Greece profile

In ancient times Greece was a center of science, philosophy, and art. In the 1900s the country experienced wars and changes of government. Today Greece has become an important member of the European Union. The capital and largest city is Athens.

Greece is located in southeastern Europe. The country includes a mainland and about 2,000 islands. The Greek mainland shares borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The Ionian, Mediterranean, and Aegean seas surround all of Greece.

About 80 percent of Greece consists of mountains. The Pindus Mountains run north and south on the mainland. Greece’s highest peak, Mount Olympus, is in the east; it rises to 9,570 feet (2,917 meters). Summers are hot and dry, and winters are mild and rainy. Earthquakes are common.

About one-fourth of Greece is forested. The northern mountains have forests of chestnut, ash, and beech trees. Firs and pines grow on the upper slopes. Other plant life includes evergreen oak and cypress trees, as well as juniper, myrtle, and oleander shrubs.

Bears, wolves, wildcats, martens, wild boars, lynx, and deer live in the mountain forests. Jackals, wild goats, and porcupines live in the south. Greece’s birds include herons, storks, and pelicans.

Ethnic Greeks make up more than 90 percent of the population. There are small numbers of Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, and others, but the Greek government does not view them as separate groups. Nearly all people speak modern Greek, a language similar to ancient Greek. Most Greeks belong to the Greek Orthodox church, which is a branch of Christianity. Muslims form a small religious minority. More than half of the population lives in cities.



Agriculture forms a smaller part of the economy. However, Greece is known for making wine and olive oil from its grapes and olives. The grapes and olives, as well as oranges and lemons, grow in the warm coastal regions. Other crops include sugar beets, wheat, corn, tomatoes, cotton, and tobacco. The mountain regions are used mainly for herding sheep and goats. The fishing industry also provides food for Greece.

In the late 20th century Greece faced a number of economic problems. Despite its economic struggles, in 1981 Greece was admitted to the organization of countries that eventually became the European Union (EU).

Greece became part of the Byzantine Empire in the late 300s. (For the early history of Greece, read the article Greece, ancient.) In 1453 the Turkish Ottoman Empire conquered Greece, along with the rest of the Byzantine Empire. The Greeks often revolted against Turkish rule. In 1821 they began a war of independence. Supported by Great Britain, France, and Russia, Greece declared its independence in 1829.


The new state did not include all of the territory of ancient Greece. During the 1800s and early 1900s Greece regained control over much of its historic land. In 1912–13 Greece fought alongside Serbia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro in the First Balkan War against Turkey. In 1913 Greece joined Serbia in the Second Balkan War against Bulgaria. As a result of the Balkan Wars, Greece regained control over Crete and much territory on the mainland.

Wars with Turkey

In 1917 Greece entered World War I on the side of the Allies. Turkey sided with the Germans. Fighting between Greece and Turkey continued long after the end of World War I in 1918. By 1919 Greece had won significant territory from Turkey, including the city of Smyrna. In 1921–22 Greece and Turkey fought another war. Turkey easily defeated Greece and reclaimed much of the land that Greece had taken.

World War II and Civil War

In 1941, during World War II, Nazi Germany invaded Greece. The German army withdrew from Greece in 1944.

After World War II, civil war broke out in Greece between communist and anti-communist forces. Many Greeks supported the communists, who had played a leading role in the war against Germany. Worried by the spread of communism, the United States and Britain supported the anti-communist forces. The anti-communists won the war in 1949.

Postwar Greece

After the war, political problems made rebuilding difficult. In 1967 a group of army officers seized control of the country. The military government remained in power until 1974, when a democratic government was elected. That year Greece and Turkey nearly fought a war over control of the island of Cyprus.

Greece had disputes with other neighbors as well. In the 1990s, the country of Yugoslavia broke apart. One part became the republic of Macedonia. People in Greece did not think the new country should be called Macedonia. The area of Macedonia was part of Greece in ancient times. After many years of disagreement, the country to the north of Greece officially became the Republic of North Macedonia in 2019.

At the beginning of the 21st century Greece was working to resolve those issues and to strengthen its membership in the European Union (EU). In late 2009, however, the country faced severe economic problems. The problems threatened to affect other countries in Europe because of their connection through the EU. In May 2010 the Greek government tried to address the problems by raising taxes and cutting programs. The measures led to massive protests. By August 2018 Greek’s economic outlook was positive. The economy was growing and unemployment rates were falling.

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