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. Democratic elections in 1974 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
water: 1,140 sq km
land: 130,800 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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continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 6 NM
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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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bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower potential
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Land use:
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arable land: 22.12%
permanent crops: 8.47%
other: 69.41% (1998 est.)
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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-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, 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, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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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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10,665,989 (July 2003 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 14.7% (male 811,080; female 761,728)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,578,320; female 3,557,800)
65 years and over: 18.3% (male 866,425; female 1,090,636) (2003 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 39.8 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 41 years (2002)
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Population growth rate:
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0.19% (2003 est.)
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Birth rate:
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9.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Death rate:
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9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 6.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.89 years
male: 76.32 years
female: 81.65 years (2003 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.35 children born/woman (2003 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 short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
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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)
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA February 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
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 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NA May 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.8%, ND 42.7%, KKE 5.5%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%; seats by party - PASOK 158, ND 125, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6; note - seats by party as of January 2002 - PASOK 156, ND 122, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6, independents 5
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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 [Konstandinos SIMITIS]
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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, ECE, 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, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, 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 Yeoryious SAVVAIDES
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
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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 economy has improved steadily with economic growth averaging 4% since 1997, exceeding EU growth by more than 1 percentage point. 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. The Olympic Games will be held in Athens in mid-2004.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $203.3 billion (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $19,100 (2002 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 8.1%
industry: 22.3%
services: 69.3% (2002 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% (2002 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.37 million (2002 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry 20%, agriculture 20%, services 59% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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10.3% (2002 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $45 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
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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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7% (2000 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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49.79 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 94.5%
hydro: 3.8%
other: 1.7% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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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 (37257)
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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 (37257)
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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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Exports:
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$12.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
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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 10.4%, Italy 8.5%, UK 6.3%, Bulgaria 5.4%, US 5.3%, Cyprus 4.7% (2002)
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Imports:
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$31.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
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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 12.2%, Italy 11.5%, Russia 7.4%, South Korea 6%, France 5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, US 4.7%, Belgium 4.3%, UK 4.1% (2002)
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Debt - external:
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$63.4 billion (2002 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$5.4 billion from EU
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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 - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 365.4 (2000), 305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998)
note: in January 2001, the drachma became a participating currency within the Eurosystem, and the euro market rate became applicable to all transactions
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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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) (2002)
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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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80 km
note: system consists of three coastal canals including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; there are also three unconnected rivers
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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: 813 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,173,608 GRT/51,184,723 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Ireland 1, Japan 1, Liberia 1, Norway 1, Panama 2, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 289, cargo 59, chemical tanker 32, combination bulk 6, combination ore/oil 4, container 47, liquefied gas 7, passenger 14, petroleum tanker 281, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 49, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2
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Airports:
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79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2002)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 66
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
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Heliports:
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7 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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