Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

27 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.gr

Internet users [time series]

1.33 million (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios [time series]

5.02 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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: 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

5.431 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

937,700 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Televisions [time series]

2.54 million (1997)

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]

drachma (GRD); euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Greece (which entered the European Monetary Union on 1 January 2001) at a fixed rate of 340.750 drachmae per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

GRD; EUR

Debt - external [time series]

$57 billion (2000 est.)

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. 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 in the run-up to Greece's entry into the EU's Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 2001. In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to below 1% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that inflation fell from 20% in 1990 to 3.1% in 2000. Major challenges remaining include the reduction of unemployment and further restructuring of the economy, including the privatization of some leading state enterprises. Growth, 3.8% in 2000, may fall off to 3%-3.5% in 2001.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

43.343 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.65 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.811 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

46.432 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 89.6% hydro: 9.72% nuclear: 0% other: 0.68% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

drachmae per US dollar - 380.21 (December 2000), 365.40 (2000), 305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996)

Exports [time series]

$15.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, food and beverages, petroleum products

Exports - partners [time series]

EU 49% (Germany 15%, Italy 13%, UK 6%), US 6% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $181.9 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 8.3% industry: 27.3% services: 64.4% (1998)

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

purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2000 est.)

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

3.8% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)

Imports [time series]

$33.9 billion (c.i.f., 2000)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

EU 66% (Italy 15%, Germany 15%, France 9%, UK 6%) (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.1% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.32 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

industry 21%, agriculture 20%, services 59% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.3% (2000 est.)

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, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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, hydropower potential

Terrain [time series]

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

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; amended March 1986

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

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 telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros PHILON 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 Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA March 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90%

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, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, 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, 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; Special Supreme Tribunal; all 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 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NA April 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.8%, ND 42.7%, KKE 5.5%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%; seats by party - PASOK 158, ND 125, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

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

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background [time series]

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 with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. Democratic elections in 1974 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).

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$6.12 billion (FY99/00 est.)

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

4.91% (FY99/00 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,673,539 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,040,227 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

21 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 77,976 (2001 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.98% (male 820,219; female 771,466) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 3,580,535; female 3,569,755) 65 years and over: 17.72% (male 834,234; female 1,047,626) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.83 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.73 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.16% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

8,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Greek 99% (official), English, French

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.59 years male: 76.03 years female: 81.32 years (2001 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]

1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

10,623,835 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.21% (2001 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: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.33 children born/woman (2001 est.)

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 its name

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

Airports [time series]

81 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 65 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 10 (2000 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 780 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,564,988 GRT/44,761,916 DWT ships by type: bulk 272, cargo 55, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 6, container 51, liquefied gas 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 255, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 20, short-sea passenger 63, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: South Korea 1, UK 4 (2000 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 note: 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; there are also three unconnected rivers