GreeceTravel Guide - Facts on Greece

History		Top of Page
	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
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic Coordinates	39 00 N, 22 00 E
Area	Total: 131,940 sq km Water: 1,140 sq km Land: 130,800 sq km
Area - Comparative	Slightly smaller than Alabama
Land Boundaries	Total: 1,228 km Border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 246 km
Coastline	13,676 km
Climate	Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain	Mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m Highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural Resources	Bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower potential
Geography Note	Strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
Natural hazards	Severe earthquakes
People		Top of Page
Population	10,722,816 (July 2008 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 14.3% (male 789,137/female 742,469) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,101/female 3,575,572) 65 years and over: 19.1% (male 898,337/female 1,149,200) (2008 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Greek(s) Adjective: Greek
Ethnic Groups	Greek 98%, other 2% Note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions	Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Language	Greek 99% (official), other 1% ( English and French )
Literacy	Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 96%

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: Hellenic Republic Conventional short form: Greece Local short form: Ellas or Ellada Former: Kingdom of Greece
Government Type	Parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
Capital	Athens
Administrative Divisions	51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos, plural) and 1 autonomous region; Agion Oros (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, 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
Independence	1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Flag Description	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
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	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 menial jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by about 4.0% for the between 2003 and 2005, largely because of an investment boom and infrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Economic growth slowed to about 3% in 2005. Greece has not met the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the euro-zone average. To overcome these challenges, the Greek Government is expected to continue cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor and pension systems.
Currency	Euro
Currency Code	EUR
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	General assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service
Internet Country Code	.gr
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	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)
Roadways	total: 114,931 km paved: 105,507 km (includes 880 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,424 km (2004)
Waterways	6km 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
Ports and Terminals	Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
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Facts on Greece