The regions of Greece (Greek: περιφέρειες, romanized: periféreies) are the country's thirteen second-level administrative entities, counting decentralized administrations of Greece as first-level. Regions are divided into regional units, known as prefectures until 2011.
| Regions of Greece Περιφέρειες της Ελλάδας (Greek) | |
|---|---|
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| Category | Unitary state |
| Location | Hellenic Republic |
| Number | 13 Regions 1 Autonomous Region |
| Populations | 200,642 (Ionian Islands) – 3,784,565 (Attica) |
| Areas | 2,307 km2 (891 sq mi) (Ionian Islands) – 18,810 km2 (7,260 sq mi) (Central Macedonia) |
| Government |
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| Subdivisions | |
History
The current regions were established in July 1986 (the presidential decree officially establishing them was signed in 1987), by decision of the interior minister, Menios Koutsogiorgas, as second-level administrative entities, complementing the prefectures (Law 1622/1986). Before 1986, there was a traditional division into broad historical–geographical regions (γεωγραφικά διαμερίσματα), which, however, was often arbitrary; not all of the pre-1986 traditional historical-geographic regions had official administrative bodies. Although the post-1986 regions were mostly based on the earlier divisions, they are usually smaller and, in a few cases, do not overlap with the traditional definitions: for instance, the region of Western Greece, which had no previous analogue, comprises territory belonging to the Peloponnese peninsula and the traditional region of Central Greece.
As part of a decentralization process inspired by Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos, they were accorded more powers in the 1997 Kapodistrias reform of local and regional government. They were transformed into fully separate entities by the 2010 Kallikratis Plan (Law 3852/2010), which entered into effect on 1 January 2011. In the 2011 changes, the government-appointed general secretary (γενικός γραμματέας) was replaced with a popularly elected regional governor (περιφερειάρχης) and a regional council (περιφερειακό συμβούλιο) with five-year terms. Many powers of the prefectures, which were also abolished or reformed into regional units, were transferred to the region level. The regional organs of the central government were in turn replaced by seven decentralized administrations, which group from one to three regions under a government-appointed general secretary.
List of regions
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| Map showing modern regions of Greece |
Bordering the region of Central Macedonia there is one autonomous region, Mount Athos (Agion Oros, or "Holy Mountain"), an autonomous monastic community under Greek sovereignty. It is located on the easternmost of the three large peninsulas jutting into the Aegean from the Chalkidiki peninsula.
| Region | Seat | Area (km2) | Governor (1 January 2024 – 31 December 2028) | Population (2024) | Population density (residents/km2) | GDP (million €) | GDP per capita (€) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attica | Athens | 3,808 | (ND) | 3,784,565 | 993.85 | 97,030 | 25,638 | |
| 2 | Central Greece | Lamia | 15,549 | Fanis Spanos (ND) | 505,073 | 32.48 | 11,475 | 22,719 | |
| 3 | Central Macedonia | Thessaloniki | 18,811 | Apostolos Tzitzikostas (ND) | 1,778,896 | 94.57 | 28,418 | 15,975 | |
| 4 | Crete | Heraklion | 8,336 | Stavros Arnaoutakis (PASOK–KINAL) | 622,491 | 74.68 | 10,331 | 16,596 | |
| 5 | Eastern Macedonia and Thrace | Komotini | 14,157 | (Independent) | 561,834 | 39.69 | 8,117 | 14,447 | |
| 6 | Epirus | Ioannina | 9,203 | (ND) | 321,108 | 34.89 | 4,432 | 13,802 | |
| 7 | Ionian Islands | Corfu | 2,307 | (Independent) | 200,642 | 86.97 | 3,343 | 16,662 | |
| 8 | North Aegean | Mytilene | 3,836 | (Independent) | 201,007 | 52.40 | 2,704 | 13,452 | |
| 9 | Peloponnese | Tripoli | 15,490 | (ND) | 531,598 | 34.32 | 9,729 | 18,301 | |
| 10 | South Aegean | Ermoupoli | 5,286 | (ND) | 327,246 | 61.91 | 6,737 | 20,587 | |
| 11 | Thessaly | Larissa | 14,037 | (PASOK–KINAL) | 678,747 | 48.35 | 10,661 | 15,707 | |
| 12 | Western Greece | Patras | 11,350 | (ND) | 640,243 | 56.41 | 9,093 | 14,202 | |
| 13 | Western Macedonia | Kozani | 9,451 | (ND) | 247,270 | 26.16 | 4,552 | 18,409 | |
| (14) | Mount Athos | Karyes | 336 | Anastasios Mitsialis | 1,746 | 5.20 | — | — | |
See also
- Administrative divisions of Greece
- ISO 3166-2:GR
- List of Greek regions by Human Development Index
References
- Ν.1622/86 "Τοπική Αυτοδιοίκηση - Περιφερειακή Ανάπτυξη - Δημοκρατικός Προγραμματισμός", (ΦΕΚ 92/τ.Α΄/14-7-1986)
- "Στοιχεία Εκτιμώμενου Πληθυσμού (1.1.2024)" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/nama_10r_2gdp__custom_14043837/default/table?lang=en
The regions of Greece Greek perifereies romanized perifereies are the country s thirteen second level administrative entities counting decentralized administrations of Greece as first level Regions are divided into regional units known as prefectures until 2011 Regions of Greece Perifereies ths Elladas Greek CategoryUnitary stateLocationHellenic RepublicNumber13 Regions 1 Autonomous RegionPopulations200 642 Ionian Islands 3 784 565 Attica Areas2 307 km2 891 sq mi Ionian Islands 18 810 km2 7 260 sq mi Central Macedonia GovernmentCentral government Regional governments monastic government Athos SubdivisionsRegional unitsHistoryThe current regions were established in July 1986 the presidential decree officially establishing them was signed in 1987 by decision of the interior minister Menios Koutsogiorgas as second level administrative entities complementing the prefectures Law 1622 1986 Before 1986 there was a traditional division into broad historical geographical regions gewgrafika diamerismata which however was often arbitrary not all of the pre 1986 traditional historical geographic regions had official administrative bodies Although the post 1986 regions were mostly based on the earlier divisions they are usually smaller and in a few cases do not overlap with the traditional definitions for instance the region of Western Greece which had no previous analogue comprises territory belonging to the Peloponnese peninsula and the traditional region of Central Greece As part of a decentralization process inspired by Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos they were accorded more powers in the 1997 Kapodistrias reform of local and regional government They were transformed into fully separate entities by the 2010 Kallikratis Plan Law 3852 2010 which entered into effect on 1 January 2011 In the 2011 changes the government appointed general secretary genikos grammateas was replaced with a popularly elected regional governor perifereiarxhs and a regional council perifereiako symboylio with five year terms Many powers of the prefectures which were also abolished or reformed into regional units were transferred to the region level The regional organs of the central government were in turn replaced by seven decentralized administrations which group from one to three regions under a government appointed general secretary List of regionsAttica Attikh Central Greece Sterea Ellada Central Macedonia Kentrikh Makedonia Crete Krhth Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Anatolikh Makedonia kai 8rakh Epirus Hpeiros Ionian Islands Ionia nhsia North Aegean Boreio Aigaio Peloponnese Peloponnhsos South Aegean Notio Aigaio Thessaly 8essalia Western Greece Dytikh Ellada Western Macedonia Dytikh Makedonia Mount Athos Agion OrosMap showing modern regions of Greece Bordering the region of Central Macedonia there is one autonomous region Mount Athos Agion Oros or Holy Mountain an autonomous monastic community under Greek sovereignty It is located on the easternmost of the three large peninsulas jutting into the Aegean from the Chalkidiki peninsula Region Seat Area km2 Governor 1 January 2024 31 December 2028 Population 2024 Population density residents km2 GDP million GDP per capita 1 Attica Athens 3 808 el ND 3 784 565 993 85 97 030 25 6382 Central Greece Lamia 15 549 Fanis Spanos ND 505 073 32 48 11 475 22 7193 Central Macedonia Thessaloniki 18 811 Apostolos Tzitzikostas ND 1 778 896 94 57 28 418 15 9754 Crete Heraklion 8 336 Stavros Arnaoutakis PASOK KINAL 622 491 74 68 10 331 16 5965 Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Komotini 14 157 el Independent 561 834 39 69 8 117 14 4476 Epirus Ioannina 9 203 el ND 321 108 34 89 4 432 13 8027 Ionian Islands Corfu 2 307 el Independent 200 642 86 97 3 343 16 6628 North Aegean Mytilene 3 836 el Independent 201 007 52 40 2 704 13 4529 Peloponnese Tripoli 15 490 el ND 531 598 34 32 9 729 18 30110 South Aegean Ermoupoli 5 286 el ND 327 246 61 91 6 737 20 58711 Thessaly Larissa 14 037 el PASOK KINAL 678 747 48 35 10 661 15 70712 Western Greece Patras 11 350 el ND 640 243 56 41 9 093 14 20213 Western Macedonia Kozani 9 451 el ND 247 270 26 16 4 552 18 409 14 Mount Athos Karyes 336 Anastasios Mitsialis 1 746 5 20 See alsoWikimedia Commons has media related to Regions of Greece Administrative divisions of Greece ISO 3166 2 GR List of Greek regions by Human Development IndexReferencesN 1622 86 Topikh Aytodioikhsh Perifereiakh Anapty3h Dhmokratikos Programmatismos FEK 92 t A 14 7 1986 Stoixeia Ektimwmenoy Plh8ysmoy 1 1 2024 in Greek Hellenic Statistical Authority 31 December 2024 Retrieved 21 January 2025 https ec europa eu eurostat databrowser view nama 10r 2gdp custom 14043837 default table lang en
