Legend:
 Definition
 Field
Listing
 Rank
Order
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Background:
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Greece achieved 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 supporters of the king and Communist rebels.
Following the latter's defeat 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. The 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 euro zone in 2001. |
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Location:
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Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and
the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey |
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Geographic coordinates:
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39 00 N, 22 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Alabama |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km,
Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km |
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Coastline:
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13,676 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of
exploitation |
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Climate:
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temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m |
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Natural resources:
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lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel,
magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential |
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Land use:
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arable land: 20.45%
permanent crops: 8.59%
other: 70.96% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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14,530 sq km (2003)
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Natural hazards:
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severe earthquakes
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution; water pollution |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern
approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country,
possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands |
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Population:
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10,706,290 (July 2007 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 14.3% (male 789,637/female 742,535)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 3,565,237/female 3,570,630)
65 years and over: 19% (male 895,384/female
1,142,867) (2007 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 41.2 years
male: 40 years
female: 42.3 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.163% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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9.62 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Death rate:
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10.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.063 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.998 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.783 male(s)/female
total population: 0.962 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.38 years
male: 76.85 years
female: 82.06 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.35 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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9,100 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek |
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Ethnic groups:
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population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001
census)
note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece
does not collect data on ethnicity
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Religions:
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Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% |
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Languages:
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Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.8%
female: 94.2% (2001 census)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece |
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Government type:
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parliamentary republic |
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Capital:
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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
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Administrative divisions:
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51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous
region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai
Akarnania, 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 |
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Independence:
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1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25 March (1821) |
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Constitution:
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11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001 |
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Legal system:
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based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,
criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12
March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos
(Kostas) KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by parliament for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last
held 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010);
according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only
serve two terms; president appoints leader of the party
securing plurality of vote in election to become prime
minister and form a government
election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected
president; number of parliamentary votes, 279 out of 300
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 16 September 2007
(next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - ND
41.8%, PASOK 38.1%, KKE 8.2%, Synaspismos 5%, LAOS 3.8%,
other 3.1%; seats by party - ND 152, PASOK 102, KKE 22,
Synaspismos 14, LAOS 10 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges
appointed for life by the president after consultation with
a judicial council |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos
ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka
PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos
KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK
[Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS
[Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis
PANAGOPOULOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV
[Odysseas KYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or
ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS] |
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International organization participation:
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Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros P. MALLIAS
chancery: 2221 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, San Francisco, Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Charles P. RIES
embassy: 91 Vasilisis 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 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector
accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP at
least 75% 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 4.0% per
year between 2003 and 2006, 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. Greece
violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit
criteria of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2005, but
finally appears on track to meet that criteria in 2006.
Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the
euro-zone average, but are falling. The Greek Government
continues to grapple with cutting government spending,
reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the
labor and pension systems, in the face of often vocal
opposition from the country's powerful labor unions and the
general public. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$256.5 billion (2006 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$224 billion (2006 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.3% (2006 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$24,000 (2006 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 20.8%
services: 75.9% (2006 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.89 million (2006 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 12%
industry: 20%
services: 68% (2004 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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9.2% (2006 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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35.1 (2003)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.2% (2006 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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25.7% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $99.13 billion
expenditures: $106.7 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2006 est.) |
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Public debt:
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82.4% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine,
tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
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Industries:
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tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals,
metal products; mining, petroleum
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2% (2006 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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56.13 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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54.31 billion kWh (2005 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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1.836 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports:
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5.616 billion kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production:
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5,401 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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435,700 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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119,200 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports:
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550,400 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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7 million bbl (1 January 2005)
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Natural gas - production:
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15.35 million cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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2.724 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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2.707 billion cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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950.5 million cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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-$29.71 billion (2006 est.) |
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Exports:
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$20.28 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 11.5%, Italy 11.4%, Bulgaria 6.5%, UK 6.1%, Cyprus
5.5%, Turkey 5.2%, France 4.5%, US 4.5%, Spain 4.1% (2006)
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Imports:
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$64.59 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 12.6%, Italy 11.5%, Russia 7.1%, France 5.9%,
Netherlands 5.2%, South Korea 4.2% (2006)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$8 billion annually from EU (2000-06); Greece will receive
about $3.8 billion per year between 2007-13 under the EU's
Community Support Funds IV |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$2.85 billion (2006 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$81.05 billion (2006 est.) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$41.32 billion (2006 est.) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$19.56 billion (2006 est.) |
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$145 billion (2005)
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Currency (code):
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euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union
introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by
financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January
2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday
transactions within the member countries |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054
(2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
|
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Airports:
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81 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 66
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 12 (2007) |
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Heliports:
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9 (2007) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2006) |
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Railways:
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total: 2,571 km
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
dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges
(three rail system) (2006) |
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Roadways:
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total: 114,931 km
paved: 105,507 km (includes 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,424 km (2004) |
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Waterways:
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6 km
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of
Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2007)
|
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Merchant marine:
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total: 824 ships (1000 GRT or over) 33,654,384 GRT/57,898,789
DWT
by type: bulk carrier 246, cargo 66, carrier 1,
chemical tanker 52, combination ore/oil 1, container 43,
liquefied gas 6, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 109,
petroleum tanker 269, roll on/roll off 19, specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned: 49 (Belgium 16, Cyprus 5, Italy 1,
South Korea 2, UK 15, US 10)
registered in other countries: 2,324 (Antigua and
Barbuda 3, Bahamas 214, Barbados 11, Belgium 4, Bermuda 3,
Cambodia 5, Cayman Islands 23, China 1, Comoros 8, Cyprus
292, Denmark 4, Dominica 8, Egypt 8, Georgia 7, Gibraltar 8,
Honduras 1, Hong Kong 30, Isle of Man 48, Italy 13, Jamaica
8, Lebanon 2, Liberia 311, Maldives 1, Malta 448, Marshall
Islands 226, Norway 6, Panama 505, Philippines 3, Portugal
4, Russia 1, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Sierra
Leone 1, Singapore 14, Slovakia 4, St Kitts and Nevis 2, St
Vincent and The Grenadines 81, UAE 3, UK 6, Uruguay 1,
Venezuela 3, unknown 8) (2007) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi, Piraeus,
Thessaloniki |
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Military branches:
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Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos
Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki
Polimiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2007) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 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; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service
obligation - 12 months for the Army, Air Force; 15 months
for Navy; women are eligible for voluntary military service
(2007) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49: 2,459,988
females age 18-49: 2,442,818 (2005 est.)
|
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 2,018,557
females age 18-49: 2,000,650 (2005 est.)
|
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 58,399
females age 18-49: 55,571 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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4.3% (2005 est.) |
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Disputes - international:
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Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their
complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in
the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; 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 | |
