Dialing code +30
ISO 2 code GR
ISO 3 code GRC
Capital Athens
Main Language Greek
Currency Euro (EUR)
GDP $343.6 billion 32nd
Population 11,000,000 75th

Geography

Continent Europe
Location Southern Europe bordering the Aegean Sea Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea between Albania and Turkey
Land 131,940 km2 97th
Terrain Mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Climate Temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers
Natural Hazards Mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Note: Strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country possessing an archipelago of about 2 000 islands

Neighbouring Countries

Albania Bulgaria Macedonia Turkey

History

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 European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 79.66 years 23rd
Median Age 41.8 years 8th
Birth Rate 9.45 births/1,000 population 191st
Death Rate 10.51 births/1,000 population 55th
Sex Ratio 0.78 male(s)/female 103rd
Literacy 96.0% 82nd
Population

11.0 million

Transportation

Roadways 117533 km 36th
Railways 2548 km 64th
Airports 81 69th
Waterways 6 km 106th
Heliports 9 20th
Airports paved 5 20th

Economy

Currency Euro (EUR)
GDP $343.6 billion 32nd
GDP per capita (PPP) $32000 33rd