Greece is located at the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea. Its territory includes hundreds of islands in the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean seas, whereas only 227 of these islands are inhabited. Greece is 80 % covered in mountain areas, with its highest point being Mount Olympus at 2 917m. As of 2012, the most important parts of Greece’s economy were wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (23.2 %), public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (21.2 %) and real estate activities (16.7 %). Main export partners of Greece are Turkey, Italy and Germany, while Greece’s main partners for import is Russia, Germany and Italy.
Capital
Athens
Geographical size
131 957 km2
Population
11 123 034 (2012)
Population as % of total EU population
2.2 % (2012)
GDP
€ 193.347 trillion (2012)
Official EU language(s)
Greek
Political system
Parliamentary republic
EU member country since
1 January 1981
Seats in the European Parliament
21
Currency
Eurozone member since 1 January 2001
Schengen area member
Yes, Schengen Area member since 6 November 1992.
Presidency of the Council
Greece has held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU 5 times between 1983 and 2014.