Greece

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

NA

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)

Telephones

5,571,293 (1993 est.)

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.)

Agriculture--products

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

Budget

revenues: $45 billion expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Currency

1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Debt--external

$40.8 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient

$5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)

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.

Electricity--consumption

41.388 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

1.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

2.66 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

40.028 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

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

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)

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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

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

GDP--composition by sector

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

GDP--per capita

purchasing power parity?$13,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate

3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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)

Industrial production growth rate

7.3% (1998 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force

4.28 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

10% (1998 est.)

Area

total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km

Area--comparative

slightly smaller than Alabama

Climate

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

13,676 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

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

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 22 00 E

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

Irrigated land

13,140 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,210 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km

Land use

arable land: 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 20% other: 12% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes

Natural resources

bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble

Terrain

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

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

Capital

Athens

Constitution

11 June 1975

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

Data code

GR

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

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

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

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

Government type

parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Independence

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

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

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

Legal system

based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts

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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

New Democracy or ND (conservative)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military branches

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

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$4.04 billion (1998 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 2,707,628 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,071,670 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--military age

21 years of age

Military manpower--reaching military age annually

males: 79,376 (1999 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

9.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate

9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups

Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece

Infant mortality rate

7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages

Greek (official), English, French

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.43 years male: 75.87 years female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 98% female: 93% (1991 est.)

Nationality

noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek

Net migration rate

4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population

10,707,135 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

0.41% (1999 est.)

Religions

Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Airports

78 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 63 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 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways

total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports

2 (1998 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 810 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,798,431 GRT/44,056,618 DWT ships by type: bulk 307, cargo 66, chemical tanker 19, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 12, container 45, liquefied gas tanker 5, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 76, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)

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

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)

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