasion referred to as the Old Royal Palace. It has served as the home of the Greek parliament since 1934.
The Presidential Palace in Athens was built between 1891 and 1897 as a royal palace. It was referred to as the New Royal Palace until the abolition of the monarchy in 1924. The building has been occupied by the president of Greece since that time.
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens was established in 1829; the current museum building was completed in 1889. The museum has the richest collection in the world of Greek artifacts from antiquity.
The Acropolis Museum in Athens opened in 2009. Its mission is to display every artifact found on or near the Acropolis from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine times.
The Orthodox Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea in downtown Athens is dedicated to Saint Mary. It was built over a pagan temple in about A.D. 1050 making it one of the oldest churches in Athens.
A statue of Melina Mercouri in downtown Athens. Mercouri was a world-famous actress who was active in the resistance movement against the military regime in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Later, during the 1980s and 1990s, she served as Minister of Culture. She was born in Athens and was sometimes referred to as the last Greek goddess.
![Houses perched on top of 300 m (980 ft) cliffs in the city of Fira on Santorini (Thera) Island in the Mediterranean Sea. The cliffs show the many layers of past volcanic eruptions. In ancient times, the island was called "Thera." In the 14th century it was named "Santorini" - in honor of Saint Irene - by the feudal crusader Latin Empire. It was renamed "Thera" in the 19th century but is still commonly called "Santorini." Fira is the principal city on the island. Santorini Island is the southernmost of the Greek Cyclades.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/gr/GR_044_large.jpg "Houses perched on top of 300 m (980 ft) cliffs in the city of Fira on Santorini (Thera) Island in the Mediterranean Sea. The cliffs show the many layers of past volcanic eruptions. In ancient times, the island was called "Thera." In the 14th century it was named "Santorini" - in honor of Saint Irene - by the feudal crusader Latin Empire. It was renamed "Thera" in the 19th century but is still commonly called "Santorini." Fira is the principal city on the island. Santorini Island is the southernmost of the Greek Cyclades.")
Houses perched on top of 300 m (980 ft) cliffs in the city of Fira on Santorini (Thera) Island in the Mediterranean Sea. The cliffs show the many layers of past volcanic eruptions. In ancient times, the island was called "Thera." In the 14th century it was named "Santorini" - in honor of Saint Irene - by the feudal crusader Latin Empire. It was renamed "Thera" in the 19th century but is still commonly called "Santorini." Fira is the principal city on the island. Santorini Island is the southernmost of the Greek Cyclades.
Houses and hotels perched on top of 300 m (980 ft) cliffs on Santorini/Thera Island. The cliffs show the many layers of volcanic eruptions over time.
Houses in the city of Fira on the island of Santorini/Thera, Greece.
View of the 400 m (1300 ft)-deep volcanic caldera off the coast of Santorini/Thera Island. In the foreground is the island of Nea Kameni. In the background is the island of Therasia. Santorini, Nea Kameni, and Therasia were separated by a volcanic eruption termed the Minoan Eruption in about 1630 B.C.
Interior view of Panathiniako Stadium, constructed for the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens.
Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens was the site of the 1896 Olympic Games. The tablets on the right list the Olympic winners.
A view of the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Constructed between 1980 and 1982, it was renovated prior to the 2004 Olympic Games. The stadium's capacity is slightly over 71,000.
The Olympic Stadium in Athens during the 2004 Olympic celebrations.
An Evzone (member of the Presidential Guard) at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square, Athens.
The elaborate Changing of the Presidential Guard ceremony at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma (Constitution) Square in Athens.
The Zappeion in Athens is used as a conference and exhibition center.
Olives from across Greece on display at an Athens market.
A view of the theater at Delphi and the remains of the Temple of Apollo. Delphi was the site of the most famous oracle in the classical Greek world.
The Lion Gate at the Late Bronze Age site of Mycenae. The archeological site is located 90 km (55 mi) southwest of Athens on the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes all reputedly lived in the royal palace of the fortified city.
The monument to Leonidas and the Spartans at Thermopylae, 200 km (125 mi) north of Athens. The memorial structure celebrates a 480 B.C. battle in which a small army of Greeks, led by King Leonidas, held at bay for three days a vastly superior invading Persian force, thus allowing the main part of the Greek army to escape.
Boats docked at the island of Poros.
![Harbor and ship on the island of Patmos, as seen from the shrine of St. John the Evangelist. According to tradition, it was here that the saint, living in exile from Ephesus, wrote the Biblical "Book of Revelations."](https://dev.me/media/factbook/gr/GR_014_large.jpg "Harbor and ship on the island of Patmos, as seen from the shrine of St. John the Evangelist. According to tradition, it was here that the saint, living in exile from Ephesus, wrote the Biblical "Book of Revelations."")
Harbor and ship on the island of Patmos, as seen from the shrine of St. John the Evangelist. According to tradition, it was here that the saint, living in exile from Ephesus, wrote the Biblical "Book of Revelations."
Mandraki Harbor at Rhodes, the site of a third century B.C. statue to the Greek sun god, Helios. Standing some 30 m (100 ft) high, it became known as the Colossus of Rhodes, and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The town of Mykonos on the eponymous island in the Aegean Sea. A tourist destination of sandy beaches and diverse night life, Mykonos is well known for its many windmills.
Boats in the harbor at Mykonos.
A sailing vessel plies the sun-drenched Aegean Sea.
Located 200 km (120 mi) southeast of the mainland, the island of Santorini surrounds a sunken caldera formed by a volcanic explosion that occurred about 1630 B.C. The eruption destroyed and buried Akrotiri, a large Bronze Age Minoan seaport on the island. Excavations begun in 1967 are ongoing.
Picturesque view of Santorini Bay.
Rousanou Monastery in the Meteora region was one of 20 monasteries built on natural sandstone pillars in the 14th century by monks taking refuge from the advancing Turks. The only ingress was by ladder or rope and net.
Agio Triada Monastery is one of six remaining monasteries in the Meteora region that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Each of these monasteries is built on a natural sandstone pillar.
Grand Meteora Monastery, one of six remaining 14th-century monasteries all located near the town of Kalmbaka in the Meteora region.
Varlaam Monastery at the Meteora complex is one of six remaining 14th-century monasteries built on natural sandstone pillars.
Located on the island of Aegina, Greece, this temple was built around 570 B.C. and dedicated to the goddess Athena.
Greece is one of the top olive and olive oil producers in the world. The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta explains the major role of the products in the country’s economy, nutrition, religion, culture, and history. Exhibits also examine the development of the technology of olive growing and olive oil production in Greece from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. The museum is the first of its kind in Greece and is part of the Museums of the Olive in the Mediterranean network. Pictured is an olive press from the prehistoric era.
Countries shown in this late winter satellite image of the southern Balkan Peninsula include Italy (left center edge), Greece (below center), and Turkey (right edge). At upper right is the Black Sea, at center is the Aegean Sea, at upper left is the Adriatic Sea, and at bottom left is the Mediterranean Sea. North of Turkey are Bulgaria and Romania. Moving clockwise from top left are Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Albania. North of Albania is Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Scattered fires appear as red dots. Image courtesy of NASA.
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Greece Factbook Data
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
mailing address: 7100 Athens Place, Washington DC 20521-7100
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 724-5313
email address and website:
athensamericancitizenservices@state.gov
https://gr.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Age structure
15-64 years: 62.66% (male 3,285,484/female 3,292,524)
65 years and over: 23.31% (2023 est.) (male 1,086,188/female 1,361,294)
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Geographic coordinates
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Heliports
Natural hazards
severe earthquakes
volcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Alabama
Military service age and obligation
note 1: compulsory service applies to any individual whom the Greek authorities consider to be Greek, regardless of whether the individual considers himself Greek, has a foreign citizenship and passport, or was born or lives outside of Greece; Greek citizens living permanently outside of Greece have the right to postpone their conscription; they are permanently exempted from their military obligations when they reach the age of 45 years old
note 2: up to 50% of the Greek military is comprised of conscripts
note 3: as of 2020, women comprised approximately 16% of the military's full-time personnel
Background
In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. From 2009 until 2019, Greece suffered a severe economic crisis due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements -- the first two with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF; and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism -- worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in 2018, and Greece's economy has since improved significantly. In 2022, the country finalized its early repayment to the IMF and graduated on schedule from the EU's enhanced surveillance framework.
Environment - current issues
Environment - international agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Population below poverty line
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 25.2% (2020 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Exports - commodities
Exports - partners
Administrative divisions
Agricultural products
Military and security forces
note 1: the police (under the Ministry of Citizen Protection) and the armed forces (Ministry of National Defense) share law enforcement duties in certain border areas; the Greek Coast Guard is under the Ministry of Shipping Affairs and Island Policy
note 2: the National Guard was established in 1982 as an official part of the Army to help protect Greece and provide reinforcements and support to the Army in peacetime and in times of mobilization and war; members undergo weekly training run by the Army, which also provides weapons and ammunition
Budget
expenditures: $97.277 billion (2019 est.)
Capital
geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: Athens is the oldest European capital city; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom; in actuality, the appellation probably derives from a lost name in a pre-Hellenic language
Imports - commodities
Climate
Coastline
Constitution
amendments: proposed by at least 50 members of Parliament and agreed by three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots at least 30 days apart; passage requires absolute majority vote by the next elected Parliament; entry into force finalized through a "special parliamentary resolution"; articles on human rights and freedoms and the form of government cannot be amended; amended 1986, 2001, 2008, 2019
Exchange rates
Exchange rates:
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
Executive branch
head of government: Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 26 June 2023)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2020 (next to be held by February 2025); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament
election results:
2020: Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes; note - SAKELLAROPOULOU is Greece's first woman president
2015: Prokopis PAVLOPOULOS (ND) elected president by Parliament - 233 of 300 votes
Fiscal year
Flag description
note: Greek legislation states that the flag colors are cyan and white, but cyan can mean "blue" in Greek, so the exact shade of blue has never been set and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time; in general, the hue of blue normally encountered is a form of azure
Illicit drugs
Independence
Industries
Judicial branch
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by presidential decree on the advice of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life following a 2-year probationary period; Council of State president appointed by the Greek Cabinet to serve a 4-year term; other judge appointments and tenure NA; Court of Audit president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the advice of the SJC; court president serves a 4-year term or until age 67; tenure of vice presidents, councilors, and judges NA
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance (district courts)
Land boundaries
border countries (4): Albania 212 km; Bulgaria 472 km; North Macedonia 234 km; Turkey 192 km
Land use
arable land: 19.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 8.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 34.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 30.5% (2018 est.)
other: 6.1% (2018 est.)
Legal system
Legislative branch
elections:
last held on 25 June 2023 (next to be held in 2027)
election results:
percent of vote by party - ND 40.6%, SYRIZA-PS 17.8%, PASOK-KINAL 11.9%, KKE 7.7%, Spartans 4.6%, Greek Solution 4.4%, NIKI 3.7%, Course of Freedom 3.2%, other 6.1%; seats by party - ND 158, SYRIZA-PS 48, PASOK-KINAL 32, KKE 20, Spartans 12, Greek Solution 12, NIKI 10, Course of Freedom 8; composition as of 2024 - men 231, women 69, percentage women 23%
Literacy
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.5%
female: 97.4% (2018)
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
International organization participation
National holiday
Nationality
adjective: Greek
Natural resources
Geography - note
Economic overview
Pipelines
Political parties and leaders
Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Dimitrios KOUTSOUMBAS]
Course of Freedom [Zoe KONSTANTOPOULOU]
Democratic Patriotic Movement-Victory or NIKI [Dimitris NATSIOS]
Greek Solution [Kyriakos VELOPOULOS]
New Democracy or ND [Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS]
PASOK - Movement for Change or PASOK-KINAL [Nikolaos (Nikos) ANDROULAKIS]
Spartans [Vassilis STIGAS]
Ports and terminals
oil terminal(s): Agioi Theodoroi
container port(s) (TEUs): Piraeus (5,311,810) (2021)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Revithoussa
Suffrage
Telecommunication systems
domestic: 47 per 100 subscribers for fixed-line and 110 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)
international: country code - 30; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, Adria-1, Italy-Greece 1, OTEGLOBE, MedNautilus Submarine System, Aphrodite 2, AAE-1 and Silphium optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region) (2019)
Terrain
Government type
Country name
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Hellenic State, Kingdom of Greece
etymology: the English name derives from the Roman (Latin) designation "Graecia," meaning "Land of the Greeks"; the Greeks call their country "Hellas" or "Ellada"
Location
Map references
Irrigated land
Diplomatic representation in the US
chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
email address and website:
gremb.was@mfa.gr
https://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/the-embassy/
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston
Internet country code
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 4,488 (2022)
note: 1,289,013 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)
GDP (official exchange rate)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Credit ratings
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2019)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Total renewable water resources
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 20 years
female: 20 years (2020)
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Broadcast media
Drinking water source
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
National anthem
lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
note: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158-stanza poem by the same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans (only the first two stanzas are used); Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Liberty" as its anthem
Major urban areas - population
International law organization participation
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
National symbol(s)
Mother's mean age at first birth
GDP - composition, by end use
government consumption: 20.1% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 12.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 33.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -34.7% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 22.2
elderly dependency ratio: 35.5
potential support ratio: 2.8 (2021 est.)
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Population distribution
Electricity access
National air transport system
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 97
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 15,125,933 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 21.91 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Sanitation facility access
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups
note: data represent citizenship; Greece does not collect data on ethnicity
Religions
Languages
major-language sample(s):
Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Imports - partners
Disputes - international
Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Greece has a security wall along a portion of its land border with Turkey to deter border crossings by migrants and has announced intentions to extend the wall along the entire border
Elevation
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 498 m
note: Mount Olympus actually has 52 peaks but its highest point, Mytikas (meaning "nose"), rises to 2,917 meters; in Greek mythology, Olympus' Mytikas peak was the home of the Greek gods
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Current health expenditure
Military - note
Greece’s NATO membership is a key component of its security; it became a NATO member in 1952 and occupies a strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean on NATO’s southern flank; Greece is host to several NATO facilities, including the Deployable Corps Greece (NDC-GR) headquarters in Thessaloniki, the Combined Air Operations Center in Larissa, the Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center in Kilkis, the Multinational Sealift Coordination Center in Athens, and the Naval Base, Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre, and NATO Missile Firing Installation at Souda, Crete
the Hellenic Army (established 1828) consists of the Active Army, the National Guard, the High Readiness Army Reserves, and the Reserves; the active Army has an army and several corps-level command formations, including a command for the Aegean Islands, a corps in Thrace to guard the Greco-Turkish land border, and the NDC-GR; there are several divisional headquarters and about 20 combat brigades, which include air mobile, airborne, amphibious, armored, helicopter aviation, infantry, and mechanized forces; National Guard units are organized into divisional and brigade-sized commands and typically based in border regions, both on the mainland and on some of Greece’s islands
also established in 1828, the Navy’s missions include naval presence operations, the protection of Greek sovereign rights, such as the continental shelf, EEZ, and Greek-owned shipping, the security of Greece’s sea lines of communication, and power projection; it has separate commands for frigates, patrol ships, mine warfare, submarines, the Aegean Sea, surveillance, amphibious, aviation, and special operations; its principal warships include 13 frigates and 10 attack submarines, which are supplemented by fast-attack and patrol vessels of varying size and capabilities
the Air Force, established in 1911, is organized into wings, squadrons, and groups and has nearly 200 combat aircraft of French and US origin, plus early warning, maritime patrol, reconnaissance, tanker, and transport aircraft, as well as helicopters; it also has air and missile defense units (2023)
Military and security service personnel strengths
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
note: Greece is in the midst of a significant military modernization program which includes acquisitions of fighter aircraft and naval ships from France and armored vehicles and tanks from Germany; it has also boosted purchases of US equipment, including fighter aircraft upgrades, helicopters, and naval patrol craft
Military deployments
Terrorist group(s)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Total water withdrawal
industrial: 330 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 8.11 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,040,711 tons (2014 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2014 est.)
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 4.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Air pollutants
carbon dioxide emissions: 62.43 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 9.8 megatons (2020 est.)
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Acropolis, Athens (c); Archaeological site of Delphi (c); Meteora (m); Medieval City of Rhodes (c); Archaeological site of Olympia (c); Archaeological site of Mycenae and Tiryns (c); Old Town of Corfu (c); Mount Athos (m); Delos (c); Archaeological Site of Philippi (c)
Coal
consumption: 13.828 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 7,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 305,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 2.876 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 23% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 5,831,987,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 33.244 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 5,219,409,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 991 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 309,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 4,100 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 491,300 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 10 million barrels (2021 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
Remittances
0.32% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.32% of GDP (2020 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Space program overview
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Space agency/agencies
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks: Chelmos Vouraikos; Grevena - Kozani; Kefalonia-Ithaca; Lavreotiki; Lesvos Island; Meteora Pyli; Psiloritis; Sitia; Vikos - Aoos (2024)
Labor force
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 33.5%
female: 41.5%
Net migration rate
Median age
male: 44.3 years
female: 47.9 years
Debt - external
$478.646 billion (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$14.447 billion (2021 est.)
$11.931 billion (2020 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Waterways
Refined petroleum products - imports
Public debt
253.12% of GDP (2020 est.)
212.36% of GDP (2019 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Total fertility rate
Military expenditures
3.9% of GDP (2022)
3.7% of GDP (2021)
2.9% of GDP (2020)
2.5% of GDP (2019)
Unemployment rate
14.66% (2021 est.)
15.9% (2020 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Population
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
Internet users
percent of population: 78% (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.404 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 46.401 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 10.358 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Area
land: 130,647 sq km
water: 1,310 sq km
Taxes and other revenues
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$313.175 billion (2021 est.)
$288.961 billion (2020 est.)
note: data in 2017 dollars
Roadways
Airports
Infant mortality rate
male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.22% (2021 est.)
-1.25% (2020 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Refined petroleum products - exports
Current account balance
-$13.858 billion (2021 est.)
-$12.413 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Real GDP per capita
$29,600 (2021 est.)
$27,000 (2020 est.)
note: data in 2017 dollars
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 36.5% (2020 est.)
female: 30.5% (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
Energy consumption per capita
Death rate
Birth rate
Electricity
consumption: 46.18 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 967 million kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 9.831 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.256 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Merchant marine
by type: bulk carrier 132, container ship 4, general cargo 79, oil tanker 299, other 701
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Imports
$103.532 billion (2021 est.)
$71.758 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports
$87.521 billion (2021 est.)
$59.022 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 2.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
male: 79.2 years
female: 84.4 years
Real GDP growth rate
8.38% (2021 est.)
-9.32% (2020 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Industrial production growth rate
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Railways
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 16.9% (2017 est.)
services: 79.1% (2017 est.)