Greece

Internet country code

.gr

Internet hosts

208,977 (2004)

Internet users

1,718,400 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

5,205,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8,936,200 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $76.84 billion expenditures: $79.48 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Currency

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

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$-11.33 billion (2003)

Debt - external

$65.51 billion (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.7 (1993)

Economic aid - recipient

$5.4 billion from EU (1995)

Economy - overview

Greece has a mixed 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 include privatizing several state enterprises, undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Electricity - consumption

48.8 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

1.062 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

3.562 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

49.79 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 365.399 (2000), 305.647 (1999)

Exports

$5.899 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles

Exports - partners

Germany 12.6%, Italy 10.5%, UK 7%, US 6.5%, Bulgaria 6.2%, Cyprus 4.8%, France 4.2%, Turkey 4% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $213.6 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 6.7% industry: 22% services: 71.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.7% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)

Imports

$33.27 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Germany 12.5%, Italy 12.2%, France 6.6%, Russia 6.1%, South Korea 5.4%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%, Japan 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

0.7% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.5% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

4.39 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 20%, industry 20%, services 60% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

2.021 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

35 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

84,720 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

468,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

100.9% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$5.802 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2003 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-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

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

14,220 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,228 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km

Land use

arable land: 21.1% permanent crops: 8.78% other: 70.12% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes

Natural resources

lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Terrain

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

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

Capital

Athens

Constitution

11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001

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

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

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, and San Francisco consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and Tampa

Executive branch

chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) 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 2000 (next to be held by February 2005); 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: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90%

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, 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all 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 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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, 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.

Military branches

Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force (EPA), National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$7,288.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.3% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,638,949 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,004,343 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military 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, 14 months for the Air Force, 15 months for the Navy (April 2003)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 63,496 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.5% (male 792,938; female 746,119) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,563,703; female 3,566,549) 65 years and over: 18.6% (male 873,540; female 1,104,680) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

9.73 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,800 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Greek 99% (official), English, French

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.94 years male: 76.44 years female: 81.59 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.5% male: 98.6% female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 40.2 years male: 39.1 years female: 41.3 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek

Net migration rate

2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

People - note

women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor

Population

10,647,529 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.2% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

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: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.32 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with the 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; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime

Airports

79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 66 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Heliports

7 (2003 est.)

Highways

total: 117,000 km paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 793 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,186,624 GRT/52,943,968 DWT by type: bulk 298, cargo 57, chemical tanker 38, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 3, container 49, liquefied gas 5, passenger 10, petroleum tanker 267, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 19, short-sea/passenger 38, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Israel 1, Italy 1, Liberia 3, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 2, Panama 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 5 registered in other countries: 2,443 (2004 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

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

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) (2003)

Waterways

6 km note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2004)