Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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-communist 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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Europe
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 131,957 sq km
country comparison to the world: 97
land: 130,647 sq km
water: 1,310 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 18.95%
permanent crops: 8.73%
other: 72.32% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15,550 sq km (2007)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
74.25 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 9.47 cu km/yr (9%/2%/89%)
per capita: 841.4 cu m/yr (2007)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)
note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,772,967 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 783,710/female 737,850)
15-24 years: 9.8% (male 541,603/female 519,170)
25-54 years: 43.5% (male 2,334,949/female 2,349,421)
55-64 years: 12.5% (male 661,324/female 684,639)
65 years and over: 20.1% (male 945,277/female 1,215,024) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 52.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 22.3 %
elderly dependency ratio: 29.9 %
potential support ratio: 3.3 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 43.2 years
male: 42.1 years
female: 44.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.04% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.94 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 61% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ATHENS (capital) 3.252 million; Thessaloniki 834,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.2 (2007 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 183
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 180
male: 5.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 80.18 years
country comparison to the world: 31
male: 77.59 years
female: 82.93 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.4 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
76.2%
note: percent of women aged 16-45 (2001)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 45
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.04 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.9 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.1% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 105
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2007)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 55.3%
country comparison to the world: 3
male: 48.4%
female: 63.2% (2012)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1830 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975; amended 1986, 2001, 2008 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil legal system based on Roman law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral Hellenic 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 scheduled 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; note - as of 20 January 2014 the composition of the Parliament was ND 126, SYRIZA 71, PASOK 27, ANEL 17, Golden Dawn 18, DIMAR 14, KKE 12, Independent Democratic Deputies 11, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Hellenic Supreme Court of Civil and Penal Law (consists of 56 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council 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
subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Court of Auditors
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA [Petros KONSTANTINOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Supreme Administration of Civil Servants Unions or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Christos P. PANAGOPOULOUS (since 17 September 2012)
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, Tampa (FL), San Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador David D. PEARCE (since 5 September 2013)
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)
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Greek cross (white cross on blue field; arms equal length)
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$273.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$245.8 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-6.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$24,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 73.7%
government consumption: 17.8%
investment in fixed capital: 12.6%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 27%
imports of goods and services: -32%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 16%
services: 80.6% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-6.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.95 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 12.4%
industry: 22.4%
services: 65.1% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
33 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 99
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $111.8 billion
expenditures: $136.8 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-10.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
156.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 114
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.33% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$116.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
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
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$251.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$343.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$33.65 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 48
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-8.392 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$28.31 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Turkey 10.9%, Italy 7.8%, Germany 6.5%, Bulgaria 5.8%, Cyprus 5.3% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$53.53 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Russia 12.1%, Germany 9.5%, Italy 8.3%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%, Netherlands 4.7%, China 4.5%, France 4.4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.255 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$576.6 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 24
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$37.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$43.46 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
50.43 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
56.4 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.122 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.946 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.12 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
69.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7,497 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17,020 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
405,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 91
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
462,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
343,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
183,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
133,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.85 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.376 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 104
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
91.3 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.461 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 30
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.354 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 63
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.gr
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.201 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 32
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.971 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
77 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 69
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 68
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: 10 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 1,329 km; oil 94 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 116,960 km
country comparison to the world: 40
paved: 41,357 km (includes 1,091 km of expressways)
unpaved: 75,603 km (2010)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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, Cabo Verde 1, Cambodia 2, 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)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
oil/gas terminal(s): Agioi Theodoroi
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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; 18 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation is 1 year for all services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 2,485,389
females age 16-49: 2,469,854 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 2,032,378
females age 16-49: 2,016,552 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 52,754
female: 49,485 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.63% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 85
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
stateless persons: 154 (2012)