Where is Greece in the World?

Greece is a European country in the southern region of the continent. As part of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece is surrounded by more water than land, though the country shares land borders with four other European countries. To the north of Greece, from west to east, lies Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

Formally known as the Hellenic Republic, and formerly known as Hellas, Greece is a country made up of nearly 6,000 islands. However, many of these are uninhabited and unexplored. There are 30 main islands on which the majority of Greece residents reside.

Greece's Coordinates on a Map and Most Extreme Points

Greece is located in the northern and eastern hemispheres. With a latitude of 39.0742° N and a longitude of 21.8243° E, the GPS coordinates of Greece show that the country lies above the equator.

The most extreme point to the north of Greece is located at the GPS coordinates of 41°44′ N and 26°11′ E. This point is in a place called Ormenio. In the south, Greece extends as far as Gavdos Island, near Crete. The easternmost point of Greece is an island in the Mediterranean Sea called the Islet of Strongyli, which is part of the archipelago, Megistis. The most extreme position in western Greece is a small island in the Ionian Sea by the name of Othonoi. It also happens to be the most significant island in terms of square mileage among the Diapontia islands.

Total Area, Population, and Density of Greece

Greece has a total area of 50,949 square miles. Of this area, approximately 99.13% of Greece is made up of land, while the tiny percentage of 0.87% is comprised of water. The majority of Greece’s water resources are offshore, rather than being in the form of rivers, lakes, and basins on the mainland.

The population of Greece currently hovers around 11,134,260 people. Greece’s population is only 0.15% of the global population, making it 84th largest country in the world.

Levels of Elevation: Highest and Lowest Altitudes

The highest level of elevation in Greece is at the very tip of Mount Olympus. As part of the Olympus Mountain Range, this point sits at an altitude of approximately 9,573 feet above sea level. Not only is this Greece’s highest point of elevation, but it is also one of Europe’s tallest features. The lowest point of elevation is at sea level along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This point is 0 feet above sea level.