Greece

National name:
Elliniki Dimokratia

Govt.:
Parliamentary republic.

Geography
Located in southern Europe, Greece forms an irregular-shaped peninsula in the Mediterranean with two additional large peninsulas projecting from it: the Chalcidice and the Peloponnese. The Greek Islands are generally subdivided into two groups, according to location: the Ionian Islands (including Corfu, Cephalonia, and Leucas) west of the mainland and the Aegean Islands (including Euboea, Samos, Chios, Lesbos, and Crete) to the east and south.

Historical Background
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. 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 EU; it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

Facts & Figures

Name

Greece

Capital

Athens

Government

Parliamentary republic, Unitary state

Language

Greek

Race/Ethnicity

93.8% Greek, 4.3% Albanian, 1.9% others

Area

131,990 km2 

Population

11,305,118

Currency

Euro (€) (EUR)