Greece

Stable classification identifiers

The following identifiers are fixed by the United Nations and international standards bodies. They describe how Greece is grouped in global systems, not political claims about territory or recognition.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	300
ISO alpha-2	GR
ISO alpha-3	GRC
UN region	Europe
UN subregion	Southern Europe
UN membership	Member state
World Bank capital field	Athens

These codes come from the UN Statistics Division’s M49 standard, which groups countries and areas for data purposes. M49 is a coding system, not a political statement about sovereignty or borders. The World Bank lists Athens as the capital in its country profile API. For the authoritative overview of M49 codes and regional groupings, see the UN Statistics Division methodology page:

The World Bank API returns the country code, region, income level, and capital city. Use it to confirm the capital and the World Bank’s income grouping for the year you need, but check the API metadata for the date of the latest update. The World Bank classifies economies by income group (low, lower-middle, upper-middle, high); the grouping is revised each July and applies to the following fiscal year.

How to get a current, citable population figure

Population figures change constantly and are estimates, not exact counts. The most recent comprehensive count for Greece came from the 2021 national census conducted by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). The United Nations Population Division publishes annual estimates; the World Bank also provides population data derived from UN sources. These figures will differ because they use different reference dates, definitions, and projection methods. For any number you cite, name the source and the reference year. As of the 2021 census, the usually resident count was about 10.4 million, but verify the current figure from ELSTAT or the World Bank API before using it in a comparison.

The World Bank publishes an annual estimate for Greece (total, persons) in its country database. To retrieve it directly, query the World Bank API:

That response gives the latest estimate and its reference year. The UN Population Division publishes a separate estimate, and Greece’s national statistical service (ELSTAT) conducts the census that feeds both. The three sources rarely match exactly because they use different definitions, timing, and projection methods. For cross-country comparison, use one source consistently and cite the year.

Greece’s population has been declining in recent years due to low birth rates and emigration, but the exact figure depends on the reference year and the source. The World Bank API returns a country record with the name “Greece” and the ISO alpha-3 code GRC, but it does not provide a live count in the country listing itself. Population indicators are separate series (SP.POP.TOTL) with their own release dates. Always check the reference year on the data you use.

How to verify other changing numbers

Population, language percentages, currency, government composition, and economic figures change between releases. For a current figure, name the source and the reference year, and if possible cite the exact table or indicator. Do not treat a number from a search result snippet as an official statistic.

Primary sources for Greece

• Population: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) for census and official estimates; United Nations World Population Prospects for comparable international figures. Reference year will vary by release.
• Languages: Ethnologue and the EU’s Eurobarometer language surveys provide estimates; there is no official census question on language in Greece.
• Currency: Euro (EUR) since 2001; the European Central Bank publishes legal-tender information. Verify current status via the ECB or Bank of Greece.
• Government and economy: World Bank country page and IMF Article IV reports; both name their reference years.
• Travel requirements: Your own foreign ministry or the IATA Travel Centre. No third-party summary on this page is a substitute.

Using the World Bank API

The quickest way to check current data for Greece is the World Bank country API. The endpoint returns the standard country metadata including the country code, region, income level, and capital city. For time-series indicators, use and replace the indicator code (for example SP.POP.TOTL for total population, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD for GDP per capita PPP). The World Bank documentation states the reference year for each data point in the response.

Authority by data type

For United Nations statistical classification, the M49 list at is the authoritative source for region and subregion codes. Use the UN as the authority for country grouping; use the World Bank for development indicators; use national statistical offices for census and survey data; use your own government for travel advice.