Greece

Hellenic Republic Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Ellinikí Dimokratía  (Greek)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: «Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος» Elefthería í Thánatos "Freedom or Death"
Anthem: «Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν» Ýmnos eis tin Eleftherían "Hymn to Liberty"
Location of  Greece  (dark green) – on the European continent  (green & dark grey) – in the European Union  (green)  —  [Legend]
Capital and largest city	Athens 37°58′N 23°43′E / 37.967°N 23.717°E / 37.967; 23.717
National language	Greek
Religion	Eastern Orthodoxy
Demonym(s)	Greek
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Katerina Sakellaropoulou
• Prime Minister	Kyriakos Mitsotakis
• Speaker of the Parliament	Konstantinos Tasoulas
Legislature	Hellenic Parliament
Formation of modern Greece
• Independence declared from the Ottoman Empire	Not yet (Greek War of Independence have been failed), 15 January 1822 (official declaration in the First National Assembly at Epidaurus)
• Recognized	3 February 1830
• Current constitution	11 June 1975
Area
• Total	50,949 sq mi (131,960 km2)[1] (95th)
• Water (%)	0.8669
Population
• 2021 estimate	10,445,365 [2][3]
• 2011 census	10,816,286[4] (80th)
• Density	82[5]/km2 (212.4/sq mi) (125th)
GDP (PPP)	2019 estimate
• Total	$324 billion[6] (57th)
• Per capita	$30,252[6] (47th)
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$214 billion[6] (52nd)
• Per capita	$19,974[6] (38th)
Gini (2016)	34.3[7] medium · 60th
HDI (2015)	0.866[8] very high · 29th
Currency	Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone	UTC+2 (Eastern European Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (Eastern European Summer Time)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+30
ISO 3166 code	GR
Internet TLD	.gra .ελ
The .eu domain is also used, as in other European Union member states.

Greece (Greek: Ελλάδα [eˈlaða] or Ελλάς [eˈlas]), officially the Hellenic Republic (Greek: Ελληνική Δημοκρατία [eliniˈkʲi ðimokraˈtia]),^[9] (historically known as Hellas) (Greek: Ελλάς), is a country mostly located in Southeastern Europe with small island territories in Asia. Its capital city is Athens.

It borders Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea is to the East and South of mainland Greece, the Ionian Sea is to the West. Both are part of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and have many islands. 80% of the country is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak.

Ancient Greece created democracy, philosophy, science and mathematics, drama and theater and the Olympic Games. This is why other languages use many Greek words. Greece is a parliamentary republic, in which the leader of the party with more seats in the parliament is the Prime Minister. The country has a President, but his powers are ceremonial. He is the head of state, not the head of government, much like how Kings and Queens operate in constitutional monarchies and is elected by Parliament and not the people. Its economy is the highest in the Balkans region, though facing financial difficulties due to a Greek government-debt crisis. The country was under control by the Ottoman Empire until 1821.

The official language spoken in Greece is Greek, spoken by 99% of the population, and by 90% of the population of the Republic of Cyprus. It identifies as Christian Orthodox. Many Greeks also understand English, French and German, which are taught in schools. Greece was a founding member of the United Nations, joined NATO in 1952, became a member of the European Union in 1981, and adopted the Euro in 2001. Due to the large tourism industry, powerful shipping sector, and its geostrategic importance, it is sometimes classified as a middle power.

1. ↑ "Country Comparison: Area". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
2. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
3. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX). population.un.org ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
4. ↑ Απογραφή Πληθυσμού – Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός [Results of Population-Housing Census 2011 concerning the permanent population of the country] (PDF) (in Greek). 20 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
5. ↑ "Announcement of the results of the 2011 Population Census for the Resident Population" (PDF). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". World Economic Outlook Database, April 2017. Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund. 12 April 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
7. ↑ "Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey". Luxembourg: Eurostat. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
8. ↑ "Table 1: Human Development Index and its components". Human Development Reports. Stockholm: United Nations Development Programme. 21 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
9. ↑ "World Fatbook - Greece: Government". CIA. www.cia.gov. 2007-03-15. Archived from the original on 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2007-04-07.