Greece Today – Enterprise Greece
Source: https://www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr/el/i-ellada-simera/
Introduction
Greece, aiming for sustainability and growth, is restructuring its economy by undertaking significant reform initiatives. These efforts strengthen the attraction of investment capital and the promotion of Greek products and services in export markets.
Building a green and digital economy not only contributes to the creation of new jobs but also fosters innovation, placing the country on a path of long-term development. In the ever-evolving global economic environment, Greece stands out thanks to its highly specialised workforce, modern infrastructure, geostrategic position, and the significant prospects for economic progress it offers.
At the same time, the new legislative framework facilitates the creation of new businesses and encourages partnerships that strengthen entrepreneurial activity and the country's competitiveness.
Greece is transforming into a centre of sustainable development, inviting investors and entrepreneurs to participate in this dynamic journey towards the future.
1. Greece at a Glance – General Information
1.1 Geography & Climate
- Area: 131,990 sq km
- Land borders: 1,228 km
- Bordering countries: Albania (282 km), Bulgaria (494 km), Turkey (206 km), North Macedonia (246 km)
- Climate: Temperate, mild; wet winters, hot and dry summers
- Terrain: Mostly mountainous with peninsulas and island chains (~3,000 islands)
- Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea (0 m)
- Highest point: Mount Olympus (2,917 m)
- Natural resources: Lignite, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt
1.2 Government & Administration
- System of government: Presidential Parliamentary Republic
- Parliament: Unicameral – 300 seats, elections every 4 years
- Head of State: President of the Republic
- Head of Government: Prime Minister
- Legal system: Based on Roman Law (civil, criminal, and administrative courts)
- Official language: Greek
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Capital: Athens
- Time zone: GMT +2
1.3 International Organisation Membership
European Union, NATO, EBRD, EIB, IBRD, IMF, IMO, Interpol, OECD, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WTO, CERN.
1.4 Population
- Permanent population (2021 census): 10,482,487
- Population density: 79.4 inhabitants/km²
- Economically active population: 4.75 million (Q3 2024)
- Birth rate: 7.3 births/1,000 inhabitants (2022)
| Age group | Share of total (2021 census) |
|---|---|
| 0–14 | 13.5% |
| 15–69 | 69.7% |
| 70+ | 16.8% |
1.5 Major Cities (2021 census)
| City | Population |
|---|---|
| Athens (Attica Region) | 3,814,065 |
| Thessaloniki | 1,092,919 |
| Patras | 215,923 |
| Heraklion | 179,301 |
| Larissa | 164,093 |
| Volos | 139,672 |
2. Greece as an Economic Hub
Greece is an attractive destination for investment. The country serves as a natural gateway to the markets of South-Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean — regions with more than 140 million consumers and a GDP approaching €1 trillion.
As a hub for various emerging markets, Greece provides access to populations with high demand for consumer goods, infrastructure modernisation, technology and innovation transfer, energy, tourism development, and light industry.
Greece uniquely combines:
- A top global tourist destination
- An emerging regional energy hub
- A highly educated and multilingual workforce
3. Transport & Telecommunications
3.1 Road & Rail Network
- Railway network: 2,265 km total
- Road network: 117,000 km total (75,500 km urban, 41,500 km inter-urban)
Major motorways:
- A1 – PATHE: Athens → Thessaloniki → Evzoni (North Macedonia border)
- A2 – Egnatia Odos: Igoumenitsa → Thessaloniki → Alexandroupolis → Kipoi (Turkish border)
- A5 – Ionia Odos: Antirrio → Ioannina (connects to Egnatia)
- A7 – Moreas: Corinth → Tripolis → Kalamata
- A8 – Olympia Odos: Elefsina → Corinth → Patras
3.2 Ports
Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Volos, Patras, Alexandroupolis, Elefsina, Igoumenitsa, Heraklion, Kavala, Rhodes, Lavrio, Chalkida, Corfu
3.3 Airports
Major International Airports:
- Athens "Eleftherios Venizelos" (ATH)
- Thessaloniki "Macedonia" (SKG)
- Heraklion "Nikos Kazantzakis" (HER)
- Rhodes "Diagoras" (RHO)
- Corfu "Ioannis Kapodistrias" (CFU)
- Chania "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" (CHQ)
Under development: New International Airport of Crete at Kasteli
3.4 Telecommunications (2023)
- Fixed telephone lines: 5,091,488 subscribers
- Mobile subscribers: 13,717,676 – Penetration: 132%
- Internet penetration: 85%
- Fixed broadband: 42.8 lines per 100 inhabitants
- Mobile operators: Cosmote, Vodafone, Nova
4. Exports & Imports 2025
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) – preliminary data, processed by Enterprise Greece
4.1 Headline Figures
| 2025 | 2024 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Exports | €48,600.2 m | €50,002.9 m | −2.8% |
| Exports excl. petroleum | €36,915.1 m | €36,189.5 m | +2.0% |
| Exports excl. petroleum & ships | €36,793.0 m | €35,999.4 m | +2.2% |
| Total Imports | €82,115.7 m | €85,601.6 m | −4.1% |
4.2 Exports by Sector (2025)
| Sector | 2025 (€m) | 2024 (€m) |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral fuels / Petroleum products | 12,689 | 14,912 |
| Food and live animals | 9,040 | 8,266 |
| Manufactured goods (classified by material) | 7,523 | 7,329 |
| Chemical products | 6,308 | 6,080 |
| Machinery & transport equipment | 4,778 | 4,950 |
| Miscellaneous manufactured articles | 3,842 | 3,678 |
| Crude materials (inedible, excl. fuels) | 1,718 | 1,703 |
| Beverages and tobacco | 1,497 | 1,389 |
| Animal & vegetable oils and fats | 1,056 | 1,097 |
| Total | 48,600 | 50,003 |
Top export sectors 2025: Fuels (26.1%) · Food & live animals (18.6%) · Manufactured goods (15.5%) · Chemicals (13.0%)
4.3 Imports by Sector (2025)
| Sector | 2025 (€m) | 2024 (€m) |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery & transport equipment | 19,738 | 18,193 |
| Mineral fuels / Petroleum products | 16,362 | 21,639 |
| Chemical products | 12,417 | 12,207 |
| Food and live animals | 10,166 | 9,237 |
| Manufactured goods (classified by material) | 9,872 | 10,147 |
| Miscellaneous manufactured articles | 9,485 | 9,235 |
| Crude materials (inedible, excl. fuels) | 2,425 | 2,217 |
| Beverages and tobacco | 1,152 | 1,051 |
| Animal & vegetable oils and fats | 461 | 459 |
| Total | 82,116 | 85,602 |
Top import sectors 2025: Machinery & transport (24.0%) · Fuels (19.9%) · Chemicals (15.1%)
4.4 Top Export Destinations (2025)
Geographic breakdown: Exports to EU: 57.1% of total
| Country | 2025 (€m) | 2024 (€m) | 2023 (€m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 4,443 | 5,285 | 5,893 |
| Germany | 3,787 | 3,526 | 3,416 |
| Cyprus | 3,314 | 3,317 | 3,305 |
| Bulgaria | 3,157 | 2,945 | 3,541 |
| USA | 2,405 | 2,412 | 2,117 |
| Romania | 2,094 | 1,823 | 1,834 |
| United Kingdom | 1,942 | 1,947 | 1,923 |
| Spain | 1,645 | 1,572 | 2,075 |
| France | 1,548 | 1,467 | 1,797 |
| Turkey | 1,375 | 1,519 | 1,818 |
| Total | 48,600 | 50,003 | 51,017 |
Countries with export growth >30% in 2025 vs 2024:
- Cameroon (+94.5%) · China (+68.1%) · Algeria (+62.9%) · Denmark (+54.3%) · Japan (+41.8%) · Bangladesh (+39.4%) · Croatia (+34.9%)
4.5 Top Import Origins (2025)
Geographic breakdown: Imports from EU: 55.6% of total
| Country | 2025 (€m) | 2024 (€m) | 2023 (€m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 9,460 | 9,347 | 8,724 |
| Italy | 7,430 | 7,538 | 6,843 |
| China | 6,485 | 6,944 | 6,901 |
| Netherlands | 5,073 | 4,882 | 5,018 |
| France | 4,071 | 4,013 | 3,701 |
| Iraq | 3,894 | 5,010 | 5,253 |
| Spain | 3,448 | 3,210 | 3,047 |
| Turkey | 3,340 | 3,235 | 2,725 |
| Bulgaria | 2,896 | 2,752 | 3,034 |
| Belgium | 2,401 | 2,267 | 2,289 |
| Total | 82,116 | 85,602 | 83,088 |
Source: Enterprise Greece – Investment and Trade Promotion Organisation https://www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr