About
| The Acropolis in Athens, Greece is illuminated during a ceremony on May 9, 2003. [© AP Images] |
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PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Hellenic Republic
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), Iraklion (132,117), Larissa (113,090).
Terrain: Mountainous interior with coastal plains; 1,400-plus islands.
Climate: Mediterranean; mild, wet winter and hot, dry summer.
People
Population (2005 est.): 11,104,000 million. (Immigrants make up approximately 10% of the population.)
Growth rate (2007 estimated): 0.163%.
Languages: Greek 99% (official); Turkish, others. Albanian is spoken by approximately 700,000 Albanian immigrants. English is the predominant second language.
Religions: Greek Orthodox (approximately 98% of citizens), with Muslim (1.3%), Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and other religious communities.
Education: Years compulsory–9. Literacy–97.5%. All levels are free.
Health: Infant mortality rate–5.43/1,000. Life expectancy–male 76.72 years, female 81.91 years.
Work force: 4.72 million.
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: 1830.
Constitution: June 11, 1975, amended March 1986, April 2001, May 2008.
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 (2007)
GDP: $314.4 billion.
Per capita GDP: $28,280.
Growth rate: 4.0%.
Inflation rate: 3.0%.
Unemployment rate (annual average): 8.3%.
Natural resources: Bauxite, lignite, magnesite, oil, marble.
Agriculture (5.4% of GDP): Products–sugar beets, wheat, maize, tomatoes, olives, olive oil, grapes, raisins, wine, oranges, peaches, tobacco, cotton, livestock, dairy products.
Manufacturing (21.3% of GDP): Types–processed foods, shoes, textiles, metals, chemicals, electrical equipment, cement, glass, transport equipment, petroleum products, construction, electrical power.
Services (73.3% of GDP): Transportation, tourism, communications, trade, banking, public administration, defense.
Trade: Exports–$23.5 billion: manufactured goods, food and beverages, petroleum products, cement, chemicals. Major markets–Germany, Italy, France, U.S., U.K. Imports–$75.8 billion: basic manufactures, food and animals, crude oil, chemicals, machinery, transport equipment. Major suppliers–Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Netherlands, U.S.