Area

50,949 sq. miles (131,957 sq. km)

Population

10,522,000

Density

207 per sq. mile (80 per sq. km)

Urban Population

59 per cent

Head of State

President of the Hellenic Republic

Government

Chamber of Deputies (300 members) elected for a four year term.

National Flag

Blue and white stripes with a white cross on a blue background in the canton

Joined EU

1 January 1981

Capital

Athens - population 3,073,000

Language

Greek

Education

Free and compulsory from 6 - 15 years

Religion

Greek Orthodox (98%) - Roman Catholic (1%), Muslim (1%)

Currency

Euro (¤) of 100 cents - previously Drachma of 100 leptae

Landscape

Islands make up about 20 per cent of the area of Greece, notably Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes. There are also mountainous regions including the Pindus Mountains and the highest peak in Greece, Mount Olympus. The climate is Mediterranean with hot, arid summers and mild, moist winters but winters are severe in the mountains. Only one third of the land can be cultivated.

Agriculture

Citrus fruits, grapes, figs, olives, tobacco, cotton, vegetables and wheat are the major crops

Resources

The principal minerals are nickel, bauxite, iron pyrites, chrome, lead, zinc, and marble

Industry

Tourism is a major industry with over 10 million visitors a year. The chief industries are textiles (cotton, woollen and synthetics), chemicals, cement, glass, shipbuilding, domestic electrical equipment, and footwear. Also products manufactured from aluminium, nickel, iron and steel.