Geography
Area: 131,957 sq. km. (51,146 sq. mi.; roughly the size of
Alabama).
Major cities: Capital--Athens. Greater Athens (pop.
3,566,060), municipality of Athens (772,072), Greater Thessaloniki
(pop. 1,057,825), Thessaloniki (824,633), Piraeus (182,671), Greater
Piraeus (880,529), Patras (170,452), Larissa (113,090), Iraklion
(132,117).
Terrain: Mountainous interior with coastal plains; 1,400-plus
islands.
Climate: Mediterranean; mild, wet winter and hot, dry summer.
People
Population (March 2001 est.): 10,964,020 million.
Growth rate: 0.21%.
Languages: Greek 99% (official); English.
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--95%. All
levels are free.
Health: Infant mortality rate-- 6/1,000. Life
expectancy--male 76 years, female 81 years.
Work force: 4.36 million.
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: 1830.
Constitution: June 11, 1975, amended March 1986, April 2001.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime
minister (head of government). Legislative--300-seat
unicameral Vouli (parliament). Judicial--Supreme Court.
Council of State.
Political parties: New Democracy (ND), Panhellenic Socialist
Movement (PASOK), Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Coalition of the
Left (SYNASPISMOS), and Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS).
Suffrage is universal and mandatory at 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 13 peripheries (regional districts), 51
nomi (prefectures).
Economy (2004 est.)
GDP: $204 billion.
Per capita GDP: $18,552
Growth rate: 3.7%.
Inflation rate: 2.9%.
Unemployment rate: 10%.
Natural resources: Bauxite, lignite, magnesite, oil, marble.
Agriculture (8% of GDP): Products--sugar, beets, wheat,
maize, tomatoes, olives, olive oil, grapes, raisins, wine, oranges,
peaches, tobacco, cotton, livestock, dairy products.
Manufacturing (22% of GDP): Types--Processed foods, shoes,
textiles, metals, chemicals, electrical equipment, cement, glass,
transport equipment, petroleum products, construction, electrical
power.
Services (70% of GDP): Transportation, tourism, communications,
trade, banking, public administration, defense.
Trade: Exports--$14.4 billion: manufactured goods, food and
beverages, petroleum products, cement, chemicals. Major markets--Germany,
Italy, France, U.S., U.K. Imports--$50 billion: basic
manufactures, food and animals, crude oil, chemicals, machinery,
transport equipment. Major suppliers--Germany, Italy,
France, Japan, Netherlands, U.S.
.