GeographyLocation:
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 land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km
Land boundaries: total: 1,210 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km Coastline: 13,676
km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 6 nm
Climate:
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers.
Terrain:
mostly mountains with ranges extending into 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 Land use: arable land:
19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 20% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated
land: 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes.
Environment--current
issues: air pollution; water pollution.
Environment--international
agreements: party to: Air Pollution, 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-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds.
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.
People
Population: 10,662,138 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 890,673; female 830,945) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,602,473; female 3,577,961) 65 years and over: 17% (male 780,029; female 980,057) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.43% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 9.65 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 9.37 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.31 years male: 75.76 years female: 81.04 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1998 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%
Languages: Greek (official), English, French.
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 98% female: 93% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic. Conventional short form: Greece. Local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia. Local short form: Ellas. Data code: GR
Government type: Parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
National capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 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.
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Independence Day, 25
March (1821) (proclamation of the war of Independence)
Constitution: 11 June 1975 Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts.
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory.
Head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since March 2004).
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.
Eelections: president elected by Chamber of Deputies for a five-year term.
Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms.
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.
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.
