Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about a dozen of the private channels broadcast at the national or regional level; 3 publicly owned terrestrial TV channels with national coverage, 1 publicly owned satellite channel, and 3 stations designed for digital terrestrial transmissions; multi-channel satellite and cable TV services available; upwards of 1,500 radio stations, nearly all of them privately owned; state-run broadcaster has 7 national stations, 2 international stations, and 19 regional stations (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.gr
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
3.201 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 32
Internet users [time series]
4.971 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 46
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: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (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]
5.461 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 30
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
13.354 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 63
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Budget [time series]
revenues: $111.8 billion expenditures: $136.8 billion (2012 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-10.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Central bank discount rate [time series]
1.5% (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 114 1.75% (31 December 2010) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
7.33% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 7.15% (31 December 2011 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
$-8.392 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $-28.72 billion (2011 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$576.6 billion (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 24 $478.7 billion (31 December 2011)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
33 (2005) country comparison to the world: 99 35.4 (1998)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Greece has a capitalist economy with a public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by nearly 4% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has sustained record levels of consumer spending. But the economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit. The economy contracted by 2.3% in 2009, 3.5% in 2010, 6.9% in 2011, and 6.0% in 2012. Greece violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criterion in 2007-08, before exceeding it again in 2009, with the deficit reaching 15% of GDP. Austerity measures reduced the deficit to about 8% in 2012. Deteriorating public finances, inaccurate and misreported statistics, and consistent underperformance on reforms prompted major credit rating agencies to downgrade Greece's international debt rating in late 2009, and has led the country into a financial crisis. Under intense pressure from the EU and international market participants, the government adopted a medium-term austerity program that includes cutting government spending, decreasing tax evasion, overhauling the health-care and pension systems, and reforming the labor and product markets. Athens, however, faces long-term challenges to push through unpopular reforms in the face of widespread unrest from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. In April 2010 a leading credit agency assigned Greek debt its lowest possible credit rating; in May 2010, the International Monetary Fund and Euro-Zone governments provided Greece emergency short- and medium-term loans worth $147 billion so that the country could make debt repayments to creditors. In exchange for the largest bailout ever assembled, the government announced combined spending cuts and tax increases totaling $40 billion over three years, on top of the tough austerity measures already taken. Greece, however, struggled to meet 2010 targets set by the EU and the IMF, especially after Eurostat - the EU's statistical office - revised upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. European leaders and the IMF agreed in October 2011 to provide Athens a second bailout package of $169 billion. The second deal however, calls for Greece's creditors to write down a significant portion of their Greek government bond holdings. In exchange for the second loan Greece has promised to introduce an additional $7.8 billion in austerity measures during 2013-15. However, these massive austerity cuts are lengthening Greece's economic recession and depressing tax revenues. Greece's lenders are calling on Athens to step up efforts to increase tax collection, privatize public enterprises, and rein in health spending, and are planning to give Greece more time to shore up its economy and finances. Many investors doubt that Greece can sustain fiscal efforts in the face of a bleak economic outlook, public discontent, and political instability.
Exchange rates [time series]
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.78 (2012 est.) 0.72 (2011 est.) 0.76 (2010 est.) 0.72 (2009 est.) 0.68 (2008 est.)
Exports [time series]
$28.31 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $28.16 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners [time series]
Turkey 10.9%, Italy 7.8%, Germany 6.5%, Bulgaria 5.8%, Cyprus 5.3% (2012)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$245.8 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$273.9 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $292.6 billion (2011 est.) $315 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 73.7% government consumption: 17.8% investment in fixed capital: 12.6% investment in inventories: 1% exports of goods and services: 27% imports of goods and services: -32% (2012 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 3.4% industry: 16% services: 80.6% (2012 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$24,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $25,900 (2011 est.) $27,900 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
-6.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 218 -7.1% (2011 est.) -4.9% (2010 est.)
Gross national saving [time series]
10.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 6.2% of GDP (2011 est.) 7.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)
Imports [time series]
$53.53 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $66.05 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners [time series]
Russia 12.1%, Germany 9.5%, Italy 8.3%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%, Netherlands 4.7%, China 4.5%, France 4.4% (2012)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
-6.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Industries [time series]
tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 3.3% (2011 est.)
Labor force [time series]
4.95 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 12.4% industry: 22.4% services: 65.1% (2005 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$33.65 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 48 $72.64 billion (31 December 2010) $54.72 billion (31 December 2009)
Population below poverty line [time series]
20% (2009 est.)
Public debt [time series]
156.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 170.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$7.255 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $6.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money [time series]
$251.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $262.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$43.46 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $43.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$37.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $29.17 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$343.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $413.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$116.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $126.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
45.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Unemployment rate [time series]
24.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 17.7% (2011 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
91.3 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Crude oil - exports [time series]
17,020 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Crude oil - imports [time series]
405,500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
Crude oil - production [time series]
7,497 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
10 million bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - consumption [time series]
56.4 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - exports [time series]
4.122 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
69.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
16.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
10.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Electricity - imports [time series]
5.946 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
15.12 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - production [time series]
50.43 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
3.85 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - imports [time series]
4.376 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - production [time series]
6 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 104
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
343,400 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
183,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
133,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
462,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Geography
total: 131,957 sq km country comparison to the world: 97 land: 130,647 sq km water: 1,310 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-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 9.47 cu km/yr (9%/2%/89%) per capita: 841.4 cu m/yr (2007)
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]
15,550 sq km (2007)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 1,228 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 18.95% permanent crops: 8.73% other: 72.32% (2011)
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]
territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards [time series]
severe earthquakes volcanism: Santorini (elev. 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 few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active
Natural resources [time series]
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Terrain [time series]
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Total renewable water resources [time series]
74.25 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean)
Capital [time series]
name: Athens geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution [time series]
many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975; amended 1986, 2001, 2008 (2013)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador David D. PEARCE (since 5 September 2013) embassy: 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki (2012)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Christos P. PANAGOPOULOUS (since 17 September 2012) chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Antonis SAMARAS (since 20 June 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 February 2010 (next to be held by February 2015); president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS reelected president; number of parliamentary votes, 266 out of 300
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time
Government type [time series]
parliamentary republic
Independence [time series]
1830 (from the Ottoman Empire)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Hellenic Supreme Court of Civil and Penal Law (consists of 56 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life following a 2-year probationary period subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Court of Auditors
Legal system [time series]
civil legal system based on Roman law
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by 2016); note - there was a legislative election on 6 May 2012 in which none of the leaders of the top three parties (New Democracy, Coalition of the Radical Left, and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement) were able to form a government election results: percent of vote by party - ND 29.7%, SYRIZA 26.9%, PASOK 12.3%, ANEL 7.5%, Golden Dawn 6.9%, DIMAR 6.3%, KKE 4.5%, other 6.0%; seats by party - ND 129, SYRIZA 71, PASOK 33, ANEL 20, Golden Dawn 18, DIMAR 17, KKE 12; note - only parties surpassing a 3% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups, but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
National symbol(s) [time series]
Greek cross (white cross on blue field; arms equal length)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA [Petros KONSTANTINOU] Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alexis TSIPRAS] Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Dimitris KOUTSOUMPAS] Democratic Left or DIMAR [Fotis KOUVELIS] Democratic Alliance or DISY [Theodora (or Dora) BAKOGIANNI] Ecologist Greens [Nikos CHRYSOGELOS] Golden Dawn [Nikolaos MICHALOLIAKOS] Independent Greeks or ANEL [Panos KAMMENOS] New Democracy or ND [Antonis SAMARAS] Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Evangelos VENIZELOS] Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Georgios KARATZAFERIS]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS] Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS] General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction
Background [time series]
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, 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 in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily leave the common currency or be removed.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 2,485,389 females age 16-49: 2,469,854 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 2,032,378 females age 16-49: 2,016,552 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 52,754 female: 49,485 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2013)
Military expenditures [time series]
4.3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Military service age and obligation [time series]
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 18 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation is 1 year for all services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 783,710/female 737,850) 15-24 years: 9.8% (male 541,603/female 519,170) 25-54 years: 43.5% (male 2,334,949/female 2,349,421) 55-64 years: 12.5% (male 661,324/female 684,639) 65 years and over: 20.1% (male 945,277/female 1,215,024) (2013 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
8.94 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
76.2% note: percent of women aged 16-45 (2001)
Death rate [time series]
10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 52.3 % youth dependency ratio: 22.3 % elderly dependency ratio: 29.9 % potential support ratio: 3.3 (2013)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0% of population (2010 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
4.1% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 105
Ethnic groups [time series]
population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census) note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
8,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
9% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 45
Hospital bed density [time series]
4.9 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 180 male: 5.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Languages [time series]
Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 80.18 years country comparison to the world: 31 male: 77.59 years female: 82.93 years (2013 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 98.4% female: 96.3% (2011 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
ATHENS (capital) 3.252 million; Thessaloniki 834,000 (2009)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 183
Median age [time series]
total: 43.2 years male: 42.1 years female: 44.3 years (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
29.2 (2007 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek
Net migration rate [time series]
2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
20.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 96
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
6.04 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Population [time series]
10,772,967 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Population growth rate [time series]
0.04% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Religions [time series]
Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2007)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.4 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 44.4% country comparison to the world: 10 male: 38.5% female: 51.5% (2011)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 61% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy
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; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
stateless persons: 154 (2012)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
77 (2013) country comparison to the world: 69
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 68 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 10 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
9 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 860 country comparison to the world: 12 by type: bulk carrier 262, cargo 49, carrier 1, chemical tanker 68, container 35, liquefied gas 13, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 109, petroleum tanker 302, roll on/roll off 14 foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 17, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 3, Italy 5, UK 6, US 8) registered in other countries: 2,459 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 225, Barbados 14, Belize 2, Bermuda 8, Brazil 1, Cabo Verde 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 9, Comoros 4, Curacao 1, Cyprus 201, Dominica 4, Egypt 8, Gibraltar 8, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 62, Italy 7, Jamaica 3, Liberia 505, Malta 469, Marshall Islands 408, Mexico 2, Moldova 1, Panama 379, Philippines 5, Portugal 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 42, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 22, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 3, Venezuela 4, unknown 10) (2010)
Pipelines [time series]
gas 1,329 km; oil 94 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki oil/gas terminal(s): Agioi Theodoroi
Railways [time series]
total: 2,548 km country comparison to the world: 65 standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified) narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways [time series]
total: 116,960 km country comparison to the world: 40 paved: 41,357 km (includes 1,091 km of expressways) unpaved: 75,603 km (2010)
Waterways [time series]
6 km (the 6 km long Corinth Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; it shortens a sea voyage by 325 km) (2012) country comparison to the world: 107