Greece (Hellenic Republic)

Greece Hellenic Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	37th best
Capital	Athens
Land Area	128 900km21
Location	Europe, The Balkans, The Mediterranean
Population	10.5m2
Life Expectancy	80.11yrs (2017)3
GNI	$29 002 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	GR, GRC, 3005
Internet Domain	.gr6
Currency	Euro (EUR)7
Telephone	+308

1. Overview
2. Greece National and Social Development
3. Greece's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Greece's Health
6. Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Greece's Modernity and Learning
8. Greece's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

“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.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Experience miles of aquamarine coastline, sun-bleached ruins, strong feta and stronger ouzo. The Greek landscape thrills, and the people are passionate about politics, coffee, art and gossiping. Don´t let headline-grabbing financial woes put you off going to Greece. The alluring combination of history and hedonism, which has made Greece one of the most popular destinations on the planet, continues to beckon, and now is as good a time as ever to turn up for some fun in the sun.

Within easy reach of magnificent archaeological sites are breathtaking beaches and relaxed tavernas serving everything from ouzo to octopus. Wanderers can island-hop to their heart´s content, while party types can enjoy pulsating nightlife in Greece´s vibrant modern cities and on islands such as Mykonos, Ios and Santorini. Add welcoming locals with an enticing culture to the mix and it´s easy to see why most visitors head home vowing to come back. Travellers to Greece inevitably end up with a favourite site they long to return to - so get out there and find yours.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Greece National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
30	Italy	0.895
31	Estonia	0.890
32	Czechia	0.889
33	Greece	0.887
34	Poland	0.876
35=	Saudi Arabia	0.875
35=	Bahrain	0.875
35=	Lithuania	0.875
	Europe Avg	0.87
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
47	Bahamas	$30 486
48	Croatia	$30 132
49	Romania	$30 027
50	Greece	$29 002
51	Russia	$27 166
52	Oman	$27 054
53	Panama	$26 957
54	Malaysia	$26 658
	Europe Avg	$40 512
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	29.1
2	Norway	32.3
3	Sweden	34.1
	...
34	Singapore	60.3
35	Malta	61.6
36	Chile	61.7
37	Greece	62.1
38	USA	62.4
39	Slovakia	62.7
40	Mauritius	63.6
41	Latvia	63.7
	Europe Avg	55.7
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Greece's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Greece's population is predicted to rise to 11.62 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.43. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
83	S. Sudan	11.0m
84	Czechia	10.7m
85	Dominican Rep.	10.6m
86	Greece	10.5m
87	Portugal	10.3m
88	Sweden	10.0m
89	Jordan	10.0m
90	Azerbaijan	9.9m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
30	Slovenia	80.7
31	Germany	80.6
32	Andorra	80.4
33	Greece	80.1
34	Maldives	79.9
35	Qatar	79.3
36	Chile	78.9
37	Bahrain	78.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
97	Cuba	1.45
98	UAE	1.44
99	Oman	2.57
100=	Greece	1.43
100=	Portugal	1.43
102	Bolivia	2.58
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
173	Malta	39.9
174=	France	40.5
174=	Austria	40.5
176	Greece	41.3
177	Spain	41.4
178	Netherlands	41.9
179	Slovenia	42.7
180	Finland	43.3
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
54	Montenegro	11.3%
55	Ukraine	11.2%
56	Belgium	11.1%
57	Greece	10.9%
58	Malta	10.6%
59	Italy	10.0%
60	Gambia	9.8%
61	Dominica	9.2%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
59	Tajikistan	11.2%
60	Cuba	10.9%
61	Mauritius	10.9%
62	Greece	10.8%
63	Mexico	10.7%
64	Andorra	10.7%
65	Liberia	10.5%
66	Uruguay	10.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#christianity #equality #freedom #gender_equality #Greece #greece_human_rights #human_rights #morals #pastafarianism #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
36	Puerto Rico	50.8
37	Slovakia	51.1
38	Barbados	51.7
39	Greece	52.4
40	San Marino	53.1
41	Argentina	53.3
	Europe Avg	47.37
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Greece does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Greece comes in the best 20 for commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₁₉ and in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₀. It does better than average for freethought₂₁, opposing gender inequality₂₂ (but high for Europe), LGBT equality₂₃ (but low for Europe), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₄ (but bad for Europe), its average Freedom in the World rating (but bad for Europe), its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₅ (but low for Europe) and in supporting press freedom₂₆ (but low for Europe). But, things could still be better. Greece does worse than average in eliminating modern slavery₂₇ (amongst the worst in Europe). And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₈ (amongst the highest in Europe). The state gives preferential treatment to the Orthodox Church, granting it both excessive funding and exclusive access to religious education in schools₂₉. Blasphemy laws are used to protect Christian concepts at the expense of free debate, and are sometimes used to persecute odd minorities such as Pastafarians_29,30.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Greece

5. Greece's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #greece #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
27	Germany	75.0
28	Albania	76.5
29	Croatia	77.2
30	Greece	77.8
31	Czechia	79.5
32	Malta	79.7
33	Estonia	81.2
34	Serbia	81.3
35	Bosnia & Herzegovina	81.9
	Europe Avg	86.87
q=51.

Health (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
53	Cuba	76.5
54	Croatia	77.2
55	Antigua & Barbuda	77.6
56	Greece	77.8
57	USA	78.7
58	British Virgin Islands	78.7
59	Israel	79.3
60	Czechia	79.5
	World Avg	97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue₃₂.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₂, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia₃₂.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Greece does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Greece comes in the best 20 when it comes to its suicide rate₃₃. It does better than average in its immunizations take-up₃₄, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₅, its average life expectancy₁₁, its adolescent birth rate₃₆ and in its fertility rate₁₄ (but high for Europe). But, things could still be better. Greece does worse than average in its alcohol consumption rate₃₇ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₈. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for its smoking rate₃₉. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Greece in 1990 was the ninth highest in the world, at 77.3yrs. It improved this by another +4yrs in the 30 years from 1990, although less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Greece's peak fertility rate was 2.45 in 1967.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
30	Slovenia	80.7
31	Germany	80.6
32	Andorra	80.4
33	Greece	80.1
34	Maldives	79.9
35	Qatar	79.3
36	Chile	78.9
37	Bahrain	78.8
	Europe Avg	78.36
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better37
Pos.		2016 Per Capita37
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
151	Spain	10.0
152	S. Korea	10.2
153=	Laos	10.4
153=	Greece	10.4
153=	Denmark	10.4
156	Cook Islands	10.6
157=	Australia	10.6
158	New Zealand	10.7
	Europe Avg	10.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
97	Cuba	1.45
98	UAE	1.44
99	Oman	2.57
100=	Greece	1.43
100=	Portugal	1.43
102	Bolivia	2.58
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
	Europe Avg	1.53
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better39
Pos.		201439
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
166	Jordan	1 855
167	Austria	1 988
168	S. Korea	2 073
169	Greece	2 086
170	Azerbaijan	2 114
171	Kazakhstan	2 157
172	Czechia	2 194
173	Bosnia & Herzegovina	2 233
	Europe Avg	1 648
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Suicide Rate33
Pos.		2013 Per 100k33
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
14	Tajikistan	5.2
15	Venezuela	6.5
16	Malta	6.9
17	Greece	7
18	Paraguay	7.1
19=	St Vincent & Grenadines	7.3
19=	Guatemala	7.3
19=	Barbados	7.3
	Europe Avg	26.99
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
26	Oman	26
27	Estonia	27
28	Austria	28
29	Greece	29
30	Nicaragua	30
31	Armenia	31
32	Bangladesh	32
33	Hungary	33
	Europe Avg	47.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better38
Pos.		1976 %38
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
158	Poland	40.8
159	Jordan	41.0
160=	Lebanon	41.2
160=	Greece	41.2
162	Bulgaria	41.4
163=	USA	41.6
163=	Spain	41.6
165	Ukraine	42.2
	Europe Avg	38.2
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 %40
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
152	Nicaragua	32.4%
153	Palestine	32.8%
154	St Vincent & Grenadines	33.6%
155	Greece	33.7%
156	Fiji	33.8%
157	St Lucia	33.9%
158	Bermuda	34.0%
159	Antigua & Barbuda	34.1%
	Europe Avg	25.9%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better36
Pos.		2022 Per 100036
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
35	Australia	7.7
36	Estonia	8.1
37	Croatia	8.2
38	Greece	8.3
39	Bahrain	8.7
40	Malaysia	9.1
41	Poland	9.2
42	Czechia	9.4
	Europe Avg	11.4
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better34
Pos.		2015 Avg %34
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
24	Morocco	97.5
25=	Monaco	97.3
25=	Cook Islands	97.3
27	Greece	97.3
28=	Turkmenistan	97.2
28=	St Vincent & Grenadines	97.2
30	Dominica	97.1
31=	Kazakhstan	97.1
	Europe Avg	92.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #Greece #Greece_environment #the_environment

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
29	Tunisia	60.1
30	Vietnam	60.6
31	Niger	61.3
32	Greece	61.4
33	Tanzania	61.6
34	Ethiopia	61.7
	Europe Avg	86.45
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

Greece is positioned 32nd in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This is formulated from 21 data sets. Greece does the second-best in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₂. It comes in the best 20 in its score on the Green Future Index₄₃. It does better than average for its environmental performance₄₄, its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₅ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. But, things could still be better. Greece does worse than average in energy to GDP efficiency₄₆ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₇.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Greece's Responsibility Towards The Environment

7. Greece's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #greece #intelligence #maths #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
22	Luxembourg	33.9
23	Italy	34.0
24	Portugal	34.4
25	Greece	36.3
26	Slovakia	42.9
27	Malta	45.9
28	Ukraine	47.7
29	Bulgaria	47.8
30	Croatia	47.8
	Europe Avg	39.81
q=45.

Modernity & Learning (2020)48
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank48
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
31	Italy	34.0
32	Singapore	34.1
33	Portugal	34.4
34	Greece	36.3
35	Argentina	38.2
36	Slovakia	42.9
37	Grenada	43.4
38	Russia	44.3
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₉. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₉. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₀.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₁

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₉, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₉.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

In the 2010s, Greece increased its expected duration of education by over 3 years, one of only five countries to do so in that decade, and by 2018 it had the 5th-longest education duration in the world, at 19.5 years. ₅₂

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2953
2	Israel	4.1153
3	Japan	3.5853
	...
36	Poland	0.9453
37=	Slovakia	0.8953
37=	Malta	0.8954
39	Greece	0.8453
40	India	0.8255
41	Croatia	0.8154
42	Kenya	0.7956
43	Ukraine	0.7654
	Europe Avg	1.32
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better57
Pos.		201857
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
84	Jamaica	66.3%
85	Egypt	65.3%
86	Argentina	64.8%
87	Greece	64.8%
88	Guyana	63.3%
89	Ghana	63.1%
90	Peru	62.2%
91	Palestine	61.1%
	Europe Avg	88.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better58
Pos.		2021 Years58
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
4	Belgium	19.6
5	Sweden	19.4
6	Iceland	19.2
7	Finland	19.1
8	Ireland	18.9
9	Denmark	18.7
10	Netherlands	18.7
11	Grenada	18.7
12	Turkey	18.3
	Europe Avg	16.1
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
24	France	24
25	S. Africa	25
26	Singapore	26
27	Greece	27
28	Serbia	28
29	Canada	29
30	Romania	30
31	Cyprus	31
	Europe Avg	31.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better59
Pos.		2015 Score59
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
40	Argentina	140660
41	Malta	1391
42	Slovakia	1389
43	Greece	1376
44	Chile	1329
45	Bulgaria	1319
46=	Romania	1313
46=	Cyprus	1313
	Europe Avg	1417
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better61
Pos.		2018 %61
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
50=	Armenia	53
50=	USA	53
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53=	Greece	56
53=	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
	Europe Avg	25.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better62
Pos.		200662
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
47=	Bulgaria	93
48	Ireland	92
49=	Malaysia	92
49=	Greece	92
51	Brunei	91
52=	Thailand	91
52=	Lithuania	91
52=	Cambodia	91
	Europe Avg	96.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better63
Pos.		201663
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
67	Italy	66%
68=	Uruguay	65%
68=	Antigua & Barbuda	65%
70	Greece	65%
71	Saudi Arabia	65%
72	French Polynesia	64%
73	Albania	63%
74	Palestine	63%
	Europe Avg	76.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better64
Pos.		2017 Ratio64
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
4	USA	35.0
5	Greece	33.5
6	Luxembourg	32.4
7	India	26.8
8	Portugal	26.6
9	Ireland	26.1
10	UK	24.7
11	Japan	22.1
12	France	18.8
	Europe Avg	8.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better65
Pos.		202465
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
35	Slovakia	60.7%
36	Hungary	60.2%
37	Australia	59.7%
38	Greece	58.9%
39	Qatar	58.6%
40	Saudi Arabia	57.5%
41	Malaysia	57.5%
42	Argentina	56.2%
	Europe Avg	61.0%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Greece's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Europe (2020)66
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank66
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
33	Bulgaria	62.5
34	Albania	66.0
35	Bosnia & Herzegovina	68.9
36	Greece	70.9
37	Montenegro	73.2
38	Macedonia	75.2
39	Belarus	77.7
40	Armenia	82.2
41	Ukraine	84.4
	Europe Avg	48.48
q=44.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)66
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank66
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
61	Israel	68.6
62	Bosnia & Herzegovina	68.9
63	Jamaica	69.5
64	Greece	70.9
65	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	71.5
66	Montenegro	73.2
67	Argentina	73.6
68	Cuba	73.8
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

On the Corruption Index, Greece scored on average 41.8 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 10.2 points.

World Giving Index Higher is better67
Pos.		2022 %67
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
103=	Benin	32.0
103=	Jordan	32.0
103=	France	32.0
103=	Greece	32.0
107	Georgia	31.0
108=	Morocco	31.0
108=	Zimbabwe	31.0
110	Romania	30.0
	Europe Avg	39.0
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better68
Pos.		2022 Points68
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
50	Slovakia	53.0
51	Grenada	52.0
52=	Cyprus	52.0
52=	Greece	52.0
54	Rwanda	51.0
55=	Malta	51.0
55=	Saudi Arabia	51.0
57	Croatia	50.0
	Europe Avg	57.61
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better69
Pos.		2024 Score69
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
78	Mauritius	5.8
79	Libya	5.8
80	Moldova	5.8
81	Greece	5.8
82	Venezuela	5.7
83	Indonesia	5.6
84	Algeria	5.6
85	Bulgaria	5.6
	Europe Avg	6.37
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
44	Cyprus	44
45	Japan	45
46	Moldova	46
47	Greece	47
48	Australia	48
49	Seychelles	49
50	Grenada	50
51	Chile	51
	Europe Avg	35.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
47	Japan	47
48	Armenia	48
49	UAE	49
50	Greece	50
51	Niger	51
52	Sri Lanka	52
53	Haiti	53
54	Rwanda	54
	Europe Avg	42.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better70
Pos.		2023 Score70
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
57	Moldova	1.87
58	Chile	1.87
59	Gambia	1.89
60	Greece	1.89
61	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.89
62	Jordan	1.90
63	Zambia	1.90
64	Cyprus	1.90
	Europe Avg	1.70
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
112	Botswana	112
113	Slovakia	113
114	Suriname	114
115	Greece	115
116	Trinidad & Tobago	116
117	Benin	117
118	Venezuela	118
119	Angola	119
	Europe Avg	84.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better35
Pos.		2017 Rank35
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
28	Portugal	28
29	USA	29
30	Singapore	30
31	Greece	31
32	Bulgaria	32
33	S. Korea	33
34	Mauritius	34
35	Bosnia & Herzegovina	35
	Europe Avg	37.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better71
Pos.		2019 Score71
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
103	Mexico	4.08
104	Venezuela	4.10
105	Chile	4.12
106	Greece	4.17
107	Germany	4.25
108	Lebanon	4.40
109	China	4.47
110	S. Africa	4.51
	Europe Avg	1.62
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better72
Pos.		201972
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
15	Luxembourg	3.40
16=	Ireland	3.40
17	Portugal	3.50
18=	Greece	3.50
18=	Switzerland	3.50
20	Belgium	3.60
21=	Estonia	3.60
21=	Montenegro	3.60
	Europe Avg	4.86
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better73
Pos.		2023 %73
1	Slovakia	24.1%74
2	Slovenia	24.3%74
3	Belarus	24.4%75
	...
54=	Nauru	32.4%76
55	Luxembourg	32.7%74
56	India	32.8%74
57=	Greece	32.9%74
57=	Niger	32.9%74
57=	Japan	32.9%77
57=	S. Korea	32.9%74
61	Bosnia & Herzegovina	33.0%78
	Europe Avg	30.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #pastafarianism #religion #religion_in_greece #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)61
Pos.		Lower is better %61
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
50=	Armenia	53
50=	USA	53
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53=	Greece	56
53=	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
58	Turkey	68
59=	Bolivia	71
59=	Botswana	71
61	Brazil	72
62=	Egypt	72
63	Algeria	73
64=	Peru	73
65	S. Africa	75
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)79
Pos.		Higher is better %79
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
28=	Slovakia	17
28=	Switzerland	17
28=	Belarus	17
31	Greece	16
32=	Iceland	16
33	Spain	15
34=	Israel	15
35	Armenia	14
36=	Lithuania	13
36=	Singapore	13
38	Kazakhstan	12
39=	China	12
39=	Uruguay	12
41	USA	10
42	Trinidad & Tobago	9
43	Albania	8
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₈₀:

Christian	88.1%
Muslim	5.3%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	6.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 93.5% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (16%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 93.8% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 56% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%₈₁.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: "The constitution and other laws and policies protect freedom of religion or belief. However, antiblasphemy laws and state sponsorship of religion exist"₂₉, which creates natural prejudice and legal discrimination against other (non-Christian communities). The Orthodox Church has its clergy's salaries and training paid for by the state and it forces most children to either undergo Orthodox religious education (RE), or, no RE at all₂₉. Blasphemy laws are used exclusively to protect Christian concepts from ridicule, but are also used to persecute minorities and oddities such as Pastafarians_29,30.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?
• Human Rights and Freedom in Greece: 4.3. Freedom of Thought