Greece
Country Guide

Explore Greece

Greece with its capital Athens is located in Europe (Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea). It covers some 131,958 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Alabama) with a population of 10,768,500. Modern Greek, English and French are some of the languages spoken by the majority in Greece (consider regional differences). Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Turkey are bordering countries.

Greece is a country in Southern Europe, on the southernmost tip of the Balkan peninsula, with extensive coastlines and islands in the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. Greece is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, ranking in the world's top 20 countries. According to the Greek Ministry of Tourism, the nation received about 17 million visitors from January to mid August 2007, a large number for a small country of 11 million. Visitors are drawn to the country's beaches and reliable sunny summer weather, its nightlife, historical sites and natural beauty.

Popular Destinations in Greece

Administrative regions of Greece

• Attica
• Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain
• Central Greece
• Central Macedonia
• Crete
• East Macedonia and Thrace
• Epirus
• Ionian Islands
• North Aegean
• Peloponnese
• South Aegean
• Thessaly
• West Greece
• West Macedonia

About the country

The terrain is mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands. The average density of population is about 82 per km². The climate in Greece can be described as temperatemild, wet winters, hot, dry summers. Possible natural disasters include Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very severe earthquakes

To reach someone Greece dial +30 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".gr". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Euro is EUR.

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.

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 following the collapse of the dictatorship, 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 (EMU) in 2001. Greece has suffered a severe economic crisis since late 2009, due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Since 2010, Greece has entered three bailout agreements with the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), the IMF, and with the third, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The Greek Government agreed to its current, $96 billion bailout in August 2015, which will conclude in August 2018.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 98)	131,957	sq km
Land (World Rank: 95)	130,647	sq km
Water (World Rank: 103)	1,310	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 45)	34.80	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Alabama
Coastline
13676
Landborder
1110
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 76)	2,917	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 36)	63.40	%
Arable (World Rank: 56)	19.70	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 37)	8.90	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 45)	34.80	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 34)	15,550	sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- air pollution - water pollution
Agreement party	- Air Pollution - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides - Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 - Antarctic Treaty - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol - Antarctic-Marine Living Resources - 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
Agreement signed	- Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Hazzards	- Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very - severe earthquakes
Location
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Climate
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain
mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 85)	10,768,500
Deathrate (World Rank: 27)	1.13	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 215)	0.84	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 198)	-0.06	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 39)	0.23	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 205)	1.43	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 9)	43.50
Female (World Rank: 10)	45.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 109)	767,245
0 14 female (World Rank: 109)	722,313
15 24 male (World Rank: 104)	532,179
15 24 female (World Rank: 104)	509,487
25 54 male (World Rank: 76)	2,275,980
25 54 female (World Rank: 74)	2,295,080
55 64 male (World Rank: 54)	692,420
55 64 female (World Rank: 54)	721,641
65 x male (World Rank: 40)	986,816
65 x female (World Rank: 38)	1,265,310
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 175)	0.46	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 36)	81	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 34)	83	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 36)	78	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 5)	6.26
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 41)	4.80
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 35)	99.00	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 54)	24.90	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 11)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 53)	48,340,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 47)	53,050,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 57)	1,037,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 25)	9,833,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 139)	56.80	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 102)	14.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 18)	26.80	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 84)	3,172	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 65)	3,082	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 21)	477,400	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 92)	10,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 27)	626,000	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 43)	299,600	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 22)	351,700	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 32)	181,000	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 99)	4,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 69)	4,354,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 70)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
78000000

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Nation

Budget
Military (World Rank: 36)	3	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 54)	8	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 31)	1	% of GDP
National symbol
Greek cross
National colours
white
Adjective
Greek
Noun
Greek(s)
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-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 following the collapse of the dictatorship, 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 (EMU) in 2001. Greece has suffered a severe economic crisis since late 2009, due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Since 2010, Greece has entered three bailout agreements with the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), the IMF, and with the third, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The Greek Government agreed to its current, $96 billion bailout in August 2015, which will conclude in August 2018.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 57)	289,300,000,000	USD
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 70)	26,800	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 139)	4.00	%
Source industry (World Rank: 173)	15.80	%
Source service (World Rank: 26)	80.20	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 84)	4,785,000
In poverty (World Rank: 46)	36.00	%
Products
Industries	- chemicals - food - metal products - mining - petroleum - textiles - tobacco processing - tourism
Agriculture	- barley - beef - corn - dairy products - olives - potatoes - sugar beets - tobacco - tomatoes - wheat - wine
Exports	- beverages - chemicals - food - manufactured goods - petroleum products - textiles
Imports	- chemicals - fuels - machinery - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 28)	5,126,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 24)	48.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 89)	116.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 57)	7,443,020
Population (World Rank: 78)	69.10	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 34)	68.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 137)	9.00
Heliports (World Rank: 22)	9.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 67)	2,548
Road
Total length (World Rank: 41)	116,960
Paved length (World Rank: 50)	41,357
Unpaved length (World Rank: 27)	75,603
Water
Total length (World Rank: 108)	6.00

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