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Europe
Greece |
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Last reviewed: 17 November 2009 |
Country information
Area: 131,990 sq km
Population: 10.94 million (2001 census estimate), 11.24 million (2008 estimate)
Capital City: Athens (population approximately 3.7 million)
People: 98% Greek with Muslim minority comprising Turkic people, Pomaks and Muslim Roma. NB: The Greek government states there are no other ethnic minorities in Greece.
Languages: Greek 99% (official)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Currency: euro (EUR)
Major political parties: Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK); party leader Prime Minister George Papandreou. New Democracy (ND - conservative); party leader Costas Karamanlis (leadership campaign in progress). Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos – left-wing); party leader Alexis Tsipras. Communist Party of Greece (KKE); party leader Aleka Papariga. Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS); party leader George Karatzaferis.
Government: Greece is a parliamentary democracy. Universal direct suffrage for those over the age of 18. Executive power rests in the 300 member Greek Parliament (Vouli). Centre-leftt PASOK won office on 4 October 2009.
Head of State: President Karolos Papoulias
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: George Papandreou
Membership of international groups/organisations: European Union (joined the EC in 1981; Greece held the Presidency of the EU from January to June 2003), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) (joined in 1952), United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Greece is currently Chair of the OSCE. Member of the Council of Europe. Member of The Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
Country information
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See Also
Useful Links
- BBC Timeline of Greece
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British Council: Greece
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Greece Now includes a Greek timeline, city guides, latest news and weather
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Kathimerini - English language version of Greek daily newspaper
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UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Greece