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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable international: 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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

5,571,293 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

361 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

2.3 million (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $33 billion (excluding privatization receipts) expenditures: $45 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Debt - external [time series]

$34.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient : ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for roughly half of GDP. Tourism is a major source of foreign exchange, and agriculture is self-sufficient, except for meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs. Macroeconomic problems include mediocre GDP growth, the huge public sector, substantial budget deficits, and 10% unemployment. The government's hard drachma policy and public sector wage restraint are largely responsible for the downward trend in inflation, now at the lowest level in 22 years. Investment is likely to be the primary engine for economic growth in 1997. Athens continues to rely heavily on EU aid, which currently amounts to about 4% of GDP. Despite widespread protests from unions and farmers, Prime Minister SIMITIS presented a tough 1997 budget to help bring Greece closer to meeting the EU criteria for participating in economic and monetary union. SIMITIS faces strong opposition to further privatization and further austerity. Plans to increase defense spending could undermine SIMITIS's goal to curb government expenditures.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

8.61 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

3,466 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

41.5 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 251.55 (January 1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994), 229.26 (1993), 190.62 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities : manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 34%, fuels 5% (1994) partners: EU 60% (Germany 22%, Italy 14%, France 6%, UK 6%), US 3% (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $106.9 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 11% industry: 25% services : 64% (1994)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.2% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $20.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: manufactured goods 72%, foodstuffs 15%, fuels 10% (1994) partners : EU 70% (Italy 18%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 6%) US 4% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.8% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

8.6% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 4.21 million by occupation : services 52%, agriculture 23%, industry 25% (1995)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Alabama

Climate [time series]

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline [time series]

13,676 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point : Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution; water pollution

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates [time series]

39 00 N, 22 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

13,140 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,210 km border countries : Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km

Land use [time series]

arable land : 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 20% other: 12% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea : 6 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

severe earthquakes

Natural resources [time series]

bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

Constitution [time series]

11 June 1975

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form : Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas former : Kingdom of Greece

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M. T. NILES embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842 telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951, 8401

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Loukas TSILAS chancery : 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5800

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) head of government : Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Chamber of Deputies for a five-year term; election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president; percent of Chamber of Deputies vote - NA

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 939-5824 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s) : Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[30] (1) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Independence [time series]

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Legal system [time series]

based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%, KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%, Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party - PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Athens

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]; Communist Party or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Political Spring [Andonios SAMARAS]; Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Democratic Social Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios TSOVOLAS]; Rainbow Coalition [Pavlos VOSKOPOULOS]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$4.9 billion (1995)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

4.6% (1995)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,677,826 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 2,050,740 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

21 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males : 80,102 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17% (male 905,146; female 845,929) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,583,854; female 3,565,882) 65 years and over: 16% (male 759,648; female 955,596) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.75 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Greek (official), English, French

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.17 years male: 75.64 years female: 80.89 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 98% female : 93% (1991 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek

Net migration rate [time series]

3.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

10,616,055 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.44% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.33 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 GREENLAND (part of the Danish realm)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

78 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 75 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m : 18 under 914 m: 21 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1996 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 116,440 km paved: 106,775 km (including 420 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,665 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 984 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,571,920 GRT/49,674,832 DWT ships by type: bulk 433, cargo 85, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 18, container 39, liquefied gas tanker 4, multi-function large load carrier 1, oil tanker 239, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 18, short-sea passenger 82, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 note: Greece owns an additional 1,883 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 67,631,159 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Honduras, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Syria, Vanuatu (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Alexandroupolis, Elevsis, Iraklion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkira, Khalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Piraievs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos

Railways [time series]

total: 2,474 km standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 100 km double track) narrow gauge: 887 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)

Waterways [time series]

80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers