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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]

64 (in addition, there are about 1,000 low-power repeaters and two stations in the US armed forces network) (1997)

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; beef, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $45 billion expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$40.8 billion (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP, although the government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises. Tourism is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 4% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government has tightened policy with the goal of qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in 2001. In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to just over 2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that inflation fell below 4% by the end of 1998--the lowest rate in 26 years. The outlook for 1999 is good with the budget deficit and inflation both expected to decline further, while GDP growth stays near 3% and the current account deficit remains below 2% of GDP.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

41.388 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

1.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

2.66 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

40.028 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 89.16% hydro: 10.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0.09% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

drachmae (Dr) per US$1--278.78 (January 1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels (1998)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France 6%), US 16% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$143 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 8.5% industry: 23.5% services: 68% (1996)

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

purchasing power parity?$13,400 (1998 est.)

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

3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$27.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels, chemicals (1998)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.3% (1998 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.28 million (1998)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 59.2%, agriculture 19.8%, industry 21% (1998)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

10% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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 (Environment--current issues) [time series]

air pollution; water pollution

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

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

39 00 N, 22 00 E

Geography - note (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, Irakleion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, 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

Capital [time series]

Athens

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 or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandre PHILON chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans

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 Parliament 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 Parliament vote--NA

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, EAPC, 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, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, 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 Parliament 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; note--seating has subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK, ND, and DIKKI; 1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4

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)

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 (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$4.04 billion (1998 est.)

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

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,707,628 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,071,670 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

21 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 79,376 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16% (male 878,349; female 818,311) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,619,982; female 3,587,591) 65 years and over: 17% (male 799,053; female 1,003,849) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 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]

7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Greek (official), English, French

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.43 years male: 75.87 years female: 81.18 years (1999 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]

4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

10,707,135 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.41% (1999 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

78 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 63 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 117,000 km paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 810 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,798,431 GRT/44,056,618 DWT ships by type: bulk 307, cargo 66, chemical tanker 19, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 12, container 45, liquefied gas tanker 5, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 76, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos

Railways [time series]

total: 2,548 km standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km double track) narrow gauge: 961 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 Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers