Population. – At the 1981 census, Greece counted 9,740,417 residents, almost one million more units than 10 years earlier, continuing the trend towards demographic increase (0.4% per year, 1983-88) which occurred in previous twenty years. The birth rate in more recent years tends to decrease quite rapidly (10.1 ‰ in 1989 against 14.5 ‰ in 1981) and is aligning with the levels of industrialized European countries. At the 1991 census the population amounted to 10,267,597 residents, corresponding to an average density of 77.8 residents / km 2(a particularly high value for a country that is largely mountainous and poor in natural resources). In recent years, the depopulation of internal and peripheral marginal areas has continued with the tendency of the population to gather in urban coastal areas and especially in the extensive conurbation of Greater Athens, where a large part of the immigration flow from other regions of Greece is concentrated. I 3,096,775 residents (1991) of Greater Athens constitute 30% of the population of Greece: the capital and the surrounding area absorbed more than half of the population increase that occurred throughout the country between 1971 and 1981. Thessaloniki, the second industrial city of Greece, is very distant in both urban and demographic dimensions (406.413 residents In 1981) from Athens.
Over 40% of the population of Greece and almost 60% of its industrial production is concentrated in the two metropolises. Emigration is an endemic phenomenon in many regions, but in recent years, thanks to the economic changes that have taken place in Europe, the flow of workers abroad has been canceled out by the number of repatriations, while internal migrations continue: in some nómoi (districts) the number of emigrants has exceeded the positive natural balance. Among the areas most affected by the demographic decrease are the Ionian islands (Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Leuca) and those of the Aegean closest to Turkey: Lesbos, Samo, Chios. The depopulation of the peninsula of Monte Santo or Mount Athos also continues, where the number of religious who live there has gone from 1731 in 1971 to 1472 in 1981.
Economic conditions.- Greece, known as a traditionally agricultural country, has changed considerably in recent decades, in particular after the fall of the military regime (1974), when the Greek economy came out of a period of stagnation due to the resumption of mainly foreign investments. GDP underwent variable increases in the 1980s and in its distribution industrial production (27%) exceeded agricultural production (17% in 1990). In 1960 91% of exports still concerned agricultural products, while at the end of the 1980s the latter contributed less than a fifth; at the same time, manufacturing products exceeded half of the outgoing flows, with the prevalence of textiles and clothing products. Since January 1981 Greece has become part of the EEC and, to this day, among the EU countries it remains one of the least developed. In 1988, 25.5% of the active population was still employed in the primary sector, which almost manages to satisfy the internal food needs. Although exports have more than tenfolded between 1970 and 1987, the trade balance remains highly unbalanced in favor of imports (oil and its derivatives contribute about 10% in 1990). Remittances from emigrants, but above all tourism, in constant growth, contribute to reducing the trade deficit (in 1990 over 8.9 million tourists, compared to 1 million in 1968, visited Greece, spending more than a sixth of the value of imports). which almost manages to satisfy internal food needs. Although exports have more than tenfolded between 1970 and 1987, the trade balance remains highly unbalanced in favor of imports (oil and its derivatives contribute about 10% in 1990). Remittances from emigrants, but above all tourism, in constant growth, contribute to reducing the trade deficit (in 1990 over 8.9 million tourists, compared to 1 million in 1968, visited Greece, spending more than a sixth of the value of imports). which almost manages to satisfy internal food needs. Although exports have more than tenfolded between 1970 and 1987, the trade balance remains highly unbalanced in favor of imports (oil and its derivatives contribute about 10% in 1990). Remittances from emigrants, but above all tourism, in constant growth, contribute to reducing the trade deficit (in 1990 over 8.9 million tourists, compared to 1 million in 1968, visited Greece, spending more than a sixth of the value of imports).
The discovery of oil in the North Aegean and the exploitation of the Prinos field on the island of Thassos, which began in 1981, will alleviate Greece’s energy needs. The probable oil reserves of the continental shelf close to Turkey, which claims sovereign rights, have created dangerous frictions with the neighboring country on the verge of conflict. Following intense mining research, uranium ores were discovered in the north of the country in 1979, and natural gas reserves in the subsoil of the western Peloponnese in 1981.
To industries born in the 1960s, such as steel and metallurgy, were added petrochemicals and chemicals, which have grown significantly in recent years. Much of the industrial production is concentrated in the Athens area, where the largest factories have been established, creating serious pollution problems for the capital: apart from the Thessaloniki area, industrial activity remains structurally weak in the other regions., characterized by small businesses that are mainly dedicated to the transformation of agricultural products, textiles or clothing. Greek agriculture did not benefit from joining the EEC, whose agricultural policy generally supported the products of more developed continental Europe.
Alongside wheat (16 million q in 1990) the most widespread crop is that of the olive tree (3.2 million q of oil), whose product is widely exported. The maize crop has grown in recent years (17 million q). Among the important products for export remain tobacco and olive oil. The zootechnical patrimony, linked to traditional breeding, remains stable (sheep and goats 16 million, cattle 715,000).
