Greece is a country located in the southeastern corner of Europe. It has a rich history that dates back thousands of years, and its culture has been heavily influenced by both western and eastern cultures. Greece is a predominantly Orthodox Christian country, with over 90% of its population belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The country is also known for its unique cuisine, which incorporates flavors from around the Mediterranean region.
Greece is made up of several distinct regions, each with its own unique topography and climate. The mainland portion of Greece is largely mountainous, while the islands are mostly flat with some hills and mountains. The climate in Greece ranges from dry and hot in the south to milder temperatures in the north.
The Greek economy is largely driven by tourism, as well as shipping and agriculture. Tourism makes up nearly 20% of GDP, while agriculture accounts for nearly 10%. Shipping makes up a significant portion of GDP as well, with many ports located along the coastlines of Greece’s many islands. Manufacturing also plays an important role in the Greek economy, particularly in textiles and electronics production.
In terms of politics, Greece is a parliamentary democracy that operates under a multi-party system. The Prime Minister serves as head of government while executive power rests with the President who is elected by popular vote every five years. Legislative power lies with Parliament which consists of 300 members elected for four year terms through proportional representation systems based on party lists or individual candidates depending on the size of each district’s population.
Greece has always been an important center for education and learning throughout its long history due to its numerous universities and colleges located throughout the country such as Aristotle University in Thessaloniki or University Of Athens which are both world renowned institutions that attract students from all around Europe every year. Education plays an important role in society due to its importance for economic growth since it helps people acquire skills necessary to succeed in life. Furthermore, it also helps push forward social change since it can be used to challenge existing values or beliefs.
Overall, Greece is a beautiful country full of culture, history, natural beauty, industry, commerce, education and much more. It’s no wonder why so many people decide to visit this ancient land every year.
Demographics of Greece
Greece is a country located in southeastern Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea. According to wholevehicles.com, it has a population of around 10.8 million people and covers an area of 131,957 km2 (50,949 sq mi). Greece is a very diverse country with a rich cultural heritage. The majority of the population is of Greek ethnicity, with minorities including Turks, Albanians, Macedonians and other ethnic groups. The official language is Greek and the currency is the Euro (€).
The population of Greece has been steadily increasing over recent decades due to immigration from other countries in the region. In 2020, 25% of all Greeks were born outside of Greece while almost half had at least one foreign-born parent. The largest ethnic minority group in Greece are Albanians which make up around 8% of the population followed by Turks (3%) and Macedonians (1%).
Greece has an aging population with more than 19% being aged 65 or over, according to 2019 estimates. The median age in Greece is 43 years old with women having a slightly higher median age than men at 44 years old. Over 46% of Greeks live in urban areas while 54% live in rural areas.
The largest city by population is Athens with 3 million people followed by Thessaloniki with 1 million people and Patras with just under 200 thousand people. Other major cities include Heraklion, Larissa and Volos among others.
Greece has one of the highest literacy rates in Europe at 98%. Education is free up through university level for all citizens thanks to government subsidies and grants for students who meet certain criteria such as financial need or academic performance.
Poverty in Greece
Poverty in Greece is a growing concern, with an estimated 22.3% of the population living below the poverty line in 2019. This is up from 19.2% in 2015 and is almost double the rate of poverty for the European Union as a whole, which stands at 11.2%. The rate of poverty has been steadily increasing since 2013 due to the economic crisis and austerity measures implemented by the government.
Children are particularly vulnerable to poverty in Greece, with a rate of 30% living below the poverty line in 2019. This is significantly higher than the EU average of 17%, which highlights how severe this issue has become for Greek families. Women are also disproportionately affected by poverty, with a rate of 25% compared to 19% for men.
The greatest concentration of poverty can be found in rural areas and small villages throughout Greece. This is due to limited access to jobs and services that are often only available in larger cities or towns. These areas also tend to have lower levels of education than those found elsewhere in Greece, further exacerbating their economic situation.
Greece’s unemployment rate is also very high, standing at 18% as of 2020 according to Eurostat figures. This has created an additional burden on those who are already struggling financially as they are unable to find steady work or earn enough money to support themselves and their families adequately.
The government has implemented several measures over recent years aimed at reducing poverty rates such as creating jobs through public works programs and providing assistance for those on low incomes through social welfare programs such as pensions or disability benefits. However, these measures have yet to make significant progress towards reducing overall levels of poverty in Greece despite their best efforts thus far.
Labor Market in Greece
According to Countryvv, the labor market in Greece has been heavily impacted by the economic crisis and austerity measures that have been implemented by the government over recent years. Unemployment has risen dramatically as a result, with figures from Eurostat showing an unemployment rate of 18% as of 2020. This is significantly higher than the EU average of 6.7%, highlighting how severely the Greek labor market has been affected.
Youth unemployment is particularly high in Greece, with a rate of nearly 34% in 2020 according to Eurostat figures. This is almost double the EU average of 17%, which highlights how difficult it can be for young people to find employment in Greece. Women are also disproportionately impacted by unemployment, with a rate of 21% compared to 15% for men as of 2020.
The majority of jobs available in Greece are low-skilled and low-paid positions such as retail or hospitality work, which often do not provide enough income to support a family adequately. The lack of better-paying jobs also means that those who wish to pursue a career in their chosen field may struggle to do so due to limited opportunities or competition from more experienced candidates.
The public sector accounts for around one quarter of total employment in Greece and provides many jobs with good wages and benefits. However, due to austerity measures imposed by the government these positions have become increasingly scarce over recent years, meaning that fewer people are able to secure these types of jobs and benefit from them financially.
Greece also has one of the highest levels of informal employment within the EU at around 27%. This means that many workers are employed without being registered or paying taxes, leading to lower wages and less job security than those who are officially employed would have access to. This can be particularly problematic for workers who rely on these incomes but lack any form of protection from their employers or access to healthcare or other benefits provided through formal employment contracts.
