Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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Greece achieved its 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. Following the defeat of Communist rebels 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; Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992).
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Location:
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Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
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Geographic coordinates:
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39 00 N, 22 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Alabama
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 246 km
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Coastline:
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13,676 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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Climate:
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temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
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Natural resources:
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lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
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Land use:
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arable land: 21.1%
permanent crops: 8.78%
other: 70.12% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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14,220 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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severe earthquakes
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution; water pollution
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
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Population:
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10,647,529 (July 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 14.5% (male 792,938; female 746,119)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,563,703; female 3,566,549)
65 years and over: 18.6% (male 873,540; female 1,104,680) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 40.2 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 41.3 years (2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.2% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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9.73 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Death rate:
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10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.94 years
male: 76.44 years
female: 81.59 years (2004 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.32 children born/woman (2004 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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8,800 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2001 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
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Ethnic groups:
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Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
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Religions:
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Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
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Languages:
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Greek 99% (official), English, French
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.6%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
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Government type:
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parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
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Capital:
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Athens
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Administrative divisions:
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51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
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Independence:
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1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
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Constitution:
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11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
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Legal system:
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based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since NA March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA February 2005); president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election
election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 7 March 2004 (next to be held by March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - ND 45.4%, PASOK 40.6%, KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE 12, Synaspismos 6
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
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Political parties and leaders:
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Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANTOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Yeoryios SAVVAIDIS
chancery: 2221 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, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 101 60 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for half of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of GDP. The Greek economy grew by 4.0% in 2003 and is expected to grow by 4.2% in 2004, the year that Athens will host the 2004 Olympic Games. Remaining challenges include the reduction of the public debt, inflation, and unemployment; and further restructuring of the economy, including privatizing several state enterprises, undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing bureaucratic inefficiencies.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $213.6 billion (2004 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.7% (2004 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2004 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 22%
services: 71.2% (2004 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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25.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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32.7 (1993)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.6% (2004 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.39 million (2004 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 20%, industry 20%, services 60% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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9.4% (2004 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $76.84 billion
expenditures: $79.48 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
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Public debt:
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100.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
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Industries:
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tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0.7% (2004 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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49.79 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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48.8 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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1.062 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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3.562 billion kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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84,720 bbl/day (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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468,300 bbl/day (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
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Natural gas - production:
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35 million cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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2.021 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002)
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Current account balance:
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$-11.33 billion (2004 est.)
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Exports:
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$5.899 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 12.6%, Italy 10.5%, UK 7%, US 6.5%, Bulgaria 6.2%, Cyprus 4.8%, France 4.2%, Turkey 4% (2003)
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Imports:
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$33.27 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 12.5%, Italy 12.2%, France 6.6%, Russia 6.1%, South Korea 5.4%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%, Japan 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2003)
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
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$5.802 billion (2004 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$65.51 billion (2004 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$5.4 billion from EU (1995)
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Currency:
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euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
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Currency code:
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EUR
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 365.399 (2000), 305.647 (1999)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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5,205,100 (2003)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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8,936,200 (2003)
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Telephone system:
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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; tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
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Television broadcast stations:
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36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
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Internet country code:
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.gr
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Internet hosts:
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208,977 (2004)
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Internet users:
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1,718,400 (2003)
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Railways:
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total: 2,571 km (764 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2003)
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Highways:
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total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.)
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Waterways:
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6 km
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2004)
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Pipelines:
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gas 1,531 km; oil 108 km (2003)
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Ports and harbors:
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Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
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Merchant marine:
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total: 793 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,186,624 GRT/52,943,968 DWT
by type: bulk 298, cargo 57, chemical tanker 38, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 3, container 49, liquefied gas 5, passenger 10, petroleum tanker 267, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 19, short-sea/passenger 38, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Israel 1, Italy 1, Liberia 3, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 2, Panama 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 5
registered in other countries: 2,443 (2003 est.)
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Airports:
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79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2003 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 65
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 8 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (2003 est.)
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Heliports:
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7 (2003 est.)
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This page was last updated on 30 November, 2004
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