Greece Information
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Background:
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Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman
Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th
century and the first half of the 20th century, it
gradually added neighboring islands and territories
with Greek-speaking populations. Following the
defeat of Communist rebels 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.
Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum
created a parliamentary republic and abolished the
monarchy; Greece joined the European Community or EC
in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992). |
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Location:
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Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian
Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and
Turkey |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria
494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia 246 km |
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Climate:
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temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers |
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Ethnic groups:
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Greek
98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are
no ethnic divisions in Greece |
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Religions:
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Greek
Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% |
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Languages:
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Greek
99% (official), English, French |
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Currency:
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euro
(EUR); drachma (GRD)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European
Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common
currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became
the sole currency for everyday transactions within
the member countries |
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Currency code:
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EUR;
GRD |
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Exchange rates:
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euros
per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175
(2001); drachmae per US dollar - 380.21 (December
2000), 365.40 (2000), 305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998),
273.06 (1997)
note: in January 2001, the drachma became a
participating currency within the Eurosystem, and
the euro market rate became applicable to all
transactions |
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