Greece:  Demographics        

Geography

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey.

Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E

Area: total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km

Land boundaries: total: 1,210 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km Coastline: 13,676 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 6 nm

Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers.

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands.

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 20% other: 12% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe earthquakes.

Environment--current issues: air pollution; water pollution.

Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds.

Geography--note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands.

People

Population: 10,662,138 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 890,673; female 830,945) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,602,473; female 3,577,961) 65 years and over: 17% (male 780,029; female 980,057) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.43% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 9.65 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 9.37 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.31 years male: 75.76 years female: 81.04 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality: noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2%

Note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece.

Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Languages: Greek (official), English, French.

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 98% female: 93% (1991 est.)

Religion

Greek Orthodox, or Eastern Orthodox.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world. It is considered by its adherents to be the least changed from its ancient theological roots which stretch back to the beginnings of Christianity itself. It is composed of numerous theologically unified autocephalous ecclesial bodies each shepherded by a synod of independent bishops whose duty is to preserve the traditions of the Church, and who can trace their lineage back to the twelve Apostles through the process of apostolic succession.

Orthodox Christians regard their church as:

It may be noted that other churches (i.e. Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Assyrian etc.) can also legitimately trace their lineage back to the Apostles. This is because all of these churches were originally one church calling itself the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. As the Orthodox see it, the Assyrians broke from the Church with the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, the Oriental Orthodox following the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, and the Roman Catholics in 1054.

Historically, 1768 marks the arrival of the first Greek Orthodox to the New World. These pioneers founded the colony of New Smyrna some forty miles south of St. Augustine, Florida.

1. The Orthodox Church has two great sources of authority:

Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition

Holy Scripture is comprised of the writings of both the New and the Old Testaments. The New Testament reveals the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ, and His sacred teachings that we are charged to follow. The Old Testament is a history of the Hebrew people. It contains, among other sacred writings, the prophecies and the writings of the Prophets that foretold the coming of the Messiah. It therefore serves as an introduction to the revelation and the saving message of the New Testament.

Holy Tradition, of which Holy Scripture is a part, includes the writings, teachings, acts of the apostles, saints, martyrs, and fathers of the Church, and her liturgical and sacramental traditions throughout the ages, the oral tradition of the early Church and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils. All of this collective wisdom and experience through the centuries are combined to form this second great source of sacred authority.

2. The Creed

The Creed contains the Church's basic summary of doctrinal truths to which we adhere as Orthodox Christians. It consists of the twelve articles of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, or the "Pistevo," which is recited at each Divine Liturgy.

3. The Sacraments

There are seven Sacraments. They are the means by which the Grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted to us. Four Sacraments are obligatory:

  1. Baptism
  2. Chrismation (anointment with holy oil)
  3. Confession, and
  4. Holy Communion.

Three are optional:

  1. Matrimony
  2. Holy Orders (Ordination)
  3. Unction (anointment of the sick).

4. The Church Calendar

The Church Calendar begins on September 1st and ends on August 31st. Each day is sacred for the Orthodox Christian. The Church venerates at least one saint or sacred event in the life of the Church every day of the year. There are, however, several major feast days observed annually, and of these Easter, or Pascha, is the most important.

5. The Divine Liturgy

The central worship service of the Church is the Divine Liturgy which is celebrated each Sunday morning and on all holy days. The Liturgy is also the means by which we achieve union with Jesus Christ and unity with each other through the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

6. Ecumenism

While the Orthodox Church considers herself the Mother Church of Christendom, she cooperates with other churches in programs of educational, philanthropic and social endeavors insofar as this is consistent with her theology. Orthodoxy has become a major force in the universal ecumenical movement of which she was a prime mover through the encyclical of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in 1920.

7. The Major Feast days

Nativity of the Theotokos September 8
Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14
Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple November 21
Christmas (Nativity of Jesus Christ) December 25
Epiphany (Baptism of Christ) January 6
Presentation of Christ in the Temple February 2
Annunciation (Evangelismos) March 25
EASTER (Pascha) (Varies from year to year)
Ascension (40 Days after Easter)
Pentecost (50 Days after Easter)
Transfiguration of Christ August 6
Dormition of the Theotokos (Kimissis) August 15

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic. Conventional short form: Greece. Local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia. Local short form: Ellas. Data code: GR

Government type: Parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

National capital: Athens

Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular--nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos.

Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)

Constitution: 11 June 1975 Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts.

Suffrage - [Military Recruitment]: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory.

Head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since March 2004).

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.

Eelections: president elected by Chamber of Deputies for a five-year term.

Parliament or [Vouli ton Ellinon]: (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms.

Supreme Judicial Court: judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council.

Flag description: Nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country.