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DeutschGeographic regions of Greece
The traditional geographic regions of Greece (Greek: γεωγραφικά διαμερίσματα, lit. 'geographic departments') are the country's main historical-geographic regions, and were also official administrative regional subdivisions of Greece until the 1987 administrative reform.[1] Despite their replacement as first-level administrative units by only partly identical administrative regions (Greek: περιφέρειες), the nine traditional geographic regions—six on the mainland and three island groups—are still widely referred to in unofficial contexts and in daily discourse.
As of 2011[update], the official administrative divisions of Greece consist of 13 regions (Greek: περιφέρειες)—nine on the mainland and four island groups—which are further subdivided into 74 regional units and 325 municipalities. Formerly, there were also 54 prefectures or prefectural-level administrations.
The largest of the geographical regions in size is Macedonia and the largest in population is Central Greece. The Ionian Islands are the smallest in both size and population.
| Geographic region | Land area (% of total)[2] | Population 2021 (% of total)[3] | Largest city[4] | Post-1987 administrative region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aegean Islands | 9,165 km² (6.9%) | 522,763 (5.0%) | Rhodes | split into North Aegean, South Aegean |
| Central Greece | 24,107 km² (18.3%) | 4,495,920 (42.9%) | Athens | split into Attica, Central Greece, part of Western Greece |
| Crete | 8,341 km² (6.3%) | 624,408 (6.0%) | Heraklion | identical |
| Epirus | 9,160 km² (6.9%) | 319,991 (3.1%) | Ioannina | identical |
| Ionian Islands | 2,604 km² (2.0%) | 208,176 (2.0%) | Corfu | identical, apart from Kythira, which became part of Attica |
| Macedonia[note 1] | 34,213 km² (25.9%) | 2,266,206 (21.6%) | Thessaloniki | split into Western Macedonia, Central Macedonia, part of East Macedonia and Thrace |
| Peloponnese | 21,782 km² (16.5%) | 1,010,509 (9.6%) | Patras | split into Peloponnese, part of Western Greece |
| Thessaly | 14,051 km² (10.6%) | 688,255 (6.6%) | Larissa | identical |
| Thrace | 8,594 km² (6.5%) | 346,259 (3.3%) | Alexandroupolis | merged into East Macedonia and Thrace |
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See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ In Macedonia there is one autonomous region, Mount Athos (Ayion Oros, or "Holy Mountain"), a monastic state under Greek sovereignty. It is located on the easternmost of the three large peninsulas jutting into the Aegean from the Macedonian mainland.
References
[edit]- ^ Π.Δ. 51/87 "Καθορισμός των Περιφερειών της Χώρας για το σχεδιασμό κ.λ.π. της Περιφερειακής Ανάπτυξης" (Determination of the Regions of the Country for the planning etc. of regional development, ΦΕΚ A 26/06.03.1987
- ^ "Η έκταση των γεωγραφικών διαμερισμάτων" [The size of the geographic regions]. ΠΟΔΗΛΑΤΟ (in Greek). 4 October 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
- ^ "Ο πληθυσμός των γεωγραφικών διαμερισμάτων" [The population of the geographic regions]. ΠΟΔΗΛΑΤΟ (in Greek). 9 May 2023. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021". www.statistics.gr. Hellenic Statistical Authority. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
