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Europe :: Greece

- ## Introduction :: GREECE

- Background:
  Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. 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 other anti-communist and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 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 European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 2001. Since 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on its euro-denominated debt has created severe strains within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily leave the common currency or be removed.

- ## Geography :: GREECE

- 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
  Map references:
  Europe
  Area:
  total: 131,957 sq km
  land: 130,647 sq km
  water: 1,310 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Alabama
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,110 km
  border countries (4): Albania 212 km, Bulgaria 472 km, Macedonia 234 km, Turkey 192 km
  Coastline:
  13,676 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  Climate:
  temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
  Terrain:
  mountainous 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:
  lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 63.4%
  arable land 19.7%; permanent crops 8.9%; permanent pasture 34.8%
  forest: 30.5%
  other: 6.1% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  15,550 sq km (2007)
  Total renewable water resources:
  74.25 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 9.47 cu km/yr (9%/2%/89%)
  per capita: 841.4 cu m/yr (2007)
  Natural hazards:
  severe earthquakes
  volcanism: Santorini (elev. 367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active
  Environment - current issues:
  air pollution; water pollution
  Environment - international agreements:
  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
  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 and Society :: GREECE

- Nationality:
  noun: Greek(s)
  adjective: Greek
  Ethnic groups:
  population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)
  note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity
  Languages:
  Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%
  Religions:
  Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
  Population:
  10,775,643 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14.01% (male 777,647/female 732,137)
  15-24 years: 9.72% (male 534,855/female 512,183)
  25-54 years: 42.97% (male 2,306,832/female 2,323,787)
  55-64 years: 12.84% (male 679,033/female 704,833)
  65 years and over: 20.46% (male 964,736/female 1,239,600) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 56.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 22.8%
  elderly dependency ratio: 33.4%
  potential support ratio: 3% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 43.8 years
  male: 42.8 years
  female: 44.9 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -0.01% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Birth rate:
  8.66 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Death rate:
  11.09 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Net migration rate:
  2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 78% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  ATHENS (capital) 3.052 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 80.43 years
  male: 77.83 years
  female: 83.2 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Total fertility rate:
  1.42 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Health expenditures:
  9.8% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Hospital bed density:
  4.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 99.2% of population
  rural: 98.1% of population
  total: 99% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.8% of population
  rural: 1.9% of population
  total: 1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  25.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Education expenditures:
  4.1% of GDP (2005)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.7%
  male: 98.5%
  female: 96.9% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 18 years
  male: 18 years
  female: 18 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 55.3%
  male: 48.4%
  female: 63.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3

- ## Government :: GREECE

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
  conventional short form: Greece
  local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia
  local short form: Ellas or Ellada
  former: Kingdom of Greece
  Government type:
  parliamentary republic
  Capital:
  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
  Administrative divisions:
  13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean)
  Independence:
  1830 (from the Ottoman Empire)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
  Constitution:
  many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975; amended 1986, 2001, 2008 (2013)
  Legal system:
  civil legal system based on Roman law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005)
  head of government: Prime Minister Alexis TSIPRAS (since 21 September 2015); note - Vassiliki THANOU-CHRISTOPHILOU served as Interim Prime Minister beginning on 27 August 2015 after the resignation of Alexis TSIPRAS on 20 August 2015; she was Greece's first female prime minister
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 February 2015 (next to be held by February 2020); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the Hellenic Parliament
  election results: Prokopis PAVLOPOULOS (ND) elected president by Parliament - 233 of 300 votes
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Hellenic Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; 288 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 12 seats are filled from nationwide party lists; 50 seats allocated to the party with the highest total valid vote count and remaining seats are apportioned according to each party's or coalition's vote pecentage; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 20 September 2015 (next to be held in 2019); note - snap elections were called because of upheaval in the ruling Syriza party over a new bailout deal with international creditors
  election results: percent of vote by party - SYRIZA 35.5%, ND 28.1%, Golden Dawn 7.0%, PASOK-DIMAR 6.3%, KKE 5.6%, To Potami 4.1%, ANEL 3.7%, EK 3.4%, other 6.3%; seats by party - SYRIZA 145, ND 75, Golden Dawn 18, PASOK-DIMAR 17, KKE 15, To Potami 11, ANEL 10, EK 9; note - only parties surpassing a 3% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Hellenic Supreme Court of Civil and Penal Law (consists of 56 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life following a 2-year probationary period
  subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Court of Auditors
  Political parties and leaders:
  Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alexis TSIPRAS]
  Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Dimitris KOUTSOUMBAS]
  Democratic Left or DIMAR [Thanassis THEOHAROPOULOS]
  Golden Dawn [Nikolaos MICHALOLIAKOS]
  Independent Greeks or ANEL [Panagiotis (Panos) KAMMENOS]
  Movement of Democratic Socialists or KIDISO [George PAPANDREOU]
  New Democracy or ND [Vangelis MEIMARAKIS]
  Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Fofi GENIMMATA]
  Popular Unity [Panagiotis LAFAZANIS]
  To Potami (The River) [Stavros THEODORAKIS]
  Union of Centrists or EK [Vassilis LEVENTIS]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Supreme Administration of Civil Servants Unions or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]
  Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS]
  General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]
  International organization participation:
  Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Christos P. PANAGOPOULOUS (since 17 September 2012)
  chancery: 2217 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, Tampa (FL), San Francisco
  consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador David D. PEARCE (since 18 October 2013)
  embassy: 91 Vasillisis 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 (2012)
  Flag description:
  nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or for the colors; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time
  National symbol(s):
  Greek cross (white cross on blue field, arms equal length); national colors: blue, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)
  lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
  note: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158-stanza poem by the same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans (only the first two stanzas are used); Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Liberty" as its anthem

- ## Economy :: GREECE

- Economy - overview:
  Greece has a capitalist economy with a public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 18% 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 averaged growth of about 4% per year between 2003 and 2007, but the economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit. By 2013 the economy had contracted 26%, compared with the pre-crisis level of 2007. Greece met the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than 3% of GDP in 2007-08, but violated it in 2009, with the deficit reaching 15% of GDP. Austerity measures reduced the deficit to about 4% in 2013, including government debt payments, but the deficit spiked to 12.7% of GDP in 2014. Deteriorating public finances, inaccurate and misreported statistics, and consistent underperformance on reforms prompted major credit rating agencies to downgrade Greece's international debt rating in late 2009, and led the country into a financial crisis. Under intense pressure from the EU and international market participants, the government adopted a medium-term austerity program that includes cutting government spending, decreasing tax evasion, overhauling the health-care and pension systems, and reforming the labor and product markets. Athens, however, faced long-term challenges to continue pushing through unpopular reforms in the face of widespread unrest from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public.
  In April 2010, a leading credit agency assigned Greek debt its lowest possible credit rating, and in May 2010, the International Monetary Fund and Euro-Zone governments provided Greece emergency short- and medium-term loans worth $147 billion so that the country could make debt repayments to creditors. In exchange for the largest bailout ever assembled, the government announced combined spending cuts and tax increases totaling $40 billion over three years, on top of the tough austerity measures already taken. Greece, however, struggled to meet 2010 targets set by the EU and the IMF, especially after Eurostat - the EU's statistical office - revised upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. European leaders and the IMF agreed in October 2011 to provide Athens a second bailout package of $169 billion. The second deal however, called for holders of Greek government bonds to write down a significant portion of their holdings. As Greek banks held a significant portion of sovereign debt, the banking system was adversely affected by the write down and $60 billion of the second bailout package was set aside to ensure the banking system was adequately capitalized. In exchange for the second loan, Greece promised to introduce an additional $7.8 billion in austerity measures during 2013-15. However, the massive austerity cuts have prolonged Greece's economic recession and depressed tax revenues. Greece's lenders have continually called on Athens to step up efforts to increase tax collection, dismiss public servants, privatize public enterprises, and rein in health spending.
  Investor confidence began to show signs of strengthening by the end of 2013, and the decline in GDP slowed to 3.9% that year, Greece’s best performance since 2009. Greece subsequently marked three significant milestones in 2014: balancing its 2013 budget - not including debt repayments; re-entering financial markets in April with the first issue of government debt since 2010; and posting its first quarter of positive growth since 2008. Buoyed by Greece’s success, Prime Minister Antonios SAMARAS in October announced plans to exit its bailout program early, provoking a plunge in the Greek stock and debt markets that pushed Greece back to the negotiating table with its creditors and ultimately resulted in an agreement to extend the EU portion of Greece’s bailout through February 2015. The Greek economy posted an annual economic growth rate of 0.8 percent in 2014, the first year of positive growth since 2008. However, widespread discontent with austerity measures resulted in a victory for the anti-austerity SYRIZA in the January 2015 parliamentary elections. In February, Greece reached a tentative agreement with its creditors that would provide emergency liquidity to Greece in exchange for significant economic reforms. Uncertainty regarding Greece’s future in the Eurozone has dampened investor confidence and lowered growth projections for 2015.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $284.3 billion (2014 est.)
  $282.1 billion (2013 est.)
  $293.5 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 53
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $238 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  0.8% (2014 est.)
  -3.9% (2013 est.)
  -6.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $25,900 (2014 est.)
  $25,700 (2013 est.)
  $26,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Gross national saving:
  11.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  12.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  11.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 72%
  government consumption: 16.8%
  investment in fixed capital: 12.9%
  investment in inventories: 2.2%
  exports of goods and services: 30.6%
  imports of goods and services: -34.4%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 3.5%
  industry: 15.9%
  services: 80.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
  Industries:
  tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
  Industrial production growth rate:
  0% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Labor force:
  3.91 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 12.9%
  industry: 14.7%
  services: 72.4% (2013 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  26.5% (2014 est.)
  27.5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Population below poverty line:
  44% (2013 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2%
  highest 10%: 25.4% (2013 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  34.4 (2013 est.)
  33 (2005)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Budget:
  revenues: $119.5 billion
  expenditures: $127.9 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  48.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -3.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Public debt:
  174.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  175.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -1.3% (2014 est.)
  -0.9% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Central bank discount rate:
  0.75% (31 December 2013)
  1.5% (31 December 2010)
  note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  6.6% (31 December 2014 est.)
  7% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Stock of narrow money:
  $124.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $126.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Stock of broad money:
  $260.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $264.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $302 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $332.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $44.58 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $33.65 billion (31 December 2011)
  $72.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Current account balance:
  $2.202 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.768 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Exports:
  $35.8 billion (2014 est.)
  $36.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Exports - commodities:
  food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
  Exports - partners:
  Turkey 12.2%, Italy 9.4%, Germany 6.8%, Bulgaria 5.3%, Cyprus 5% (2014)
  Imports:
  $62.8 billion (2014 est.)
  $62.19 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
  Imports - partners:
  Germany 10.2%, Russia 10%, Iraq 8.2%, Italy 8.1%, China 5.2%, Kazakhstan 5.1%, Netherlands 5%, France 4.6% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $6.433 billion (February 2015 est.)
  $5.752 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Debt - external:
  $568.7 billion (30 September 2013 est.)
  $577.2 billion (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $30.71 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $27.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $46.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $46.35 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.7489 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
  0.78 (2012 est.)
  0.7185 (2011 est.)
  0.755 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: GREECE

- Electricity - production:
  54.98 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Electricity - consumption:
  52.02 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Electricity - exports:
  2.602 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Electricity - imports:
  4.705 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  22.3 million kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  70.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  11.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  15.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Crude oil - production:
  1,247 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Crude oil - imports:
  418,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  10 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  498,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  284,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  183,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  124,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Natural gas - production:
  5 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Natural gas - consumption:
  3.6 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Natural gas - imports:
  3.866 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  991.1 million cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  78.8 million Mt (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48

- ## Communications :: GREECE

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 5.22 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 12.8 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service
  domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands
  international: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)
  Broadcast media:
  Broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about ten of which broadcast nation-wide; 1 government-owned terrestrial TV channel with national coverage; 3 privately owned satellite channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV services available; upwards of 1,500 radio stations, all of them privately owned; government-owned broadcaster has 2 national radio stations (2014)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  36 (plus 1,341 repeaters); also 2 stations in the American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
  Internet country code:
  .gr
  Internet users:
  total: 6.2 million
  percent of population: 57.9% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56

- ## Transportation :: GREECE

- Airports:
  77 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 68
  over 3,047 m: 6
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
  914 to 1,523 m: 18
  under 914 m: 10 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 9
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m:
  7 (2013)
  Heliports:
  9 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 1,329 km; oil 94 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,548 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 (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Roadways:
  total: 116,960 km
  paved: 41,357 km (includes 1,091 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 75,603 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Waterways:
  6 km (the 6-km-long Corinth Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; it shortens a sea voyage by 325 km) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Merchant marine:
  total: 860
  by type: bulk carrier 262, cargo 49, carrier 1, chemical tanker 68, container 35, liquefied gas 13, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 109, petroleum tanker 302, roll on/roll off 14
  foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 17, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 3, Italy 5, UK 6, US 8)
  registered in other countries: 2,459 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 225, Barbados 14, Belize 2, Bermuda 8, Brazil 1, Cabo Verde 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 9, Comoros 4, Curacao 1, Cyprus 201, Dominica 4, Egypt 8, Gibraltar 8, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 62, Italy 7, Jamaica 3, Liberia 505, Malta 469, Marshall Islands 408, Mexico 2, Moldova 1, Panama 379, Philippines 5, Portugal 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 42, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 22, UAE 3, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 3, Venezuela 4, unknown 10) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
  oil terminal(s): Agioi Theodoroi
  LNG terminal(s) (import): Revithoussa

- ## Military :: GREECE

- Military branches:
  Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  19-45 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; 18 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation is 1 year for the Army and 9 months for the Air Force and Navy; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2014)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,485,389
  females age 16-49: 2,469,854 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,032,378
  females age 16-49: 2,016,552 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 52,754
  female: 49,485 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.72% of GDP (2012)
  2.31% of GDP (2011)
  2.63% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 48

- ## Transnational Issues :: GREECE

- Disputes - international:
  Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; 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 and Italy
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 199 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime

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