01
Physical geography
Mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands.
Local timeAthens ·
Europe / Southern Europe · Card 019
Greece
Greece is a country in Southern Europe. Its capital is Athens.
Find Greece
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Athens
- Languages
- Greek
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Population
- 10.4 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 131,990 km²50,961.60 square miles
- Independence
- 1830from the Ottoman Empire
Greece in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Athens; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Greek.
03
Location
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey.
Flag
Nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square with a white cross is in the upper-left corner
History & independence
The Greek War of Independence began in 1821 against Ottoman rule. Independence was internationally recognized in 1830. The country later experienced monarchy, occupation, civil war and military rule before democracy was restored in 1974.
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The War of Independence begins
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Greek independence is recognized
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Democratic government is restored
Economy
Main activities
Tourism, shipping, commerce and other services are central to the economy. Food production, agriculture and manufacturing also contribute. The debt crisis of the 2010s led to extensive economic adjustment.
Industry and production
tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people10.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,792,806 | 8.793 |
| 1980 | 9,642,505 | 9.643 |
| 1990 | 10,196,792 | 10.197 |
| 2000 | 10,805,808 | 10.806 |
| 2010 | 11,121,341 | 11.121 |
| 2020 | 10,698,599 | 10.699 |
| 2025 | 10,413,962 | 10.414 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars228.32025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 157,426,168,114 | 157.426 |
| 1991 | 162,306,378,863 | 162.306 |
| 1992 | 163,442,524,062 | 163.443 |
| 1993 | 160,827,443,642 | 160.827 |
| 1994 | 164,043,992,269 | 164.044 |
| 1995 | 167,488,456,016 | 167.488 |
| 1996 | 169,803,934,634 | 169.804 |
| 1997 | 175,921,772,179 | 175.922 |
| 1998 | 181,968,090,541 | 181.968 |
| 1999 | 186,806,231,971 | 186.806 |
| 2000 | 194,535,950,664 | 194.536 |
| 2001 | 203,582,678,905 | 203.583 |
| 2002 | 213,116,735,217 | 213.117 |
| 2003 | 225,470,734,593 | 225.471 |
| 2004 | 237,596,249,349 | 237.596 |
| 2005 | 240,408,216,059 | 240.408 |
| 2006 | 255,898,673,343 | 255.899 |
| 2007 | 264,872,706,551 | 264.873 |
| 2008 | 265,024,939,553 | 265.025 |
| 2009 | 254,107,830,646 | 254.108 |
| 2010 | 239,639,588,360 | 239.640 |
| 2011 | 215,970,916,413 | 215.971 |
| 2012 | 197,978,089,510 | 197.978 |
| 2013 | 193,479,795,684 | 193.480 |
| 2014 | 195,012,591,114 | 195.013 |
| 2015 | 194,567,373,678 | 194.567 |
| 2016 | 194,505,511,433 | 194.506 |
| 2017 | 197,370,820,218 | 197.371 |
| 2018 | 201,445,880,435 | 201.446 |
| 2019 | 206,033,167,051 | 206.033 |
| 2020 | 187,085,880,048 | 187.086 |
| 2021 | 203,277,223,533 | 203.277 |
| 2022 | 214,502,162,963 | 214.502 |
| 2023 | 219,083,738,943 | 219.084 |
| 2024 | 223,655,084,019 | 223.655 |
| 2025 | 228,291,607,841 | 228.292 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.908Very High human developmentRank 34 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.770
20000.828
20100.876
20200.896
20230.908
81.9 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary republic. Hellenic Parliament (Vouli Ton Ellinon) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Greece.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Greece: The War of Independence begins?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.