72 Facts About Greece

Greece, also known as Hellas, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is officially known as the Hellenic Republic.

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe that is home to thousands of islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas.

It was influential in ancient times and is often referred to as the cradle of Western civilization.

Its capital, Athens, retains landmarks such as the 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple.

Greece is also known for its beaches, which range from the black sands of Santorini to the party islands of Mykonos.

Greece's official language is Greek.

'Freedom or Death' is the country's motto.

Greece is classified as a parliamentary unitary republic.

It is also regarded as a developed country with a sophisticated high-income economy.

Greece is also regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization.

'Hymn to Liberty' is the Greek national anthem.

Athens is Greece's capital city and the largest city in the country.

Greece is divided into nine traditional geographical regions.

Mountains cover approximately 80% of Greece.

Greece has the Mideterrenian Basin's longest coastline.

Greece is also a United Nations founding member.

It is also the tenth member of the European Union.

Greece has 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in total. 

Mount Olympus is the highest peak in Greece.

Greece's economy is regarded as the largest in the Balkans.

Greeks drive on the right side of the road.

Greece celebrates its independence day on March 25th.

Greece has approximately 250 sunny days per year.

Greece's flag is commonly referred to as Blue and White.

Tourists flock to Athens, Greece's most visited city.

In Greece, education is free.

Hydra is regarded as one of Greece's most beautiful islands.

Athens is known for its long, hot, and dry summers.

Piraeus was once the commercial centre of Greece.

On July 16, 2006, the Super League Greece football club was founded.

Mount Olympus is also known as the ancient Greek gods' home.

Paros is regarded as one of Greece's most popular islands.

The Greek Orthodox church forbids cremation.

Greek is one of Europe's oldest languages, having been spoken since 1450 B.C.

As of 2020, approximately 13 million people in Greece, Albania, and Cyprus spoke Greek on a daily basis.

Soldiers in ancient Greece wore armour weighing up to 70 pounds.

The ancient Greeks are widely regarded as the creators of mathematics.

Diphtheria killed Princess Alice of Greece.

Athens is widely regarded as the birthplace of democracy.

The Olympic games are also said to have originated in Greece. Greece has traditionally held the Olympic Games every four years, with 50,000 participants from across the country.

Only 30% of Greek adults could read and write in the 1950s. Greece's literacy rate has reversed and now stands at 97.94% as of 2018.

Athens is home to roughly 40% of Greece's population.

Greek men must serve a minimum of one year in any branch of Greece's armed forces.

Over 150,000 words in the English language are thought to have Greek origins. Many of these terms are scientific or technical in nature.

Greece has the world's tenth longest coastline, stretching up to 9000 miles in length.

With 158 verses, the Greek national anthem is also known as the world's longest anthem.

After complimenting someone, some Greeks take a breather.

Prior to the Euro, Ancient Greece's currency was the drachma.

Greece's territory includes over 2,000 islands.

Greece was once entirely submerged. Some Greek cities, such as Pavlopetri, which dates back nearly 5,000 years, are still submerged today.

Greek civilization is old enough to have experimented with every type of government.

Only men were permitted to perform in plays in Ancient Greece.

By 2020, approximately 10% of Greek adults will be unemployed.

The phrase "taking the bull by the horns" originates in Greece.

The Greeks sacrificed a hundred bulls to Zeus during each Olympic Games.

Every year, nearly 16.5 million tourists visit Greece. Tourism generates nearly 16% of the country's GDP.

The term "ancient Greece" refers to the time period between 750 BC and 30 BC.

There are no navigable rivers in Greece. Mountains cover approximately 80% of Greece's land area.

Greece has 21 rivers that are connected to other countries.

The Greeks are credited with revolutionising the art of sculputure.

Greece produces approximately 7% of the world's marble.

Greece has over 100 archaeological museums, demonstrating the country's archaeological wealth. The National Archaeological Museum is considered Greece's largest museum.

Football is Greece's national sport.

The Turks are Greece's largest minority group.

Greece is one of the world's largest olive producers. Greece currently ranks fourth in olive production, with over 1.5 metric tonnes produced annually.

A few olive trees that were planted in the 13th century are still producing olives today.

Greece is also referred to as Ellas or Ellada.

Greece has more international airports than the majority of countries on the planet.

Greece is said to be home to over 116 different mammal species and over 240 different bird species. Greece is also home to approximately 59 reptile species.

Rhodes is well-known for housing one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Around 500 BC, Greece organised the first municipal dump in the Western world.

Thales of Miletus, who lived between 624 BC and 546 BC, is credited with being the first Greek philosopher.