Greece

Broadcast media

broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about a dozen of the private channels broadcast at the national or regional level; 3 publicly-owned terrestrial TV channels with national coverage, 1 publicly-owned satellite channel, and 3 stations designed for digital terrestrial transmissions; multi-channel satellite and cable TV services available; upwards of 1,500 radio stations, nearly all of them privately-owned; state-run broadcaster has 7 national stations, 2 international stations, and 19 regional stations (2007)

Internet country code

.gr

Internet hosts

3.201 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 32

Internet users

4.971 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 46

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; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use

5.745 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 29

Telephones - mobile cellular

12.128 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 65

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $108.7 billion expenditures: $128 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Central bank discount rate

1.5% (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 116 1.75% (31 December 2010) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.2% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 7.15% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$16.68 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 -$29.36 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$583.3 billion (30 June 2011) country comparison to the world: 22 $532.9 billion (30 June 2010)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33 (2005) country comparison to the world: 98 35.4 (1998)

Economy - overview

Greece has a capitalist economy with a public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by nearly 4% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has sustained record levels of consumer spending. But the economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit. The economy contracted by 2.3% in 2009, 3.5% in 2010, 6.9% in 2011, and 6.0% in 2012. Greece violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criterion in 2007-08, before exceeding it again in 2009, with the deficit reaching 15% of GDP. Austerity measures reduced the deficit to about 8% in 2012. Deteriorating public finances, inaccurate and misreported statistics, and consistent underperformance on reforms prompted major credit rating agencies to downgrade Greece's international debt rating in late 2009, and has led the country into a financial crisis. Under intense pressure from the EU and international market participants, the government adopted a medium-term austerity program that includes cutting government spending, decreasing tax evasion, overhauling the health-care and pension systems, and reforming the labor and product markets. Athens, however, faces long-term challenges to push through unpopular reforms in the face of widespread unrest from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. In April 2010 a leading credit agency assigned Greek debt its lowest possible credit rating; in May 2010, the International Monetary Fund and Euro-Zone governments provided Greece emergency short- and medium-term loans worth $147 billion so that the country could make debt repayments to creditors. In exchange for the largest bailout ever assembled, the government announced combined spending cuts and tax increases totaling $40 billion over three years, on top of the tough austerity measures already taken. Greece, however, struggled to meet 2010 targets set by the EU and the IMF, especially after Eurostat - the EU's statistical office - revised upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. European leaders and the IMF agreed in October 2011 to provide Athens a second bailout package of $169 billion. The second deal however, calls for Greece's creditors to write down a significant portion of their Greek government bond holdings. In exchange for the second loan Greece has promised to introduce an additional $7.8 billion in austerity measures during 2013-15. However, these massive austerity cuts are lengthening Greece's economic recession and depressing tax revenues. Greece's lenders are calling on Athens to step up efforts to increase tax collection, privatize public enterprises, and rein in health spending, and are planning to give Greece more time to shore up its economy and finances. Many investors doubt that Greece can sustain fiscal efforts in the face of a bleak economic outlook, public discontent, and political instability.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$26.67 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $28.16 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 9.5%, Turkey 7.9%, Germany 7.9%, Cyprus 6.1%, Bulgaria 5.5%, US 5.2% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$255 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$280.8 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $298.7 billion (2011 est.) $320.9 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 16% services: 80.1% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $26,700 (2011 est.) $28,700 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 214 -6.9% (2011 est.) -3.5% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)

Imports

$57.92 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $66.04 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Germany 10.6%, Russia 9.4%, Italy 9.2%, China 5.7%, Netherlands 5.5%, France 5%, Iran 4.5% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

-8.5% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 3.3% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

10.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Labor force

4.951 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 12.4% industry: 22.4% services: 65.1% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$33.65 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 48 $72.64 billion (31 December 2010) $54.72 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

20% (2009 est.)

Public debt

161.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 165.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $6.37 billion (2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$251.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $262.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$41.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $42.94 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$27.26 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $27.43 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$388.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $413.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$120 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $126.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

42.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Unemployment rate

24.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 17.4% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

92.99 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Crude oil - exports

19,960 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - imports

355,600 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Crude oil - production

1,751 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Crude oil - proved reserves

10 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - consumption

58.71 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity - exports

2.571 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity - from fossil fuels

70.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

17% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - from other renewable sources

8.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - imports

8.517 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - installed generating capacity

14.36 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - production

57.11 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - consumption

4.737 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Natural gas - imports

4.762 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas - production

1 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - proved reserves

991.1 million cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Refined petroleum products - consumption

343,400 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Refined petroleum products - exports

161,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Refined petroleum products - imports

140,800 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Refined petroleum products - production

440,200 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Area

total: 131,957 sq km country comparison to the world: 97 land: 130,647 sq km water: 1,310 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%) per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)

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

15,500 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

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 volcanism: Santorini (elev. 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

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

Total renewable water resources

72 cu km (2005)

Administrative divisions

13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean)

Capital

name: Athens 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

Constitution

11 June 1975; amended March 1986, April 2001, and May 2008

Country name

conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel Bennett SMITH embassy: 91 Vasillisis 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 (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christos P. PANAGOPOULOUS chancery: 2217 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, New Orleans; j

Executive branch

chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Antonis SAMARAS (since 20 June 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 February 2010 (next to be held by February 2015); president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS reelected president; number of parliamentary votes, 266 out of 300

Flag description

nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or for the colors; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

1830 (from the Ottoman Empire)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Civil and Criminal Court; all judges are appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Supreme Administrative Court and Court of Auditors; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance

Legal system

civil legal system based on Roman law

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by 2016); note - there was a legislative election on 6 May 2012 in which none of the leaders of the top three parties (New Democracy, Coalition of the Radical Left, and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement) were able to form a government election results: percent of vote by party - ND 29.7%, SYRIZA 26.9%, PASOK 12.3%, ANEL 7.5%, Golden Dawn 6.9%, DIMAR 6.3%, KKE 4.5%, other 6.0%; seats by party - ND 129, SYRIZA 71, PASOK 33, ANEL 20, Golden Dawn 18, DIMAR 17, KKE 12; note - only parties surpassing a 3% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups, but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold

National anthem

name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty) lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS note: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158 verse poem by the same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans; Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Liberty" as its anthem

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

National symbol(s)

Greek cross (white cross on blue field; arms equal length)

Political parties and leaders

Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA [Petros KONSTANTINOU]; Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alexis TSIPRAS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Democratic Left [Fotis KOUVELIS]; Democratic Alliance or DISY [Theodora BAKOGIANNI]; Ecologist Greens [Nikos CHRYSOGELOS]; Golden Dawn [Nikolaos MICHALOLIAKOS]; Independent Greeks or ANEL [Panos KAMMENOS]; New Democracy or ND [Antonis SAMARAS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Evangelos VENIZELOS]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Georgios KARATZAFERIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS]; General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. 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 other anti-Communists and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily leave the common currency or be removed.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,485,389 females age 16-49: 2,469,854 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,032,378 females age 16-49: 2,016,552 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 52,754 female: 49,485 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2011)

Military expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Military service age and obligation

19-45 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 - 1 year for all services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.2% (male 785,922/ female 739,868) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,545,946/ female 3,559,718) 65 years and over: 19.8% (male 935,054/ female 1,201,319) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

9.08 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Death rate

10.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 104

Ethnic groups

population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census) note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Health expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 66

Hospital bed density

4.77 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 179 male: 5.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.05 years country comparison to the world: 31 male: 77.48 years female: 82.79 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97.8% female: 94.2% (2001 census)

Major cities - population

ATHENS (capital) 3.252 million; Thessaloniki 834,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 181

Median age

total: 42.8 years male: 41.7 years female: 43.9 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek

Net migration rate

2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.5% (2003) country comparison to the world: 17

Physicians density

6.043 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

10,767,827 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Population growth rate

0.06% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Religions

Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2007)

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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 25.8% country comparison to the world: 25 male: 19.4% female: 33.9% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 61% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy

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

82 (2012) country comparison to the world: 69

Airports - with paved runways

total: 67 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 9 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 13 (2012)

Heliports

9 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 860 country comparison to the world: 12 by type: bulk carrier 262, cargo 49, carrier 1, chemical tanker 68, container 35, liquefied gas 13, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 109, petroleum tanker 302, roll on/roll off 14 foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 17, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 3, Italy 5, UK 6, US 8) registered in other countries: 2,459 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 225, Barbados 14, Belize 2, Bermuda 8, Brazil 1, Cambodia 2, Cape Verde 1, Cayman Islands 9, Comoros 4, Curacao 1, Cyprus 201, Dominica 4, Egypt 8, Gibraltar 8, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 62, Italy 7, Jamaica 3, Liberia 505, Malta 469, Marshall Islands 408, Mexico 2, Moldova 1, Panama 379, Philippines 5, Portugal 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 42, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 22, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 3, Venezuela 4, unknown 10) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,240 km; oil 75 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Agioi Theodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Railways

total: 2,548 km country comparison to the world: 65 standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified) narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 116,711 km (includes 948 km of expressways) (2005) country comparison to the world: 38

Waterways

6 km (the 6 km long Corinth Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; it shortens a sea voyage by 325 km) (2012) country comparison to the world: 107