Flag Description

nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or for the colors; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time

Background:Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily leave the common currency or be removed.

Total Area: 131,957 sq km

Land Area:130,647 sq km

Water Area:1,310 sq km

Land Boundries Total:1,110 km

Border Countries:Albania 212 km, Bulgaria 472 km, Macedonia 234 km, Turkey 192 km

Coastline:13,676 km

Lowest Point:Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Highest Point:Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Population:10,775,557 (July 2014 est.)

Population Growth Rate:0.01% (2014 est.)

Religion:Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Literacy(%):0.973

Literacy(%) Male:0.984

Literacy(%) Female:96.3% (2011 est.)

Independence Day:1830 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National Holiday:Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

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