Greece: Introduction

Total Population: 11,319,048

Natural Increase: 0.3%

Density: 88 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 61.4%

Population of main cities including suburbs: Athens (3,750,000); Thessaloniki (800,000); Patras (190,000); Iraklion (150,000); Volos (120,000).

Ethnic Origins: Greek 93%, foreign citizens 7%.

Official Language: Greek

Other Languages Spoken: French and English.

Business Language(s): Yes

Religion: Ortodoxe Christians: 98%
Muslims: 1,3%
Others: 0,7%.

Literacy Rate: 96.0%

Area: 131,960 km²

Type of State: Greece is a republic based on a parliamentary democracy. Greece (official name: Hellenic Republic) was a monarchy until 1974. Greece is a Constitutional State. However, a certain number of NGOs have communicated their concerns about immigrants and the members of religious minorities in particular. Foreign nationals can, usually, expect a fair trial in legal matters. There is a substantial level of corruption in the country, in particular among the police and in the business sector – corruption in Greece is the most widespread among the member countries of the European Union.

Type of Economy: High-income economy, OECD member.
Tourism is the dominant sector; significant unofficial economy; very high deficit and debt ratio since the economic crisis

HDI*: 0.855/1

HDI (World Rank): 22/169

Telephone Code:
To Make a Call From Greece, Dial 00
To Make a Call to Greece, Dial +30

Internet Suffix: .gr

Computers: 30.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 53.7 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 32.6 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 100% of the Population