Hellenic Republic Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Ellinikí Dimokratía (Greek) | |
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Motto: «Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος» Elefthería í Thánatos "Freedom or Death" | |
Anthem: «Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν» Ýmnos eis tin Eleftherían "Hymn to Liberty" | |
![]() Location of Greece (dark green) – on the European continent (green & dark grey) | |
Capital and largest city | Athens 37°58′N 23°43′E / 37.967°N 23.717°E |
National language | Greek |
Religion | Eastern Orthodoxy |
Demonym(s) | Greek |
Government | Unitary parliamentary republic |
Katerina Sakellaropoulou | |
Kyriakos Mitsotakis | |
Konstantinos Tasoulas | |
Legislature | Hellenic Parliament |
Formation of modern Greece | |
• Independence declared from the Ottoman Empire | Not yet (Greek War of Independence have been failed), 15 January 1822 (official declaration in the First National Assembly at Epidaurus) |
3 February 1830 | |
11 June 1975 | |
Area | |
• Total | 50,949 sq mi (131,960 km2)[1] (95th) |
• Water (%) | 0.8669 |
Population | |
• 2021 estimate | 10,445,365 ![]() |
• 2011 census | 10,816,286[4] (80th) |
• Density | 82[5]/km2 (212.4/sq mi) (125th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $324 billion[6] (57th) |
• Per capita | $30,252[6] (47th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $214 billion[6] (52nd) |
• Per capita | $19,974[6] (38th) |
Gini (2016) | ![]() medium · 60th |
HDI (2015) | ![]() very high · 29th |
Currency | Euro (€) (EUR) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (Eastern European Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (Eastern European Summer Time) |
Date format | dd/mm/yyyy (AD) |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +30 |
ISO 3166 code | GR |
Internet TLD | .gra .ελ |
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Greece (Greek: Ελλάδα [eˈlaða] or Ελλάς [eˈlas]), officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία [eliniˈkʲi ðimokraˈtia]),[9] (historically known as Hellas) (Ελλάς), is a country mostly located in Southeastern Europe with small island territories in Asia. Its capital city is Athens.
It borders Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea is to the East and South of mainland Greece, the Ionian Sea is to the West. Both are part of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and have many islands. 80% of the country is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak.
Ancient Greece created democracy, philosophy, science and mathematics, drama and theater and the Olympic Games. This is why other languages use many Greek words. Greece is a parliamentary republic, in which the leader of the party with more seats in the parliament is the Prime Minister. The country has a President, but his powers are ceremonial. He is the head of state, not the head of government, much like how Kings and Queens operate in constitutional monarchies and is elected by Parliament and not the people. Its economy is the highest in the Balkans region, though facing financial difficulties due to a Greek government-debt crisis. The country was under control by the Ottoman Empire until 1821.
The official language spoken in Greece is Greek, spoken by 99% of the population, and by 90% of the population of the Republic of Cyprus. It identifies as Christian Orthodox. Many Greeks also understand English, French and German, which are taught in schools. Greece was a founding member of the United Nations, joined NATO in 1952, became a member of the European Union in 1981, and adopted the Euro in 2001. Due to the large tourism industry, powerful shipping sector, and its geostrategic importance, it is sometimes classified as a middle power.