Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a unitary parliamentary republic in Southeastern Europe. Considered the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, Greece has exerted a huge influence on the history, politics, and culture of the world, disproportionate in relation to its population of 10 million. Home to innumerable historic landmarks and World Heritage Sites, the country prides itself on its important traditions and strong culture which stretch back millennia.

A founding member of the United Nations, Greece has been part of the Eurozone since 2001 and was the tenth member to join the European Community, the forerunner to the European Union. It is also a member of the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO), among others. Greece’s unique cultural heritage, popularity as a tourist destination, prominent shipping industry, and geostrategic importance have led to it being considered a middle power.

Geographically diverse, with mountains in the far north, Greece is more well-known for its extensive coastline and more than 2,000 islands, of which 170 are inhabited. It is bordered to the east by the Aegean Sea, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and to the west by the Ionian Sea. Furthermore, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. Due to its close proximity to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, Greece has long held strategic geographic importance, and is now a developed regional power, with the largest economy and most powerful military in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe. Residents of Greece enjoy visa-free access to all countries of the Schengen Area, as well access to world-class medical care, year-round sunshine, and a high quality of life.