Greece at a glance

Surface area: 131 960 km²
Population: 11 170 957 (Eurostat 2007, provisional figure)
Joined the European Union: 1 January 1981
Currency: Euro since 1 January 2001 (formerly Greek drachma, GRD)

Euro information

Status: Euro-area member since 1 January 2001

Fixed conversion rate: €1 = 340.750 GRD

Adoption of the euro: The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Greece on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of one year when the euro was the official currency but only existed as 'book money'. The dual circulation period – when both the Greek drachma and the euro had legal tender status – ended on 28 February 2002.

Exchange of former national currency: The Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος (National Central Bank of Greece) exchanged drachma coins until 1 March 2004 and will continue to exchange drachma banknotes until 1 March 2012.

Documents and publications

• Documents from the euro changeover are available on the Bank of Greece website (also in English)

Opinion polls and surveys

• Public opinion and the single currency (Eurobarometer website)

Downloads

• National sides of Greek euro coins
  
• Greek commemorative coins
  

Websites

Euro websites

• The euro on the Bank of Greece website (also in English)
• Archived websites on the euro
  

Institutions

• Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος (Bank of Greece, also in English)
• Υπουργείο Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών (Ministry of Economy and Finance, also in English)

Business

• Euro Info Centres in Greece (in English only)
• Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (also in English)
• Hellenic Centre for Investments (also in English and German)

Consumers

• K.E.Π.Κ.Α. (Consumers Protection Center, also in English)