| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Europe |
| Geographical Location |
39° 00' North Latitude
22° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
131,940 sq km |
| Climate |
Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers |
| Natural Resources |
Lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Hellenic Republic |
| Capital City |
Athens |
| Government Type |
Parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974 |
| 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 |
| Independence Day |
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
10,668,354 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Greek |
| Ethnic Groups |
Greek 98%, other 2% |
| Religion |
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% |
| Languages |
Greek 99% (official), English, French |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.19% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Euro (EUR) |
| Industries |
Tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum |
| Labor Force |
4.4 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 12%, industry 20%, services 68% (2004 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products |
| Export Commodities |
Food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles |
| Export Partners |
Germany 13.3%, Italy 10.2%, UK 7.6%, Bulgaria 6.5%, US 5.2%, Cyprus 4.6%, Turkey 4.6%, France 4.2% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals |
| Import Partners |
Germany 13.3%, Italy 12.6%, France 6.6%, Russia 5.4%, Netherlands 5.4%, South Korea 4.6%, US 4.4%, UK 4.1% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
2,571 km (764 km electrified) |
| Highways |
117,000 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004) |
| Airports |
80 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+30 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.gr |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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. |
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