Flag of Greece

What the flag means

• ✚Cross — the Greek Orthodox faith
• 🔵9 stripes — said to match the syllables of 'Freedom or Death'

Design set by: ⁨Νόμος 851/1978 «Περί της Εθνικής Σημαίας, των Πολεμικών Σημαιών και του Διακριτικού Σήματος του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας» (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 233/22.12.1978)⁩ · Adopted 1978

Highlights

• 🏛️ Parthenon, cradle of the West
• 🏖️ Santorini and Aegean islands
• 🫒 Olives and the Mediterranean diet
• 📜 Land of myth and philosophy
• ☀️ Dazzling Mediterranean sunshine

Quick facts

Region

Europe · Southern Europe

Population

10,413,962 people (2025)

Area

131,990 km²

Capital

Athens

Languages

Greek, English

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Organizations

United Nations, European Union, NATO, OECD

Neighboring countries

• Albania
• Bulgaria
• North Macedonia
• Türkiye

Land neighbors, approximated from simplified map outlines.

Symbols in History (2)

Coats of arms and emblems whose historic seat lies within this country’s present-day territory.

• 

  Arms Attributed to the Duchy of Athens or to the de la Roche Family

  Athens and central Greece · 1205–1458 · territorial/house arms

  Sources do not confirm exactly who bore this design or in which version, so no description is given.

  Source: Sigilla - La Roche sur l'Ognon (armoirie) · Sigilla — base numérique des sceaux, IRHT / CNRS · Image source: Wikimedia Commons — Coat of Arms of the Duchy of Athens (de la Roche family).svg · Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Willtron

• 

  The Sixteen-Rayed Star of Vergina

  Ancient Macedonian Empire · c. 808 BC–168 BC · modern rendering of an ancient symbol

  OriginThe sixteen-rayed star is a symbol connected with ancient Macedon, made famous by the finds from the royal tombs at Vergina. It has not been confirmed as Alexander's personal arms, and readings of the sixteen rays as the elements or the Olympian gods have no basis.

  DescriptionIt is a yellow star (sun) shape in which sixteen rays spread out in all directions from a round disc at the centre, with long and short rays set alternately. Only the device itself is drawn, with no shield and no background colour.

  Source: College of Arms - Coats of arms and their twelfth-century origins · Image source: Wikimedia Commons — Sun of Vergina.svg · Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 · MacedonianBoy