Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - proved reserves:
22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Current account balance:
-$3.471 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 -$1.717 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$5.275 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $4.172 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticulture
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 13.5%, Ukraine 11.8%, UK 8%, France 5.7%, US 5.2% (2008)
Imports:
$10.26 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $8.066 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
China 15.6%, Nigeria 14.7%, India 7.4%, US 5.5%, France 4.4%, UK 4.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.028 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $2.831 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.055 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $4.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.1 (2008 est.), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004)
note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis
Communications ::Ghana
Telephones - main lines in use:
143,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 134
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.57 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 53
Telephone system:
general assessment: outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of 50 per 100 persons and rising
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed
international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (2007)
Internet country code:
.gh
Internet hosts:
23,850 (2009) country comparison to the world: 97
Internet users:
997,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 91
Transportation ::Ghana
Airports:
11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 155
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Pipelines:
oil 5 km; refined products 309 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 947 km country comparison to the world: 91 narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 62,221 km country comparison to the world: 72 paved: 9,955 km
unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)
Waterways:
1,293 km country comparison to the world: 58 note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 4 country comparison to the world: 136 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Tema
Military ::Ghana
Military branches:
Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,802,096
females age 16-49: 5,729,939 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,849,113
females age 16-49: 3,840,083 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 272,954
female: 266,186 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Transnational Issues ::Ghana
Disputes - international:
Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Gibraltar (Europe)
Introduction ::Gibraltar
Background:
Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite talks on other issues have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions on air movements, to speed up customs procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, and to allow mobile roaming agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.
Geography ::Gibraltar
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km country comparison to the world: 241 land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than one-half the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:
12 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant
Geography - note:
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
People ::Gibraltar
Population:
28,034 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 214
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 2,393/female 2,276)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 9,532/female 9,219)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,125/female 2,489) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.5 years
male: 39.9 years
female: 41 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.111% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Birth rate:
10.67 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Death rate:
9.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 194 male: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.19 years country comparison to the world: 20 male: 77.3 years
female: 83.22 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups:
Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, NorthAfricans
Religions:
Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish,Italian, Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA
Education expenditures:
Government ::Gibraltar
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Capital:
name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Constitution:
5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the Speaker appointed by Parliament; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%, Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4, Gibraltar Liberal Party 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women'sAssociation
International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
Economy ::Gibraltar
Economy - overview:
Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.066 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 $769 million (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,200 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $27,900 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001) country comparison to the world: 207
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: negligible
industry: 40%
services: 60% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $455.1 million
expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)
Public debt:
15.7% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2005) country comparison to the world: 36
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - consumption:
146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - imports:
25,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Exports:
$271 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Exports - commodities:
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Imports:
$2.967 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Imports - commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Debt - external:
Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Gibraltar
Telephones - main lines in use:
24,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 185
Telephones - mobile cellular:
18,400 (2004) country comparison to the world: 207
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities
international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.gi
Internet hosts:
1,955 (2009) country comparison to the world: 149
Internet users:
6,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 202
Transportation ::Gibraltar
Airports:
1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 231
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 29 km country comparison to the world: 216 paved: 29 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 240 country comparison to the world: 32 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51, container 43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 225 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 3, Germany 129, Greece 6, Iceland 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 21, Norway 33, Sweden 13, UAE 3, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 7 (Liberia 5, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Gibraltar
Military ::Gibraltar
Military branches:
Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,308 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,234
females age 16-49: 5,242 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 186
female: 179 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
Transnational Issues ::Gibraltar
Disputes - international:
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Greece (Europe)
Introduction ::Greece
Background:
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.
Geography ::Greece
Location:
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and theMediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 131,957 sq km country comparison to the world: 96 land: 130,647 sq km
water: 1,310 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 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:
mostly mountains 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:
arable land: 20.45%
permanent crops: 8.59%
other: 70.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,530 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
72 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%)
per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-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, ShipPollution, 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 ::Greece
Population:
10,737,428 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 788,722/female 742,270)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,660/female 3,578,344)
65 years and over: 19.2% (male 902,617/female 1,156,815) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.8 years
male: 40.7 years
female: 42.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.127% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Birth rate:
9.45 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Death rate:
10.51 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Net migration rate:
2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 187 male: 5.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.66 years country comparison to the world: 26 male: 77.11 years
female: 82.37 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
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
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.8%
female: 94.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 92
Government ::Greece
Country name:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
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:
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*;Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, 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
Independence:
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:
11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system:
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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 Yeoryios PAPANDREOU (since 6 October 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010); president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government
election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of parliamentary votes, 279 out of 300
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 October 2009 (next to be held by 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.9%, ND 33.5%, KKE 7.5%, LAOS 5.6%, SYRIZA 4.6%, other 4.9%; seats by party - PASOK 160, ND 91, KKE 21, LAOS 15, SYRIZA 13
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges are appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
Political parties and leaders:
Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alekos ALAVANOS]; CommunistParty (Marxist-Leninist) [Gr. KONSTANTOPOULOS]; Communist Party ofGreece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Democratic Revival [SteliosPAPATHEMELIS]; Democratic Universal Hellas [Stergio KRIKELISI];Ecologist Greens [Ioanna KONTOULI]; Fighting Socialist Party [NikosKARGOPOULOS]; Greek Ecologists [Dimosthenis VERGIS]; LiberalAlliance [Foris PERIKOS]; Liberal Party [Manolis KALIGIANNIS];Light-Truth-Justice [Konstantinos MELISSOURGOS]; New Democracy or ND[Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Organization for the Reconstruction ofthe Communist Party of Greece [Ilias ZAFIROPOULOS]; PanhellenicSocialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular OrthodoxRally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]; Radical Left Front [D.DESILLAS]; Regional Urban Development [Nikolaos KOLITIS]; SalvationParty Christian Democracy [Alkiviadis STOILIS]; Union of Centrists[Vassilis LEVENTIS]; United Anti-Capitalist Left [KonstantinosPAPDAKIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civil Servants Confederation 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, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vassilis KASKARELIS
chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD
embassy: 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description:
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
Economy ::Greece
Economy - overview:
Greece has a capitalist economy with the 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 15% 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 grew by nearly 4.0% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has sustained record levels of consumer spending. But growth dropped to 2.9% in 2008, as a result of the world financial crisis and tightening credit conditions. Greece violated the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of no more than 3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criteria in 2007-08. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the euro-zone average, but are falling. The Greek Government continues to grapple with cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor and pension systems, in the face of often vocal opposition from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. The economy remains an important domestic political issue in Greece and, while the ruling New Democracy government has had some success in improving economic growth and reducing the budget deficit, Athens faces long-term challenges in its effort to continue its economic reforms, especially social security reform and privatization.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$343.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $334.1 billion (2007 est.)
$321.3 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$357.5 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 4% (2007 est.)
4.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$32,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $31,200 (2007 est.)
$30,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 20.6%
services: 75.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
4.96 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12.4%
industry: 22.4%
services: 65.1% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 8.3% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33 (2005) country comparison to the world: 96 35.4 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Budget:
revenues: $126.5 billion
expenditures: $144.4 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
97.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 112% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 2.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 92 5% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.65% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 112 7.71% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
Stock of domestic credit:
$394.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 21 $365.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 $264.9 billion (31 December 2007)
$208.3 billion (31 December 2006)
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